What's up guys, we're here in Chefchaouen, it's the blue city of Morocco. In this video,
we're going to show you the best things to do here and there's a
lot more to do than just see the blue houses! So hope you enjoy it.
Chefchaouen is a small town set amidst the Rif Mountains in the northwest of Morocco.
It's also known as the Blue City because of its stunning blue buildings in the old town.
And while it's still a relative mystery as to why the houses are painted blue,
this charming town has a rich and interesting history that's waiting to be heard.
We recommend staying a day or two enjoying all the best things to do in Chefchaouen,
and three days or more if you want to venture into the surrounding Rif Mountains. Now let's dive in.
We're Zac and Ine. We make helpful videos about
destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures.
The number one reason to visit Chefchaouen is for its beautiful streets filled with houses painted
in different shades of blue. In fact, Chefchaouen has become a major tourist attraction in the last
decade because of blue pictures circulating on social media. But the best way to explore
the blue houses is to simply get lost in the alleys and take photos. Just keep in
mind that some of the insta-famous places will charge you a small fee to take a photo there.
While Chefchaouen may seem like a recent phenomenon on social media, the city has an
intriguing history that dates back to the 15th century. The best way to learn about it is by
joining a guided tour of the Old Town. The tours take you to the most important sites such as the
main square, the Grand Mosque, and the outside of the Kasbah. The tour we took also went deeper into
the small blue alleys and markets until reaching the city walls viewpoint. We also passed by the
river and unique washing stations, which we'll explain in more detail at number three in our
countdown. You can find a link to the guided tour that we joined in the description below.
In the bustling main square sits the red walled Kasbah, a 15th century fortress and dungeon.
Inside the walls, you can find Andalusian Gardens as well as a museum that features a collection of
artifacts from the Chefchaouen region. It's a peaceful escape from the city and another
great opportunity to learn a bit more about the history of this area. At the time we visited, the
historical signs were only available in Arabic, French, and Spanish. So having a basic knowledge
of one of these languages or a translation App would definitely be useful. You can come to the
Portuguese Tower here in the Kasbah, it's also a really nice view of the blue city.
The most peaceful and fascinating area of Chefchaouen is Ras El Ma.
Here, the fresh mountain water trickles into the town. It's actually the main
water resource for the population and used to be a popular hangout spot for locals.
Women traditionally gathered along the banks of the river to socialize as they wash
their clothes and their blankets. And while today most families prefer washing at home,
it's still a refreshing place to escape the heat and gain insight into daily life.
As a mountain town, Chefchaouen is surrounded by beautiful nature.
The Rif Mountains might be lesser known than the Atlas Mountains, but are equally beautiful.
Lush forests and impressive peaks rise above the Mediterranean and provide great hiking routes.
Right outside of Chefchaouen, you can find a national park with different trails,
such as Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge. We hiked to the latter one, which is an impressive
Rock Arch that spans the river. And we put a map here on the screen with our route. There are also
playful macaque monkeys in the surrounding forest, making this an interesting day outing. One of the
downsides of this hike though was that there were many restaurants along the water's edge
as well as trash in the river. This took away from some of the natural beauty in our opinion.
Finally, we recommend ending your visit in Chefchaouen with a magical sunset over the
city and mountains. There are many viewpoints around the city, but the Spanish mosque might
be the most popular and beautiful one. It's an easy 20 to 30 minute hike to the top,
and there's a clear path that leaves from Ras El Ma to the top.
If you come a little bit earlier then you can definitely secure spots on the walls,
which has the best view.
If you're planning your Morocco trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive
travel planner. Find a discount code below. We also included important links that you'll need
for your Chefchaouen trip in the description, such as day trip options from Fes and Tangier,
and a full travel guide with where to stay and eat. We'll catch you on the next adventure!