Chefchaouen: A Guide to Morocco's Blue City
No one is entirely sure why Chefchaouen's old town is painted in every shade of blue — theories range from a symbolic link to the sky and heaven, to a practical measure against mosquitoes, to simply having stuck as a local tradition. Whatever the reason, the result is one of the most photographed towns in Morocco.
Getting there
Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains, about 2.5 hours from Tangier and roughly 4 hours from Fes, which makes it a natural stop on northern-route itineraries such as our 5 day tour from Tangier to Marrakech and longer variants.
What to do
- Wander the medina slowly — this is a town best explored without a fixed plan
- Visit the Kasbah Museum and its small garden
- Walk up to the Spanish Mosque at sunset for a view over the blue rooftops
- Shop for the local wool blankets and goat's cheese the region is known for
Because it sits off the main desert circuit, Chefchaouen is only included on itineraries that start or pass through the north — if it's on your must-see list, mention it when you request a quote and we'll build it into your route.