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Things to do in Chefchaouen: Ultimate Travel Guide

It’s hard to imagine a town as picturesque as the famous Blue City of Chefchaouen. When I first way this amazing town on Instagram I knew it was a bucket list item for me, if anything to confirm the color is actually that blue and not photoshopped (it is in fact that blue).

For me, Chefchaouen is a quaint village town that happens to be adorable. It’s got the charm that makes tourists flock to it and it’s slowly building a travel reputation of unique experiences to match. All to say that if you have the time for the long, tedious trek to Chefchaouen it’s certainly a place worth visiting.

But as it is still a small town with a new reputation it can be hard to find things to do. That’s why I’m here to help. I’ve created the ultimate guide of all the things to do in Chefchaouen. You’ll find plenty of unique, free, and local things to do.

Happy travels in Morocco! 

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Mini-Guide to visiting Chefchaouen

🏨 Best Places to Stay
Riad Nila
Riad Hicham
Riad Dar Charma

🍽️ Best Places to Eat
Bab Ssour | local Moroccan food with beautiful views
Triana | goat cheese and iced tea on an outdoor patio
Al Wiam | no-frills, quality couscous and tagine

👩‍🎨 Best Things to Do
Take a cooking class
Have a hammam
Join a historic walking tour

Best Things to do in Chefchaouen

Wander the streets of the Old Medina

One of my personal favorite things to do in wander the streets of the Old Medina. You’ll find a lot of businesses selling the same souvenirs but the locals are kind and the streets are beautiful. I love getting lost in the streets that eventually open to beautiful squares throughout the Medina.

Keep in mind that most items in the Medina are imported from other cities in Morocco. Leather, for example, is brought from Fes and marked with a higher price than if you bought the same good in Fes. So if you are planning to visit some other parts of Morocco it’s best to skip buying souvenirs in Chefchaouen.

Tip! The Old Medina streets are marked with shades of blue. Those with the darker blue mean the street is a dead end. This will save you a lot of time wandering down the wrong streets.

Take in the sunset at the Spanish Mosque

A quick 30 minute walk atop a hill outside of the old Medina you’ll find one of the best sunsets at the Spanish Mosque. Locals and tourists alike take the time to visit the mosque at sunset to see the spectacular colors as the run retreats behind the mountains. Because this is a popular spot be sure to arrive early if you want the best seats in the house!

Getting to the Spanish Mosque: You can easily find the path using Google Maps. But if you need some directions you’ll need to follow the road out of the eastern gate of the Medina. You’ll need to cross a bridge and follow the path up to the Bouzafer Mosque.

Have a hammam

The hammam experience is one of my personal favorite things to do in Morocco. I visited Lina Ryad & Spa, located in the Old Medina and had a great experience. Keep in mind the hammam is basically a bath where an attendant rubs all your dead skin off and yet it’s somehow relaxing.

Take a Historic walking tour

One of my favorite things when visiting Morocco is exploring the Old Medinas with a local guide. There is just so much rich history you miss out on otherwise. That’s why I recommend taking a walking tour in the Blue City. I loved my walking tour and learned so many hidden gems, Instagram photo spots, and history along the way.

Visit a community oven

Something unique to Chefchaouen is the continuing use of community ovens throughout the Old Medina. Locals bring their breads to the oven and have them baked in the old, wood fired ovens by the local baker. You’ll find the ovens scattered throughout the Old Medina and the bakers will usually welcome you inside to see their work.

Community ovens are throughout the Medina and not all are well marked on Google but you can find a few marked on this map.

Take a Moroccan Cooking class

I have to admit that throughout my trip to Morocco I fell in love with Moroccan food. Taking a cooking class in the Blue City is a great way to explore traditional Moroccan foods. You’ll get to sip mint tea with locals while learning about the history and culture behind classic dishes, like tajine and pastilla.

Some of my personal favorite dishes in Morocco are seffa, meatball tajine (Kefta Mkaouara), and Moroccan salad. But any sort of dish you prepare will be fantastic at a cooking class. Plus, you’ll learn some new skills to take home to continue cooking some amazing foods, too.

This cooking class is one of the best in Chefchaouen! I highly recommend joining the experience to get a close look at how to make some of the most incredible Moroccan dishes.

Visit the local market

Most locals have now moved their daily market to the “New Town” area of Chefchaouen. But you can still find a small local souk (Moroccan for market) at Av Maghrab Arabe. The best time to visit is early in the morning, when locals are shopping for their fruits and vegetables.

What should you buy at the local market? Dates, fresh bread, goat cheese and olives are great things to buy at the local market in Chefchaouen. Perfect for a quick snack or lunch in your hotel room, you’ll find everything you need.

Walk the riverfront to ras El Ma

Ras El Ma is such a beautiful place to visit. Along the way you’ll follow the winding river that’s supplied Chefchaouen with water for centuries. Be sure to watch for the laundry and cleaning stations along the way, where local men and women will be doing their laundry and cleaning oranges, too.

Travel Tip! If you book a guided tour your guide will bring you along this route and talk more about the importance of the river to the local community. Because this is a great way to really get to know Chefchaouen, I highly recommend a tour.

Have a mint tea at the Main Square

Located in the heart of the Old Medina you’ll find a lively square with many vendors, henna artists, and restaurants. So, take a break from walking Chefchaouen and take tea at one of the restaurants patios or terraces. Restaurant Bab Kasaba and MIDO’S are two popular places to eat in the Plaza Uta el Hamman.

Take a pottery workshop

Probably one of the most unique things to do in Chefchaouen is taking a traditional Berber pottery class. This 5-hour class takes you to a local Berber village to learn more about the cultural importance and techniques of making Moroccan pottery.

Travel Tip! If you are planning to buy pottery in Morocco, Fes is usually the place to buy. You'll find quality vendors selling ceramics for some of the best prices in Morocco. Just keep in mind that Moroccans love to barter. Smaller bowls should cost you no more than $7 while larger, more decorative pieces can run upwards of $90.

Head inside the Kasbah

I wouldn’t put this high on my list of things to do but you can visit the inside of the Kasbah (located in the Plaza Ute el Hamman). The Kasbah has a nice garden and view from the tower but for the price the experience isn’t worth it to me, personally.

Learn to Weave

If you’re anything like me you’ll be amazed by the quality and beauty of the rugs throughout Morocco. So why not learn how to make one? Weaving has long been a skill passed down from mother to daughter with different areas and cultures making rugs with specific patterns and purposes.

This class with a local Berber women’s cooperative will teach you the art of weaving through the traditional Berber techniques, passed down through generations. Women are generally lesser in Moroccan society but cooperatives like this help Moroccan women earn a living wage through sharing their wonderful skills with tourists.

Have a proper photoshoot (because why not?)

With some incredible views it’s no wonder many people opt to get some professional photos taken while in the Blue City. This tour is less than $50 and a great way to get some Instagramworthy shots without having to ask your friend to retake your photo 100 times.

where do I stay in the Blue City?

I’d recommend staying in the Old Medina during your trip to Chefchaouen. You’ll be much closer to activities and restaurants and with most people opting to stay 2-3 nights convince is so important.

My favorite part of visiting Morocco is staying in Riad hotels. The Riad is typically a home with a garden courtyard in the center. These hotels are generally smaller with more customized support and beautiful design elements. That’s why I always recommend a Riad as the best place to stay in Morocco.

My top 3 Riad recommendations:

If you’d prefer a traditional hotel experience you’ll find that most are located outside the Old Medina walls, generally located above or below the town. Dar Jasmine and Casa Perleta are two popular choices with good locations and quality accommodations.

Why I don't recommend Airbnb in Chefchaouen: Chefchaouen is seeing a huge influx of tourism that has been both positively and negatively impacting the local community. The most common negative feedback I received from locals is the lack of regulation for Airbnb rentals in the Old Medina. While most families were born and raised within the walls the growth of tourism has priced them out of their homes and community.

I believe in ethical tourism that benefits the local community and not just the travelers passing through. And after talking to many locals, Airbnb in Chefchaouen does not meet my standards.

FAQs

Is Chefchaouen Safe?

Absolutely. It’s listed as one of the safest places in Morocco to visit, and it’s certainly how I felt. With little crime and a smaller local population it’s an easy town to get comfortable in. And honestly, compared to major cities in Morocco I found the people here friendlier and chiller. Locals were less likely to push you into sales. I also found the locals more respectful towards women, which is important especially if you’re traveling alone.

How many days should I stay in Chefchaouen?

Because Chefchaouen takes a long time to get to I recommend staying at least two nights in the Blue City. Four days would be the most I’d recommend staying, as you’ll run out of things to do and you can only wander the Medina for so long.

Is Chefchaouen worth visiting?

The Blue City is certainly beautiful and worth visiting but it’s also far from any other major Moroccan city. This means that it takes a lot of time to get here so if you’re limited on time in Morocco it’s a long drive.

How do I get to Chefchaouen?

There is no train that runs directly to Chefchaouen so it requires more time to get here. The fastest option is taking a private transfer but you can use a public bus or a combination of train and taxi. If you’re coming from Marrakech be sure to check out this guide.

More Morocco Tips + Inspiration

I hope you loved reading about the famous Blue City and it inspired some amazing adventures on your own trip! If you need more Morocco inspiration be sure to check out these posts:

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