BEST THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN!
Chefchaouen, also known as The Blue City or The Blue Pearl, is a picturesque mountainside village in northern Morocco. Discover the best things to do in Chefchaouen, a city filled with striking blue-washed houses and buildings which is said to symbolize the sky and heavens, serving as a reminder for one to lead a spiritual life.
I have put together this complete 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
First thing’s first on this list of things to do in Chefchaouen is exploring 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.
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
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.
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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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Blue Stairs – Things to do in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen Things To Do
Things To Do In Chefchaouen
#4 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.
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Moroccan Tajine at Cafe Aladin – What to do in Chefchaouen
#5 VISIT THE MARIJUANA PLANTATIONS
Last but not least on this list of things 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… 😉
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, luxury travelers and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations in Chefchaouen 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 Guide: 10 Day Morocco Itinerary
Chefchaouen Guide: 5 Things To Do In Chefchaouen
Essaouira Guide: 3 Things To Do In Essaouria
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.
HOW TO GET TO MOROCCO
Arriving by plane is the easiest and most convenient way to begin your adventures in Morocco.
I flew to Morocco with Royal Air Maroc which is the country’s largest and most reputable airline that offers daily flights, excellent customer service and all-around comfortable experience.
Search All → Flights to Morocco on Skyscanner.com
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.
MOROCCO ITINERARY – THINGS TO KNOW
The currency in Morocco is Dirham (MAD) and the exchange rate is approximately $1 USD = 10 MAD.
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.
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AIRBNB CHEFCHAOUEN
Another option for accommodation during your visit to Chefchaouen is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals!
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LONELY PLANET – MOROCCO
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Morocco Travel Guide.
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WHAT TO PACK FOR CHEFCHAOUEN
Everyday Backpack: One of the best backpacks on the market! The Nomatic 20L Backpack is perfect for on the go adventures. Featuring multiple storage spaces for valuables, drink bottles, chargers, notebooks and more. This sleek backpack was designed for you.
Universal Power Adapter: Don’t leave home without one! I highly recommend getting this Universal Power Adapter so that you are able to charge all of your electronics when you’re on the road. Compatible in Asia, UK, Europe, Africa, USA, SA and Australia.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have item! This universal case will keep your phone safe from water damage, sand and scratches during your adventures. Suitable for all smartphone models.
Portable Charger: One of the best portable chargers on the market! The Anker Power Bank keeps your phone and accessories charged on those longer adventures. Featuring 2 USB charging ports, rechargeable battery, works with iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo and Android.
Microfibre Travel Towel: To pack a towel or not to pack a towel? A standard bathroom towel can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Get your hands on a quick-dry Microfibre Travel Towel which is perfect for the beach, backpacking, camping and general traveling.
Rain Jacket: A light-weight rain jacket is an absolute must when traveling! North Face waterproof rain jackets come in both men and women sizes, featuring a breathable mesh lining and adjustable hood that can be tucked away inside the collar.
Kindle: The best alternative for books! Kindle e-readers are perfect for long haul flights, reading on the beach or a quiet evening away from the bars. Kindle’s are waterproof with rechargeable batteries and adjustable light settings to suit indoor/outdoor conditions.
Packing Cubes: My favorite item in my backpack! Perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, jackets, socks, underwear and more. This 5 Set Packing Cubes makes packing easier and more efficient, adding extra space in your bag for your next trip.
Activated Charcoal Tablets: Want to avoid food poisoning? Most of us have been a victim of travelers diarrhea from eating street food. Organic Activated Charcoal Tablets are fast-acting and will rid your system of the bad bacteria that causes stomach upset.
MY CAMERA GEAR
Everyday Camera: The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market! I personally use the Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera on all of my adventures. It’s compact, lightweight and super easy to use for all levels of photography. A 28-70mm Sony lens is also included.
Drone Camera: Take your photography to new heights! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone is at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality images and video, easy to control functions and traveler-friendly capabilities. I guarantee you won’t regret purchasing one.
GoPro Hero 8: One of the most popular cameras on the planet! I love using the GoPro Hero 8 for all of my underwater shots and fast-paced adventures. The GoPro Hero 8 captures the best moments with its wide range of functions that are very simple to use!
Camera Bag: My favorite camera bag I have ever owned! The Lowepro Protactic 450 AW II Camera Bag features a waterproof rain cover, drink bottle holder, padded compartments for cameras, drones, lenses, accessories and it also has a laptop pocket.
Selfie Stick: Everyone loves a good selfie, right!? The Sandmarc Metal Edition Selfie Stick is sleek, stylish and can extend to 1.2m. I find it much easier to take photos and videos with the GoPro when it is mounted to the Sandmarc Selfie Stick!
Camera Tripod: The Joby GorillaPod is suitable for all cameras. This tripod is easy to use and perfect for setting up a time-lapse video or even using it as a selfie stick. The legs are flexible so you can wrap it around a tree or a pole to get creative with your shot.
GoPro Dome: Have you ever wanted to capture those under/over water shots with the GoPro? This epic underwater GoPro dome housing is the best camera accessory to have to create the perfect 50/50 shot. I use mine every time I am in the ocean!
Memory Card: The best thing about SanDisk Extreme Pro is that it delivers maximum speed for images and videos. Having 64GB of storage means that you can store hundreds of files on this SD card for 2-3 days and not have to worry about running out of space.
External Hard Drive: As a photographer, my images and video files take up a lot of space on my MacBook so I use the WD Elements External Hard Drive to store everything. With 4TB worth of storage space, this is more than enough for 1 years worth of content.
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MY SHOP
Before you go from this things to do in Chefchaouen post, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
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FINAL THOUGHTS OF THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN
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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