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!
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.
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.
Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!
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.
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
The Most Functional Day Pack EVER!
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.
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.
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 😉
The BEST Affordable Camera For Travel
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!
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.
