Things to do · Chefchaouen
Tucked in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen is small enough to enjoy in a single day — but its blue-washed lanes reward slow wandering. This itinerary covers the medina, the kasbah, the best photo spots and the Spanish Mosque sunset, with room to simply get lost.
6 experiences
Start in the main square, Place Outa el Hammam, beneath the red-walled 15th-century kasbah. Visit the kasbah's gardens, small museum and tower for a first view over the blue rooftops, before the day-trippers arrive.
Wander the heart of the medina uphill, where almost every wall, step and door is painted in shades of blue. The lanes around Rue Bin Souaki and the small squares are the most photogenic — go slowly and follow the colour.
Return to Outa el Hammam or a medina rooftop for lunch. Local specialities lean on goat cheese, olives and tagine; the mountain setting and blue walls make even a simple meal memorable.
Walk to the Ras El Maa waterfall at the medina's edge, where the mountain stream emerges and locals still gather at the old communal wash-house — a cool, lively spot away from the shops.
Chefchaouen is known for wool garments, woven blankets and goat cheese. The medina's craft shops are calmer and often cheaper than those of the big cities — a good place to browse before sunset.
End with the 20–30 minute uphill walk to the Spanish Mosque on the hillside opposite the medina, the classic viewpoint for sunset over the whole blue town and the Rif beyond.
One day is enough to see Chefchaouen's highlights — the kasbah, the blue medina, the Ras El Maa waterfall and the Spanish Mosque sunset. Many travellers stay overnight, though, to enjoy the lanes early and late when the day-trippers have gone.
The Spanish Mosque, a short uphill walk on the hillside opposite the medina, is the best viewpoint, especially at sunset when the light turns the blue town gold. The kasbah tower also gives a good rooftop panorama.
There are several theories and none is proven: that the blue was introduced by Jewish refugees in the 1930s, that it keeps mosquitoes away or homes cool, or that it simply became a tradition and tourist draw. Locals themselves give different answers.
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