The blue medina
Start at Plaza Uta el-Hammam by the kasbah, then climb the stepped lanes of Rif Al Andalus. Early morning light and empty streets are the reason photography walks start before 8am.
Things to Do in Chefchaouen
Morocco's blue city, tucked into the Rif Mountains
Rif Mountains180 activities
Chefchaouen is small enough to walk in an afternoon and photogenic enough to keep you three days. Almost every wall in the medina is painted a shade of blue, and the town sits at 600 metres against the Rif peaks, which keeps it cooler than the plains.
Top things to do in Chefchaouen
Spanish Mosque viewpoint
A 30-minute uphill walk east of town ends at an abandoned mosque with the best sunset panorama over the blue rooftops.
Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge
Half an hour away in Talassemtane National Park, a riverside trail leads to cascades, turquoise pools and a natural rock arch.
Tours & experiences in Chefchaouen
See all Chefchaouen activitiesNewChefchaouen
Chefchaouen: Blue City Photography Walking Tour
2.5 hours4.9(5,230)
From €35 per person
Fes
Fes: Medina & Tanneries Half-Day Guided Tour
4 hours4.7(9,740)
From €48 per person
Chefchaouen travel FAQ
- Is Chefchaouen worth an overnight stay?
- Yes. Day trippers get the busiest hours; staying over gives you the empty blue lanes at dawn and dusk.
- Why is Chefchaouen blue?
- Explanations range from a Jewish community tradition brought in the 1930s to keeping mosquitoes away and houses cool. Locals repaint it every year regardless.
