5 Awesome Things To Do In The Blue City Of Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, also known as The Blue City or The Blue Pearl, is a mountainside village filled with striking blue washed houses and buildings which is said to symbolise the sky and heavens, serving as a reminder for one to lead a spiritual life. I have put together this guide of 5 Awesome Things To Do In Chefchaouen to help you plan your trip.

I visited Chefchaouen with Travel Talk Tours, one of the most reputable tour companies in Europe and North Africa!

WHERE IS CHEFCHAOUEN & HOW TO GET THERE

Chefchaouen is located in the northern region of the country among the Rif Mountains and it is one of the best places to visit in Morocco!

From Tangier to Chefchaouen it is approximately a 2-hour drive which can be done in a private taxi or on board the CTM public bus service. A taxi from Tangier to Chefchaouen costs around 200 dirhams per person whereas the bus costs approximately 50 dirhams.

If you are heading from Fes to Chefchaouen the CTM bus service operates daily for approximately 75 dirhams per person for a 4-hour journey.

PIN LOCATION OF CHEFCHAOUEN

Wondering what Camera & Photography Gear I use while backpacking around the world? Click here to view my gear list and other essential travel items that I recommend for your next adventure!

The Blue City – Things To Do In Chefchaouen

5 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN

#1 EXPLORE THE BLUE CITY

I personally felt as though I was on cloud 9 and very much enjoyed getting lost in the maze of twisting alleyways lined with flower pots, native handicrafts, wool garments and colourful woven blankets!

I guarantee you will not get bored exploring the streets of Chefchaouen for around every corner is a new picturesque alleyway painted in a different shade of blue.

The local citizens of Chefchaouen are super friendly and took the time to have a conversation with me even though they were secretly trying to drag me into their stores. There are thousands of nic nacs and colourful rugs on sale throughout the blue city, perfect for travellers looking to purchase homewares for their own homes.

Search All ∼ Hostels & Riads in Chefchaouen

Getting lost in The Blue City – What To Do In Chefchaouen

: Colourful stairways in the Blue City

: Colourful streets of Chefchaouen

Things to do in Chefchaouen

#2 SUNRISE & SUNSET IN CHEFCHAOUEN

Before the day is out, a fifteen-minute walk to the Bouzaafar Mosque on the outskirts of the city is one of the best things to do in Chefchaouen. This Spanish mosque offers the best panoramic views over Chefchaouen making it the most popular spot to watch the sunset or sunrise over the blue-rinsed mountain city! The loud sounds of prayer echo through the air, bellowing from the speakers mounted on the tall minarets.

Book Now ∼ 10 Day Exotic Morocco Tour

Sunset at the Spanish Mosque – What to do in Chefchaouen

View of Chefchaouen from the Bouzaafar Mosque

#3 TAKE A PHOTO ON THE INSTA-FAMOUS STAIRS

Many tourists travel all the way to Chefchaouen just to take a photo on the most picturesque staircase in Morocco and potentially the entire world!

This colourful staircase became crazy popular when a photo posted on Instagram went viral. I must admit, it is the most picturesque staircase I have ever seen and a good reason to add it to your list of things to do in Chefchaouen!

Free ∼ $55 AirBnb Credit

The Instafamous stairs in Chefchaouen

Another angle of the famous blue stairs in Chefchaouen

Convinced yet 😉 – Things To Do In Chefchaouen

#4 LUNCH AT CAFE ALADIN

I highly recommend enjoying a meal at Cafe Aladin in the Medina for a traditional Moroccan Tajine, homemade couscous and a side of olives. Absolutely mouthwatering and costs only 50 dirhams!

Cafe Aladin has the best rooftop terrace view of the main Medina. It’s a great spot to people watch and experience the madness of Chefchaouen from a birds-eye perspective.

Search All ∼ Hostels & Riads in Chefchaouen

Moroccan Tajine at Cafe Aladin – What to do in Chefchaouen

#5 VISIT THE MARIJUANA PLANTATIONS

The surrounding countryside of Chefchaouen has a reputation for being a prolific source of kief. Many locals throughout the streets of Chefchaouen will approach you and ask if you want to visit the marijuana plantations. It is completely safe to do so and expect to pay around 100 dirhams for a private tour and guide.

It is approximately an hour-long hike from The Blue City to the marijuana farms in the Rif Mountains.

I can see why the Chefchaouen region is the main producer of cannabis in Morocco, I was standing in a field of Mary Jane taller than my head! My guide took me to his friend’s farm where he had a rug laid out under a shady tree and a teapot of hot mint tea. The farm owner dragged a hessian sack of weed out from behind the bushes and demonstrated how he makes hashish, using fabric cloth as a filter, wrapped over a bowl and bamboo sticks to bash the weed down through the fabric like a set of drums. He then took the fabric off the bowl and ‘voila’ there was a small amount of powdery hashish! For some reason, I forget what happens next… 😉

Disclaimer: Travel Talk does not include this in their tour so it’s up to you.

Marijuana farm in the Rif Mountains – Chefchaouen Things To Do

Marijuana plantations in Chefchaouen

My very own marijuana broomstick – Chefchaouen Morocco

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CHEFCHAOUEN

Chefchaouen has hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of my personal favourite places to stay in Chefchaouen to suit budget backpackers and luxury travellers. See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

Luxury: Résidence Hoteliére Chez Aziz

Mid Range: Usha Guest House

Budget: Hostel Mauritania

For all other accommodations in Chefchaouen click here to search on booking.com

The rooftop terrace at Usha Guest House – Chefchaouen Things To Do