5 BEST Things To Do In Chefchaouen (2024 Guide)

//

Looking for the best things to do in Chefchaouen?!

Also known as The Blue City or The Blue Pearl, Chefchaouen is a picturesque mountainside village in northern Morocco.

In this guide, discover the best things to do in Chefchaouen, where to stay, the best time to visit, and much more!

morocco itinerary, 10 days in morocco, morocco itinerary 10 days, best places to visit in morocco, best morocco tours, morocco travel blog, travel talk morocco, morocco travel itinerary, 10 days morocco itinerary, backpacking morocco, chefchaouen

QUICK ANSWERS: THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN

Before I dive into more details about Chefchaouen Morocco, here are some quick answers to the most frequently asked questions.

WHERE IS CHEFCHAOUEN?

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

The city is filled with striking blue-washed houses and buildings which are said to symbolize the sky and heavens, serving as a reminder for one to lead a spiritual life.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

chefchaouen map

HOW TO GET TO CHEFCHAOUEN?

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.

Another alternative is to join a group tour of Morocco and experience all of the highlights Morocco has to offer.

chefchaouen 35
The Blue City

Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!

hey mondo 1

We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.

Heymondo offers low-cost Travel Insurance to keep you covered on all your adventures.

5 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN

EXPLORE THE BLUE CITY

First on this list of things to do in Chefchaouen is explore the Blue City!

I personally felt as though I was on cloud 9 and very much enjoyed getting lost in the maze of Chefchaouen’s 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.

Search All: Hostels & Riads in Chefchaouen

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.

morocco itinerary, 10 days in morocco, morocco itinerary 10 days, best places to visit in morocco, best morocco tours, morocco travel blog, travel talk morocco, morocco travel itinerary, 10 days morocco itinerary, backpacking morocco, chefchaouen, things to do in chefchaouen
What To Do In Chefchaouen

WATCH THE SUNRISE & SUNSET IN CHEFCHAOUEN

A fifteen-minute walk to the Bouzaafar Mosque on the outskirts of the city is one of the best things to do in Chefchaouen, especially at sunrise or sunset.

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

morocco itinerary, 10 days in morocco, morocco itinerary 10 days, best places to visit in morocco, best morocco tours, morocco travel blog, travel talk morocco, morocco travel itinerary, 10 days morocco itinerary, backpacking morocco, chefchaouen
Spanish Mosque
IMG 7084
View of Chefchaouen

The Most Functional Day Pack EVER!

Nomatic 20L Bag

The Nomatic 20L Travel Pack is perfect for everyday use and for those shorter 1-3 day adventures.

With 20+ innovative features and a minimalist design, this functional day pack gives you confidence for life on the move!

TAKE A PHOTO ON THE INSTAFAMOUS STAIRS

Many tourists travel all the way to Chefchaouen 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’s the most picturesque staircase I have ever seen and a good reason to add it to your list of things to do in Chefchaouen.

morocco itinerary, 10 days in morocco, morocco itinerary 10 days, best places to visit in morocco, best morocco tours, morocco travel blog, travel talk morocco, morocco travel itinerary, 10 days morocco itinerary, backpacking morocco, chefchaouen
Blue Stairs in Chefchaouen
chefchaouen 12 e1550575238178
The colorful stairway
IMG 7080 e1507955567524
Be sure to visit this spot

HAVE LUNCH AT CAFE ALADIN

I highly recommend enjoying a meal at Cafe Aladin in the Chefchaouen 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.

louis hansel 1136543 unsplash
Moroccan Tajine at Cafe Aladin

VISIT THE MARIJUANA PLANTATIONS

Last but not least on this list of what to do in Chefchaouen is a visit to 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 you can expect to pay around 100 dirhams for a private tour and guide.

It is approximately a 1-hour hike from Chefchaouen 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 😉

IMG 7064
Marijuana farm – Chefchaouen Things To Do
P9200152
Marijuana broomstick

The BEST Affordable Camera For Travel

canon g7x

If you’re on the hunt for a professional camera for traveling, check out the Canon G7 X Mark II.

This tiny camera fits in your pocket, captures high-quality photos and videos, and has Wi-Fi so you can instantly transfer to your phone!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

CURRENCY:

The currency in Morocco is Dirham (MAD) and the exchange rate is approximately $1 USD = 10 MAD.

SIM CARD:

Purchasing a sim card in Morocco is very cheap and simple. You can do this at the airport on arrival or find a phone store close to your accommodation.

For approximately $10 USD, you can get a local sim card that comes with 10GB of data.

Alternatively, I recommend purchasing an eSIM and having access to the internet as soon as you touch down in Morocco.

Forget plastic SIM Cards… Get an eSIM!

one sim

Say hello to eSIM – a virtual SIM card pre-loaded with mobile data so you can get online and stay connected around the world.

OneSimCard is the best eSIM for travel, with low-cost data packages available in 150+ countries.

Simply buy online, install it on your smartphone, and you’re good to go!

BEST TIME TO VISIT MOROCCO

The best time to visit Morocco is between March to May and September to November when the weather is not too hot and not too cold.

Also, during these months you can expect to see fewer tourists in the more popular cities of Morocco such as Marrakech and Chefchaouen.

MOROCCO VISA

Visitors to Morocco can spend up to 90 days on a tourist visa which is free of charge.

The only requirement is that your passport has to be valid for a period of 6 months before its expiry.

passport

WHERE TO STAY IN CHEFCHAOUEN

Chefchaouen has hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to suit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.

See the list of accommodations in Chefchaouen below that I recommend:

Luxury: Résidence Hoteliére Chez Aziz

Chez Aziz

Mid Range: Dar Elrio

290859712

Budget: Hostel Mauritania

202442926

FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM

WHAT TO PACK FOR MOROCCO

When visiting Morocco, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

Must-Have Travel Essentials

Hidden Money Wallet

anti theft money belt

Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!


Reusable Water Bottle

grayl geopress

The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!


Travel Backpack

Nomatic 20L Bag

The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!


Quick-Dry Travel Towel

travel towel

The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!


Portable PowerBank

anker powerbank

Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!

More Morocco Travel Guides

morocco itinerary, 10 days in morocco, morocco itinerary 10 days, best places to visit in morocco, best morocco tours, morocco travel blog, travel talk morocco, morocco travel itinerary, 10 days morocco itinerary, backpacking morocco, chefchaouen

Click the button below to view all articles related to Morocco!

 FINAL THOUGHTS – WHAT TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions, please drop me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

Fb Community Image

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

bookingcom

Search and book accommodation worldwide.


logos 3

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.


logos 7

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.


logos 14

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.


discover cars

Search all rental cars in your next destination.


hey mondo

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically.

Many thanks!

PIN IT FOR LATER

CHEFCHAOUEN 1 e1550580498444

Leave a comment