Top 15 Unique Things To Do in Chefchaouen, Morocco
Chefchaouen is a small town in Northern Morocco that has become popular due to the breathtakingly beautiful blue alleys, doors, and buildings! Nicknamed the “Blue Pearl”, Chefchaouen is a city you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Morocco!
Even though it is a small city, there are tons of things to do in Chefchaouen that are worth exploring! Majority of the things to do in Chefchaouen are completely free, making it a great place for tourists to relax in between the hustle and bustle of larger cities like Fes, Casablanca, or Marrakesh!
First, a little about Chefchaouen…
The city of Chefchaouen is nestled in the Rif mountain range in Northwestern Morocco. It is very close to Portugal making it a common escape for Muslin & Jewish refuges.
The city is nicknamed “Blue Pearl” because every street, alley, building, and door is painted in shades of blue and white. This picture perfect city is an Instagram-lovers dream destination!
The most common question about the Blue Pearl is “Why is Chefchaouen blue?”… there is surprisingly no official answer. Most people say that the Jewish refuges painted it blue as a sign of strength and comfort. Other say Chefchaouen is blue to mimic the sky and therefore the heavens. The other theory is that blue detracts mosquitos and bugs!
Important words to know…
- Medina: the old Arab quarter or centralized town square of a North African city
- Kasbah: the citadel of a North African city
- Hammam: a Muslin bathing establishment
- Souks: an Arab market or marketplace; a bazaar
- Riad: an enclosed garden or courtyard, commonly used as reference to an Bed & Breakfast hotel
Top 15 Things To Do in Chefchaouen
Explore the Chefchaouen Medina
medina (noun): the old Arab quarter or centralized town square of a North African city
One of the most important things to do in Chefchaouen is to explore the medina. This will give you a sense of feeling for the quaint town as you wander in and out of each alley and corridor.
Spend 2-3 hours just walking around and admiring the gorgeous homes, many shops, and beautiful views. You’re bound to see dozens of cats, souvenir shops, souks (markets), and more!
The center of Chefchaouen is Plaza Uta el-Hammam, which is a town square that you can’t miss! It’s charming and quaint and adds to the beautiful town vibes.
Kasbah Museum
kasbah (noun): the citadel of a North African city
Located in the main square, you’ll find a 15th century Kasbah. Inside the building, there is a courtyard, garden, tower, a former prison, and small museum.
The tower inside the Kasbah will give you panoramic views of Chefchaouen! This is the highlight for most tourists as it gives you a birds eye view of the blue buildings with the Rif mountains at the backdrop.
The museum provides artifacts dating back to the 15th century. These artifacts include pottery, weapons, music instruments, folk dresses, wooden and copper utensils!
Note: descriptions of artifacts and pathways are only in Spanish, French, and Arabic – English speakers may have trouble deciphering where to go or the meaning of things!
Admire the Grand Mosque
Directly next to the Kasbah Museum is the Grand Mosque. Only Muslims can enter the Mosque, but this shouldn’t stop you from admiring it from the outside!
The Grand Mosque in Chefchaouen has an octagonal minaret which makes it unique! The architecture in general dates back to the 15th century.
The mosque uses a megaphone to call to prayer five times throughout the day. It’s a magical experience as the chatter of the town gets quiet during the call to prayer.
Hike to the Spanish Mosque
When in the heart of the city, you may see a small mosque atop a hill on the outskirts of town. This Spanish Mosque was built in the 1920s, and is no longer in use today, but still one of the fan favorite things to do in Chefchaouen.
To get to the Spanish Mosque, you’ll need to take a brief hike to the top of the hill. This pathway can be found at the eastern edge of the town. You’ll notice small bridge connected to a small path that takes you directly to the top of the hill. Give yourself about 20-30 minutes to walk up the hill.
The best time to visit the Spanish Mosque is during dusk, just before sunset. The views are unparalleled as you watch the sun set over the Blue Pearl.
Enjoy Breakfast or Lunch in the Town Square
Chefchaouen’s town square is perfectly picturesque with the Kasbah and mosque on one side, a centralized grand tree in the middle, and many cafes along the side. The cafes offer a variety of traditional Moroccan cuisine like tagines, meat skewers, couscous and more!
While it may feel touristy to enjoy lunch in the town square, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the atmosphere and experience!
In fact, you’ll likely have a cat join you while you’re eating (this is a bonus perk for me, but for those of you who don’t like cats, the restaurants will shoo them away for you).
Enjoy Dinner at a Rooftop Restaurant
Now that you’ve enjoyed a meal in the Town Square, it’s time to elevate your next meal (literally). There are a handful of rooftop restaurants in Chefchaouen that you can’t miss!
Cooking Class in Chefchaouen
If dining and enjoying the taste of Moroccan cuisine isn’t enough for you (because lets be honest, its really good), then be sure to check out one of the cooking classes in Chefchaouen.
The most popular cooking class is part of the Café Clock restaurant (listed above as a rooftop dining option). They offer 2 types of cooking classes: patisserie and Moroccan. You can book your cooking classes on their website!
Food Tour in Chefchaouen
Have you noticed a common theme regarding the things to do in Chefchaouen?! A lot of them revolve around food – and I love that!
If you’re looking to experience more local Moroccan cuisine, consider booking a Chefchaouen Food Tour with 6 tops along the way and a full meal included! The guide will explain more about the history of Moroccan cuisine as you walk through the medina!
Photograph the Best Spots of the Blue Pearl
This quiet retreat of a town is now bustling with tourists ready to get the perfect Instagram photo. Even if you’re not into social media, Chefchaouen has the most magical corners and picturesque spots to enjoy.
You’ll want to wake up on the earlier side to get the best pictures in Chefchaouen without other tourists or locals in the background. I recommend taking pictures between 8AM and 10AM in the morning (before it gets too hot).
Personally, I recommend aimlessly walking around to find your favorite spots. The town is small, so this doesn’t require walking for miles with no avail. Plus, if you’ve already explore the city the day before, you may have some spots in mind!
Shop for Souvenirs
One of my favorite things to do in Chefchaouen is shopping for souvenirs. To me, the souvenir shops had everything I wanted and they weren’t as overwhelming as Fes or Marrakesh. You’ll find pottery, coasters, paintings, magnets, scarfs, and so much more.
Remember to haggle and barter when shopping for souvenirs as they’re often marked up over double the actual selling price. Also remember to bring cash – the vendors do not accept credit card and may sometimes use the excuse of not having “exact change” to try and rip you off.
Shop the Souks
souks (noun): an Arab market or marketplace; a bazaar
If you’re visiting Chefchaouen on a Monday or Thursday, you’re in luck! Once you’re done shopping for souvenirs, shift gears and shop the souks! Moroccan souks are like farmers markets with tons of fresh produce for locals to purchase.
Experiencing the souks is one of my favorite things to do in Chefchaouen because you truly feel immersed in the culture. It isn’t anything fancy or glamorous, but it is authentic & real.
Relax in a Hammam Spa
After a long day of sightseeing and exploring Chefchaouen, you deserve a relaxing spa experience. Morocco is known for the Hammams all throughout the country which offer a Muslin bathing experience.
The Lina Riad & Spa offers a peaceful hammam experience that is worth checking out!
Visit Cannabis Plantation Site
If relaxing in a hammam isn’t your style, perhaps visit a cannabis planation and purchase hashish (hash) for a different type of relaxation.
Morocco is one of the worlds largest cannabis producers, and most of it can be found near Chefchaouen. You’ll experience locals offering hash as if it’s candy!
I personally didn’t partake in this activity. However, I will say I had many locals ask me if I needed directions or wanted assistance. When I declined, almost all of them then offered to take me to their hash farm – be mindful of this friendly ploy as its one of the biggest “tourist scams” in Chefchaouen.
Read More: Tourists Scams & Things To Know Before Traveling to Morocco
Excursion to Akchour Waterfalls
Located outside of Chefchaouen is the breathtaking Akchour Waterfalls. This area is comprised of 2 main waterfalls that require 2+ hours of hiking one way, and another 45 minute hike that will take you to “God’s Bridge”.
The Akchour Waterfalls are about 45 minutes north of Chefchaouen, which puts it in the opposite direction of other popular destinations (Fes, Rabat, Marrakesh, etc). The best way to get here is to share a “Grande” taxi with other tourists for about 25 dirham. Otherwise, you’re looking at 400 dirham one way for a private taxi!
Alternatively, you can plan a tour to Akchour Falls that includes to/from transportation for about $55 per person.
Where to Stay in Chefchaouen
Fun fact – in this small town, there are over 70+ hotels! It can be overwhelming to pick a hotel from the wide variety of options available in Chefchaouen. I’ve picked out a few favorites below:
Hotel Madrid (pictured)
This budget friendly hotel has breathtakingly gorgeous rooms that compliment the city’s nickname of Blue Pearl!
Riad Lina
You may remember this mentioned above for the best hammam spa in Chefchaouen! The riad/hotel itself is just as wonderful as the spa, making it a great choice for both options!
Other Hotel Options in Chefchaouen can be found on Booking.com:
So, what do you think? Is Chefchaouen officially on your Morocco itinerary? I promise you’ll fall in love with this small town and feel as if you’ve been transported to Santorini, Greece! I can’t imagine my trip to Morocco without a relaxing few days in Chefchaouen!
If you’ve visited the Blue Pearl before, feel free to leave any additional things to do in Chefchaouen in the comments below!
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Thank you Lisa for an informative post about things to do in Chefchaouen. This unique blue city has been on our bucket list for a long time, and you just convinced us that it’s time to visit it. How many days would you recommend, if we also want to explore Akchour Waterfalls? Thank you, Martina.x x
What a great post. I’ve been wondering about Chefchaouen for some time but wasn’t sure what else was there. I’d definitely use the opportunity to walk around and admire the architecture and mosques (even if I couldn’t go in). I’d love to visit the Hammams spa and Akchuor waterfalls. I think I’d be able to fill a good weekend here. Also thank you for the heads up on the scams. I will definitely look into this a bit further.
This is just amazing – those colors are just mind-blowing. I’m planning on visiting Morocco in autumn since I’d like to brush up on my Arabic. I’ll definitely squeeze in a trip to Chefchaouen. Hope Covid doesn’t change my plans on short term again….
Morocco looks like such an amazing place to explore. It’s so colourful, and I love the cobblestone streets. I haven’t heard about Chefchaouen before, but it’s so cute and charming. And that hotel you stayed in is simply stunning! I can’t believe it’s a budget hotel, it definitely doesn’t look budget with that decor.
We were very sorry we did not get to visit Morocco this year. But we want to plan a longer trip and see more. We really have no idea what all to put on that plan. So it was good to read more about Chefchaouen in Northern Morocco. Those blue coloured walls in the Medina are always a draw. But I sure would not want to miss the Grand Mosque. A spa stop sounds perfect. Can’t wait to get this trip planned. Thanks for the new spot to consider in Morocco.
I would love to visit Chefchaouen and see all that blue! My husband’s favorite color! And of course see all the traditional Moroccan spots, the Medina, the souks, and eat all the wonderful Moroccan food!