Chefchaouen, Morocco; you BLUE me away.
My absolute favorite city we visited in Morocco. The shades of blue in every alleyway, the friendly people, the artwork everywhere, the relaxing vibe, what was there not to love? We had our ups and downs while traveling throughout Morocco, but visiting Chefchaouen made it all worth it!
When I returned from our trip to Morocco our number one asked question was if Chefchaouen truly is as blue as it seems online?
The answer is YES! It’s a real life smurf village, and absolutely breathtaking!
We visited Chefchaouen in the middle of October, and thankfully the streets weren’t swarmed with tourists. (Chefchaouen’s low tourist season is between late autumn to spring). The temperature throughout the day was warm, around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Although I do wish I had brought a light jacket, because after the sun went down it became a lot chiller.
If you are currently wondering if visiting a tourist destination like Chefchaouen is worth your time, IT IS. It’s a unique, captivating, and picturesque city.
Chefchaouen is a small city and thankfully we were able to explore the majority of it in a short amount of time. Because we wanted to see as many cities as we could in Morocco we were only in Chefchaouen for one night, although I do wish we were there for a little longer. Depending what type of traveler you are and how tight you are on time, I would aim for two days in Chefchaouen but no more.
We reached Chefchaoeuen by car, and drove from Fes. The journey from Fes is approximately a 4hr drive. Compared to our previous 8 drive from the Sahara to Fes, 4hrs was a breeze! Which you can read about HERE
From what I have gathered online and from word of mouth I know the most popular transportation option is taking The CTM BUS. It is safe, comfortable, has air conditioning, and is flexible with time. You are able to choose your seat and ticket prices are fairly inexpensive. If you are making the trip from Fes ticket price is 75MAD, and they have a stop once you reach the halfway mark at a cafe.
You also could book a day tour from Fes or Tangier. We have done tours like that in the past in other countries and they were awesome. They provide the transportation and when you arrive you are given a certain amount of time to explore on your own before you head back to your original destination.
Click here if you would like to know what tours are available and the prices.
So many different tales as to why the city is painted blue, the most practical reason and the one we were told is because the color blue keeps the mosquitoes away. Another reason is that the color blue helps keep their houses cool during the warmer months. Whatever the reason you will still find locals reapplying a fresh coat of blue paint to their homes and shops. While there are so many different theories as to why it is blue, everyone can agree that it is BLUETIFUL (pun intended).
We arrived to Chefchaouen early afternoon and checked into Lina Ryad & Spa
Beautiful, accommodating staff, very clean, big room, the bed was comfy, and they have a delicious breakfast. It is a climb to reach the riad. It’s an uphill walk which can be challenging with your suitcases. I highly recommend arranging someone to help with suitcases and navigating you to your hotel. It is fairly easy to become lost when you first arrive. If you call Riad Lina before your arrival they will have someone greet you on the main roads and help you navigate.
The location of the hotel is perfect with a stunning view of the city from the Terrance. It’s a calm oasis in the city, and offers luxury with an easy going relaxed atmosphere. Due to the fact that Chefchaouen is a tourist destination, I recommend booking as far in advanced as possible!
For lunch we dined at Azhar… and I’m going to be honest with you all, I don’t recommend it. We ordered a chicken shawarma and pizza. They were both okay..nothing special. The real reason why I don’t recommend it is because we watched the waiter drop the basket of bread and instead of taking it back to the kitchen he still served it to the customers. Honestly we couldn’t even finish our food after witnessing that. So don’t go if reading that upsets you.
We did however end our meal on a good note by enjoying pastries from Zakaria Chocolate Patisserie Belge. It’s a very small shop and the owner is a kind man. There is no seating, so you have to order for take away. We had a delicious chocolate cake and a creamy cheesecake. If your sweet tooth is kicking in definitely come here. You won’t really have many options for places to grab a quick bite of something sweet, but Zakaria comes through.
Don’t feel the need to make an itinerary, just make sure you pencil in a lot of walking. We spent the day walking around the alleyways and attempted to cover as much ground as we could.
Honestly there is so much to do in Chefchaouen besides being mesmerized from the sight of all the blue. This city offers much more than only taking pictures of the blue houses and alleyways.
Fun activities to do in the Blue City:
Get Lost in the Streets of the Medina
You will get lost so you might as well enjoy it. Discover the enchanting blue streets of Chefchaouen, and make sure to bring your camera. I’m not exaggerating when I say every corner is the perfect photo opp. So many alleyways you never know where one will lead and what will be around the corner.
Hike to the Spanish Mosque
We hiked up there around sunset and it was breathtaking. We weren’t the only ones who thought it was a good idea to hike up there during sunset. There were many people also making there way to the Spanish Mosque. So if you decide to make your way up there around that time of day you most likely won’t be alone. The hike allows you to view the city from above with spectacular views of the blue city and peaks of the mountains. The hike is about a 45 minute walk. If you don’t make it the whole way don’t worry because you can see the views even if you only make it a quarter way.
Shop at the Quaint Bazaars
So many locals sell artwork and all of their paintings are beautiful. My husband and I collect magnets from every place we travel, and we found a man who painted us our own little magnet. It has now become my favorite magnet that we have collected so far! The medina in Chefchaouen may not be as large and grand as other Morocco cities such as Marrakech or Fes, but I enjoyed it so much more! The shop owners aren’t pushy and you won’t experience the crazy hussel and bussel as you would in the larger cities. It’s a very relaxed ambiance, which made my personal shopping experience so much more enjoyable.
Enjoy a Spa Experience with a Local Hammam
I have heard from other travelers that the Lina Riad offers the best spa in all of Chefchaouen. Even though we stayed there we didn’t partake in the local hammam. We simply did not have time to fit it into our schedule, and truth be told I am not the biggest fan of people touching me. I get extremely uncomfortable. BUT if you enjoy a good spa treatment, try it out and let me know what I missed out on.
Hike in the Rif Mountains
If you find yourself in Chefchaouen for longer than one day and enjoy hiking I recommend this! The mountains are majestic and any nature lover would appreciate them. There are many trails that you could venture out to and many companies offer a guide to join you on your hike. A local company that offers tours through the Rif Mountains is Gite Talassemtane. They offer half day tours or for the more adventurous traveler an overnight tour of the mountains.
Whatever your itinerary includes in Chefchaouen I know it will be magical! I absolutely fell head over heels for this unique blue city, and I know you will too!
