Blue City Travel Guide: How to Visit Chefchaouen

Best ways to reach Chefchaouen

If you are visiting Fes or Tangier, you can easily plan a day trip to Chefchaouen, which gives you enough time to see the essentials of the blue town. Casablanca and Marrakech are a bit more complicated, but I will still share the best ways to reach Chefchaouen from all these places.

How to get to Chefchaouen from Tangier

The distance between Chefchaouen and Tangier is approximately 120 kilometers or 75 miles. It takes approximately 2-3 hours depending on your preferred transport.

Organized day trip

This is the easiest way to reach Chefchaouen from Tangier and there are multiple options available online. I am sure that your host also can help you with finding an organized day trip for you.

This is one of the top-rated options, but keep in mind that this does not include a professional guide, so it is a transfer between two cities with some additional stops.

This Special Day Trip to Chefchaouen and Tetouan includes guided tour services if that is what you are looking for.

By bus

CTM line offers an express service between Tangier and Chefchaouen. The price is 8 euros, which means that this is a great option for budget travelers. Overall, the CTM line is well-rated and offers great service considering the affordable prices.

In case you are planning a day trip from Tangier to Chefchaouen, you can take the bus at 7.45 am to reach Chefchaouen at 10 am. For return, you have 2 options – at 3.30 pm and 6.15 pm.

Keep in mind, that you will have to pay 5 MAD for each piece of luggage at the bus station which has to be put on the lower bus. Bring some spare cash with you.

Get your tickets here.

By car

If you are exploring Morocco by car, you can easily reach Tangier from Fes in 2 hours and have the freedom to plan your schedule. Make sure you have an internet connection or download the route from Google Maps and you are ready to go.

Click here to book your car rental in Morocco.

How to get to Chefchaouen from Fes

The distance from Fes to Chefchaouen is approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) by road. The travel time can vary depending on the mode of transportation and traffic conditions. Overall, you can expect to spend 4 hours on the road.

Organized day trip

The best way to get to Chefchaouen from Fes is by booking an organized day trip online or through your accommodation. This is a very affordable and easy way to reach Chefchaouen.

We chose to book this day trip on GetYourGuide, which includes a transfer to Chefchaouen and back to Fes. Once you arrive at the Chefchaouen, you have 4 hours to explore Chefchaouen on your own and it was exactly what we wanted.

Want a private day trip to Chefchaouen? This is a great option, but keep in mind that the guide is not included.

And in case you want to book a guide, do it directly in Chefchaouen. This is one of the top-rated tours that will help you learn more about the blue city of Morocco.

By bus

If you are on a budget or you want to spend a night at the Chefchaouen, you can reach Chefchaouen from Fes by bus.

CTM line offers an express service between Fes and Chefchaouen. There are 3 available times per day and the price is 14 euros. Overall, the CTM line is well-rated and offers great service considering the affordable prices.

In case you are planning a day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen, you can take the bus at 8 am to reach Chefchaouen before midday. For return, you have 2 options – at 3 pm and 6.45 pm.

Keep in mind, that you will have to pay 5 MAD for each piece of luggage at the bus station which has to be put on the lower bus. Bring some spare cash with you.

Get your tickets here.

By car

If you are exploring Morocco by car, you can easily reach Chefchaouen from Fes in less than 4 hours and have the freedom to plan your schedule. Make sure you have an internet connection or download the route from Google Maps and you are ready to go.

Click here to book your car rental in Morocco.

How to get to Chefchaouen from Casablanca

The distance between Chefchaouen and Casablanca is approximately 320 kilometers or 200 miles. The journey takes approximately 4 to 5 hours, depending on the specific route and traffic conditions. 

By bus

CMT will be your best friend in case you want to reach Chefchaouen by bus, but keep in mind that there is only one bus per day, so plan accordingly. Purchase your tickets here.

By car

If you are exploring Morocco by car, you can easily reach Chefchaouen from Casablanca in less than 5 hours and have the freedom to plan your schedule. Make sure you have an internet connection or download the route from Google Maps and you are ready to go.

Click here to book your car rental in Morocco.

How to get to Chefchaouen from Marrakech

The distance from Marrakech to Chefchaouen is approximately 540 kilometers or 335 miles. The journey takes around 8-9 hours by bus and 7-8 hours by car, but it offers a scenic route through the Atlas Mountains.

By public transport

There is a bus and train available between Chefchaouen from Marrakech. Public transport is not ideal, because you will need to change in Casablanca. Unless you plan to spend a night or two in Casablanca, I don’t recommend this option. 

By transfer

There are multiple transfers available between Chefchaouen and Marrakech, however, it is a pricey option considering that round takes around 8 hours. See available options here.

By car

The car gives you the biggest freedom and you can visit Casablanca or Rabat on your way. You can even combine it with Fes. This is a great option if you love road trips and want to cover all the main attractions of Morocco.

Click here to book your car rental in Morocco.

Top places to see in Chefchaouen

Medina

Medina of Chefchaouen is an attraction of itself and you will spend all your time wandering around the blue streets and alleys of Medina. 

Google Maps doesn’t really help when it comes to finding the right spots in Medina but use Sidi Bouchouka as your main destination – it is the most popular photo spot in the city. This street starts from El Asri which is another tourist attraction filled with shops and cute doors.

You should take a turn when you arrive in Kaiklana to find Tuiles colorées. Follow El Baria to arrive at Jamaa Street which is parallel to El Asri and it is way fewer crowds because most of the tourist groups skip it. On this street, you will see The White Mosque of the Souk and an orange shop.

Make sure you stop and take a photo of some of the iconic doors of Chefchaouen. And don’t miss House of Mosaics.

Al-Hawta Square

Al-Hawta Square is the main square of Medina and the heart of the Blue Town. You will certainly come across it at some point when wandering around the town. It is a lively place where you can stop for a short tea or coffee break.

In the middle of the square, you will find a blue Haouta fountain.

The Spanish Mosque

If you are looking for the best views over Chefchaouen, you will love The Spanish Mosque. Head to the Eastern Gate of Medina and take a short hike up. It won’t take you more than 30 minutes, but the views from the top will be amazing.

Extra tip! If you are visiting Chefchaouen with an organized day trip, it includes a quick stop at another iconic viewpoint. It is a bit further away, but you still have a fantastic view.

Alcazaba also known as Kasbah

Kasbah is a famous historical landmark and probably the only ‘not blue’ attraction in Chefchaouen that is worth visiting. The Kasbah in Chefchaouen offers visitors a glimpse into the city’s past, with its traditional design and historical elements.

This 15th-century Kasbah, adorned in earthy brown clay, houses an enchanting Andalusian-style garden, a converted prison, a modest Center for Research and Andalusian Studies, and a petite art gallery.

Maison de la Culture

Maison de la Culture is a library and a little cute gem that you should visit during your time in Chefchaouen. There is not much to do for a tourist, but make sure you visit the courtyard as you are wandering around Medina.

Other practical tips that you should know before visiting Chefchaouen

What is the best time to visit Chefchaouen?

The best time to visit Chefchaouen is during the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) seasons. During these months, the weather is generally mild and pleasant, making it ideal for exploring the blue-washed streets and enjoying outdoor activities.

Summer (June to August) can be hot, with temperatures often exceeding 30°C (86°F). Keep in mind that summer is the peak tourist season, so popular attractions may be more crowded.

Winter (December to February) can bring colder temperatures, especially in the evenings, with occasional rainfall. While Chefchaouen is less crowded during this time, some outdoor activities may be limited due to the weather.

For reference, we visited Chefchaouen in December and had fantastic weather during the day. To my surprise, there were a lot of crowds when we arrived but during the last couple of hours, it was almost empty.

How long do you need in Chefchaouen?

Most of the tours offer 4 hours of free time in Chefchaouen during a day trip. That was our only option as well and to my surprise, we managed to visit the town and even enjoy lunch. This means that one day is enough for Chefchaouen.

If you are coming from Casablanca or Marrakech, a day trip is not an option, so you will need to spend at least one night. But that is not too bad, because this way you can wake up early and see Chefchaouen before the day trippers arrive.

What are the best ways to get around Chefchaouen?

Considering the compact size of the blue town, you can easily get around by walking and it doesn’t require any transportation. In fact, it is not even possible to visit Chefchaouen by car or any other miss of transport.

Most of the transfers and tour operators will leave you at the entrance of Medina and you can start your exploration from there. Also, be prepared for some stairs inside the town.

If you arrive at the Chefchaouen CTM Bus Station, it will be a 20-minute walk away, but for extra comfort, you can get a taxi. Make sure you use only the official taxi and try to agree on the price before you get in the car. 

Where to eat in Chefchaouen?

When it comes to restaurants, there are not many options in Chefchaouen. However, considering that you will be spending a day or two there, it offers everything you might need.

If you read my Fes guides, you will know that I am a big fan of Cafe Clock, and to my surprise, it is in Chefchaouen as well. This was just a perfect excuse to go back and try more things from their menu. It matches the rest of Chefchaouen with its blue design and offers a fantastic terrace on the top.

Restaurant Jbaria is another amazing restaurant in Chefchaouen. It is famous for its hospitality and intense flavors. This is a less touristic restaurant compared to Cafe Clock and it will make you feel like you are visiting a local friend in Chefchaouen.

If you are a vegan, you will want to check Bilmos. While Cafe Clock offers vegetarian and vegan options as well, Bilmos has consistent 5 stars mostly raving about their vegan options and wide variety of food.

Are you looking for budget options? Sofia should be at the top of your list. I wouldn’t say that other restaurants are expensive, but this is certainly the best affordable restaurant in Chefchaouen.

Further reading for how to visit Chefchaouen

Or read more about: Fes | Casablanca | Chefchaouen | Morocco

In conclusion…

This is the end of Chefchaouen travel guide and I am sure that by now you know how to reach Chefchaouen and what are the main attractions in Chefchaouen together with other useful tips.

I would love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any feedback or additional tips, leave a comment below. Also, check out my Instagram for regular travel videos and travel inspiration. Or explore other destinations on this travel blog.

Pin it for later and save how to visit Chefchaouen!