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 the 5 Best Things To Do In Chefchaouen including where to find them and what to expect!
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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 onboard 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
The Blue City – Things To Do In Chefchaouen
5 BEST 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 colorful 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 colorful rugs on sale throughout the blue city, perfect for travelers looking to purchase homewares for their own homes.
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The Blue City – What To Do In 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.
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Spanish Mosque – Things to do in Chefchaouen
View of Chefchaouen – Things to do in Chefchaouen
#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 colorful 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!
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The Instafamous stairs in Chefchaouen
The famous blue stairs in Chefchaouen
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.
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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… 😉
Marijuana farm – Chefchaouen Things To Do
Marijuana plantations in Chefchaouen
Marijuana broomstick – Things to do in Chefchaouen
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 favorite places to stay in Chefchaouen to suit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers. See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Résidence Hoteliére Chez Aziz
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Mid Range: Usha Guest House
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Budget: Hostel Mauritania
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FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN CHEFCHAOUEN, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
MORE MORROCO TRAVEL GUIDES
Morocco Travel Guide: 10 Day Morocco Itinerary
Chefchaouen Travel Guide: 5 Things To Do In Chefchaouen
Essaouira Travel Guide: 3 Things To Do In Essaouria
AIRBNB MOROCCO
Another option for accommodation in Morocco is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals in Morocco.
Get your $40 Airbnb discount here!
MY CAMERA GEAR
• DSLR Mirrorless Camera: Sony A7ii
• Drone Camera: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• GoPro: GoPro Hero 8 Black
• Everyday Lens: Sony F2.8 24/70mm
• Camera Bag: Lowepro Protactic 31L
• Selfie Stick: Sandmarc Metal Edition 1.2m
• Tripod: Joby Flexible GorillaPod
• GoPro Dome: Underwater GoPro Dome
• Power Bank: Anker Powerbank
• External Hardrive: WD Elements 4TB
WHAT TO PACK FOR MOROCCO?
• Waterproof Phone Case: Universal Waterproof Case
• Reusable Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Water Bottle
• Rain Jacket: North Face Rain Jacket
• Water Shoes: Slip-on Water Shoes
• Day Bag: Nomatic 20L Day Bag
• Power Adapter: Universal Power Adapter
• Packing Cubes: 4 Set Packing Cubes
• Microfibre Towel: Quick Dry Travel Towel
• Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Money Belt: Hidden Money Belt
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and If you have any questions about Things To Do In Chefchaouen, please drop me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
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