Chefchaouen Day Trip: How to Get There & What to Do
Chefchaouen is known as the blue city and is located in the Rif Mountains of northwest Morocco. It is often visited as a day trip from Tangier, the closest airport to Chefchaouen and reachable in 2 hours by car. You can also even get there from Spain believe it or not. I absolutely loved exploring Chefchaouen as it’s a photographers dream. I have an obsession with visiting all of the most colorful destinations in the world and Chefchaouen is definitely one of them. All the houses are painted blue! Read on for how to take the perfect Chefchaouen day trip. It covers how to get there and also what to do in Chefchaouen in only one day. You definetly have to add this place to your Morocco itinerary!
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Quick Facts before visiting Morocco:
💱Currency: Moroccan Dirham. You can divide by 10 to convert to US dollars.
💶 Budget for a trip to Chefchaouen: The average daily cost for a trip to is €70 a night for both food and accommodation.
💜 Is tipping required in Morocco? Tipping in customary in Morocco and you should plan to tip between 10-15%.
☀️ Best time to Visit: The two most favorable periods to visit are during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). I visited before in August and in November. November was great as the temperatures were mild.
🏥 Travel Insurance in Morocco: I recommend SafetyWing which will cover you in case of trip cancellations or any accidents during your travels.
📱Get an eSIM. It will allow you to use the internet the moment you land while keeping your home phone number. I use Airalo and it’s more affordable than adding data to your current mobile plan. You won’t have to hassle to get a physical sim card too.
Why is Chefchaouen blue?
There are many theories on why Chefchaouen is painted blue. The main reason is a combination of religious and practical reasons. One theory suggests that Jewish refugees who settled there in the 1930s introduced the color, as blue is symbolic of the sky and heaven in Judaism, representing spirituality and a connection to the divine.
Another thought is that the blue color is believed to help repel mosquitoes, as it mimics water, which mosquitoes tend to avoid.
Over time, the blue painted buildings attracted many visitors helping with the tourism of this wonderful city!
Is One Day Enough in Chefchaouen, Morocco?
One day is enough to catch the highlights of Chefchaouen. You will get to enjoy taking photos of the blue-filled streets, shop for souvenirs, have lunch on a rooftop like Cafe Clock, and head to the Kasbah for a view.
Would I recommend longer than a day in Chefchaouen?
Depending on what you’re into, yes! A day might feel rushed depending on where you’re visiting from. If you can stay overnight or even for 2 nights, you will have a chance to really explore and take your time seeing everything. I love photos and colorful places so I wanted longer to be able to take some epic photos here. And I’m glad I did!
If you had more than one day, you could enjoy the sunset in Chefchaouen at the Spanish Mosque. It’s one of the most spectacular views of the blue city.
Where to Stay if you have longer than a day in Chefchaouen
- Budget: I stayed at a gorgeous Moroccan style hotel / riad with a rooftop view of the blue city. I loved it and it was super affordable. It’s called Dar Sababa and was perfect for a solo traveler like me. It was located super close to all the cute photo points and it’s within the medina.
- Mid-range: Other cute options for around €100 a night are Riad Cherifa or Vancii Hotel.
- Luxury: If you have money for a bit of a splurge, I’d recommend Dar Jasmine (which although luxury still has rooms starting at €150 a night!) or Lina Ryad & Spa.
Closest Cities to Chefchaouen, Morocco
Below is a list of the closest cities or towns to Chefchaouen. The closest airport to Chefchaouen is Tangier Airport.
| City | Distance | Drive Time | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetouan | 64 km (40 miles) | 1.5 hours | no airport |
| Tangier | 114 km (71 miles) | 2 hours | TNG |
| Fes | 200 km (124 miles) | 4 hours | FEZ |
| Al Hoceima | 218 km (135 miles) | 4.5 hours | AHU |
| Rabat | 250 km (155 miles) | 4.5 hours | RBA |
| Casablanca | 340 km (211 miles) | 5 hours | CMN |
| Marrakech | 575 km (357 miles) | 7.5 hours | RAK |
Which cities can you do a day trip from?
I would say Tangier for sure and Fes/Casablanca but they are a bit further away as you can see from the chart above. Marrakech to Chefchaouen is not doable in a one day trip tour. You’d need to stay overnight if you want to visit from Marrakech.
Hire a photographer during your time in Chefchaouen like I did! It only cost $40 for an hour and he was fantastic! It was easier to find all the must-see spots in one day visiting Chefchaouen too.
Chefchaouen Day Trip: How to Get There
By Organized Tour
The easiest way to get to Chefchaouen for a day trip is by an organized tour. Since it’s only a day in Chefchaouen, this makes things easier. You won’t have to worry about how to get there or what to do when you arrive. There are many nice day trips and all are affordable if you go in a group. There’s also some great private tours too which will allow you to be more flexible in the things you see when you arrive.
By Bus
The bus is the cheapest option to get to Chefchaouen. The cost is $8 and the provider is CTM. You can book tickets online ahead as they do tend to fill up. You will need to plan ahead to ensure the timings work out to your schedule. My flight out of Tangier was the same day as I hoped to transfer from Chefchaouen and unfortunately there were no buses before 12pm so I couldn’t use the bus and had to book a taxi.
Tangier to Chefchaouen – Time 2.5 hours
- Tangier to Chefchaouen Bus Timetable: 5 buses a day at 7:45am, 9am, 12:15pm, 4pm, and 8:15pm.
- Chefchaouen to Tangier Bus Timetable: 3 buses a day at 12:20pm, 5:45pm, and 6:45pm.
Fes to Chefchaouen – Time 4 hours
- Fes to Chefchaouen Bus Timetable: 4 buses a day at 8am, 11am, 12:45pm, and 4:30pm.
- Chefchaouen to Fes Bus Timetable: 4 buses a day at 10:15am, 1pm, 3pm, and 6:45pm.
By Taxi
A private taxi from Tangier to Chefchouen should cost around 600-950 MAD ($60-$115 USD). You can try to go to the Grand taxi stand and share a taxi with other riders to save money.
You can book a shared transfer where a maxium of 5-6 others will be picked up too. This will be much more affordable and cost around $20-40 per person.
Can you visit Chefchaouen from Spain?
Absolutely! If you’re coming from Spain, getting to Chefchaouen is easier than you might think. Take a ferry from Algeciras or Tarifa to Tangier, which takes about an hour. Believe it or not, you can see Morocco from Spain, it’s that close! From Tangier, Chefchaouen only a 2 hour drive!
Best time to visit Chefchaouen
The best time to visit Chefchaouen is in spring or fall, when the weather is mild. If you’re visiting in April or May, you might catch the colorful wildflowers blooming in the surrounding mountains!
I actually visited during summer in August. While it was hot, it wasn’t too unbearable during my visit. I got to experience fewer crowds and lower prices due to it being off-peak season.
Is Chefchaouen safe?
Yes, Chefchaouen is safe to travel to. It is one of the safest Moroccan cities to visit.
It’s a peaceful town known for its relaxed atmosphere and welcoming locals. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, is relatively rare compared to larger Moroccan cities like Marrakech or Casablanca.
However, it’s always a good idea to stay alert in busy areas, especially in the medina.
I actually visited here solo and during the day I felt completly at ease walking on my own. Even at night in busy areas, I felt safe. However, iin isolated areas, you should of course take more extreme caution. There was a stretch of quite maze-like streets between the busy area and the hotel I stayed, which was a bit intimidating to walk alone at night as a solo female traveler.
As with any destination, using common sense and being respectful of local customs will ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
How to Dress in Chefchaouen
I wore mostly dresses due to the really warm temperatures in August. Dressing modestly is a good idea to be respectful but it is not as modest as you think. You don’t have to cover your head or whole body.
You can definetly wear spaghetti straps and skirts that are knee length as I did. Just don’t go for the booty shorts and revealing outfits and you are ok to dress as you please here.
Some tips for visiting
When shopping, haggling is part of the culture—don’t hesitate to negotiate prices in the souks.
Learn a few simple Arabic phrases like ‘Shukran’ (thank you) or ‘Salaam’ (hello). This can go a long way in creating positive interactions with locals.
And always ask permission before taking photos of people or their shops.
Chefchaouen Day Trip: What to Do
- Wander the many blue streets, taking as many photos as possible! See my Chefchaouen Instagram guide for all the best spots. I’d recommend hiring a photographer who will show you all the spots like I did – it was only $40!
- Shop in the medina. There are many beautiful souvenirs to buy, ranging from artwork to handmade crafts, including intricately woven rugs, colorful textiles, leather goods, Berber jewelry, traditional Moroccan lamps, and locally produced spices and argan oil.
- Visit the Kasbah. This 15th-century fortress in the center of the medina has a lovely garden, a small ethnographic museum, and an old prison. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the blue city and surrounding mountains.
- Eat lunch on a rooftop with views of the city. My top picks are Cafe Clock or The Magic Lamp House of Aladin.
- Hike to the Spanish Mosque for a panoramic view of the blue city. It’s best at sunset but if you’re only here on a day trip, then of course you’ll need to plan on going earlier.
- If you have extra time, visiting a local hammam (traditional bathhouse) can be a relaxing way to experience Moroccan culture and unwind before heading back.
Hopefully this post helps you better plan your day trip to Chefchaouen.
You may also like these posts:
📸 Instagrammable places in Chefchaouen
💜 Things to do in Marrakech
🏨 Most Beautiful Riads in Marrakesh
📅 5 Day Morocco Itinerary
🐫 Best Desert Tours from Marrakech
