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/ Morocco / The Truth About Morocco’s Blue City, Chefchaouen

The Truth About Morocco’s Blue City, Chefchaouen

by 107 Comments

Edited April 2022

If you’ve ever gone on Pinterest or Instagram, then you know about Morocco’s famous blue city, Chefchaouen, nicknamed the “blue pearl of Morocco.”

Before ever visiting Morocco I was well acquainted with those gorgeous blue alleyways and blue-washed buildings. But I also always wondered about the blue city in Morocco – is it really so blue? Does the whole city look like that, or just a few streets? I was so curious!

Guys, this is the truth about Chefchaouen:

Is Morocco's blue city, or

It is beautiful! And very, very blue.

chefchaoen morocco travel blog photo city view

Chefchaouen – Blue City Morocco

Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 in the Rif mountains by Jews and Moors fleeing Spain. I heard a lot of different (some quite unbelievable) theories about why Chefchaouen is blue. Some say it was painted blue by the Jews who settled there after fleeing Hitler, others say it’s to keep the mosquitos away, while some just said it represents the color of the sea.

I’m not sure which version is true, but it seems to have worked out well for Chefchaouen, as it sure looks good blue!

chefchaoen morocco travel blog photo city view

chefchaoen morocco travel blog photo city view

Before visiting, I hadn’t realized that Chefchaouen is up in the mountains –  the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. The surrounding landscape is truly amazing. I really wish that we would have had time to do some hiking during our visit, but we only stayed two nights, and the first day was incredibly rainy. You can see my full two week Morocco itinerary here. 

It was also really, really cold. Like, if you’re heading to Morrocco’s blue city in March bring some sweaters, just in case. The first day in Chefchaouen was actually so cold and rainy that Danielle and I had to escape underground into a local hammam, or bathhouse.

There’s nothing like getting scrubbed raw by a stranger to warm you on a chilly day.

I won’t say I loved the hammam, because scrubbing = pain, but I did really enjoy the hanging out naked with local women part. But did I mention the pain? On the one hand, my skin is still crazy soft from the ordeal, but on the other hand, it really was an ordeal.

Luckily for my tender skin, the sun came out for our second day in Chefchaouen so no more hammam for me (at least until we got to Fes!).

Danielle and I split up to explore and take photos on our own (does anyone else feel less awkward taking photos solo?) and I officially fell in love with Chefchaouen. I love how quiet and relaxed the city is, and it really is just so ridiculously pretty. This is absolutely the sort of place I could have happily escaped to solo for a couple of weeks. 

Chefchaouen is a perfect place to wander and take photos. As it’s a little far from the bigger cities which means prices are higher, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for shopping (though you won’t be hassled as much here as in the cities!) – mostly it’s just a perfect place to relax. Even the color of the blue town is peaceful. 

Danielle and I spent most of our time chilling in the local restaurants and browsing through the markets. We didn’t worry too much about seeing any particular sights – instead, we just wandered aimlessly and took in the beauty of this blue city Morocco had just introduced us to.

Chefchaouen is one of the most touristy places I visited in Morocco so two days there definitely felt like enough, but it’s so beautiful and unique that it was still worth the journey up into the mountains to see Morocco’s magical blue city.

A lot of people also only do day trips to the area. You can easily visit from one of the nearby cities on a tour. Here are some to get you started:

visiting chefchaouen morocco blue city photo

chefchaoen morocco travel blog photo

visiting chefchaouen morocco blue city

We had dinner one night at Chez Hicham, which was amazing. We sat upstairs, where they have a lovely outdoor terrace, which is probably nice in good weather, but since it was so cold and rainy we sat inside next to the fireplace. It was super cosy, and we enjoyed having a fancier meal in the town.

This might sound weird, but I highly recommend the “cheese salad.” It’s a salad topped with tons of goat’s cheese, walnuts, raisins, and all sorts of yummy stuff. Danielle and I both secretly admitted to each other that it was probably our favorite dish in Morocco. And since sharing that people have written saying they took my advice and agree – it really is an amazing dish!

We even ordered it again for lunch the next day at a different restaurant – so remember: cheese salad in Chefchaouen.

lunch restaurant chefchaouen morocco

 

Practical info about visiting Chefchaouen

We stayed at Dar Besmellah in Chefchaouen, which is run by the nicest family. The dad actually works in Oslo, so the son spoke some Norwegian! So random. And the daughter showed us to the local hammam when we were sad about the rain. Check current rates and availability on Booking.com here.

And if you’re looking for some truly luxurious accommodation check out Dar Elrio here and Riad Cherifa here – both are incredible (and still very affordable), though they fill up quickly so book early!

Danielle and I both flew into Casablanca, so to get to Chefchaouen from Casablanca we took the CTM bus, which took 6.5 hours and cost 140 MAD. Then to get to Fes from Chefchaouen we again took the CTM bus, which took 4.5 hours and cost 75 MAD.

The journey from Chefchaouen to Fes made me very motion sick – consider taking motion sickness tablets for that one, and don’t forget to have travel insurance just in case it turns into something more serious!

chefchaoen morocco travel blog photo

chefchaouen blue city streets houses morocco cats

 

And if you’re wondering what to wear as a female traveler in Morocco, you basically want to keep your knees, shoulders, midriff, back, and chest (and elbows and calves in conservative areas) covered. You can find more information about female travel in Morocco and what to wear in Morocco here.

As for colors, just think of what will go best with blue! You’re always safe with something neutral like this white dress or this black jumpsuit. However, you could always add more color! Just think of what would go with blue the best — yellow, softer pinks, reds, and greens. Also, don’t forget, bring a sweater in the colder months. Just try some of these below!

 

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Comments

  1. Wow – so blue, so pretty! I hadn’t ever heard of this place, but it does not hurt at all to see the pictures 🙂

    Reply

  2. I always wondered if the whole place was really so blue, or if it was just one small section of town, or people really turned up the contrast. I know on one of those lists of “most colorful cities in the world”, Wroclaw was on the list with some HEAVILY edited photos, and the colorful buildings are literally only on the main square, so I approach everything with skepticism. Good to know it’s real!

    Reply

  6. Wow your pics are amazing!! We went to Chefchaouen in April last year and the weather was the opposite. Really really hot! I guess it is hit and miss with the weather in the mountains. In terms of getting there, we used TangierTaxi (http://www.tangiertaxi.com). I’d highly recommend if you’re looking for a more comfortable alternative to the CTM bus.

    Reply

  7. I’ve wanted to go to Morocco since I was a kid and read a book about it, but it never worked out. Perhaps if I’d known this place existed it would have been extra inspiration. Ahh well- I can enjoy your photos anyway! The salad sounds delicious but not the motion sickness though! Ugh! I appreciate the warning in case I do ever make it there in the future.

    Reply

    • That’s funny, the only places in North Africa I had been before were Egypt and Tunisia! Not sure how safe they are now.

      Reply

  10. Thanks for demystifying this a little for us! And also the warning about the touristy aspect. My dad is from Morocco and I’ve never considered going here because one, he’s not mentioned it, and two I was starting to feel like it was just an Instagram spot! But thanks for shedding some light I probably will go now 🙂 but maybe just for one day.

    Reply

  12. I have some serious wanderlust looking at your photos. I’ve wanted to go to Morocco for years and Chefchaouen looks so so beautiful! Love the photo with the cactus! Also, the hammam seemed like an interesting experience – sorry to hear that it was painful, though! Thanks for sharing this post and your experience in Chefchaouen 🙂

    Reply

  13. This seriously makes me want to quit everything and head to Morocco! I’ve seen a few pictures of this city before but I’ve always actually wondered wether the whole city looks like that or just a few streets. Your pictures of the city from above are pure bliss! Great post, great tips 💕✨

    Reply

  15. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! I love the photo of the four cats. 🙂 Chefchaouen is one of my dream destinations.

    Thanks for the photos of appropriate clothes for Morocco- very helpful!

    Reply

  16. I absolutely adore your photos! Chefchaouen was already on my list, but reading this has made me want to book a flight now! (shame I only just got back from Tuscany and have no more leave/vacation time left *sad face*)

    You made me giggle about the hamman, and no I’m not quite sure why we need to remove dead skin cells either! Although I think it’s the getting naked in front of strangers that would bother me the most 😉 (hey I’m British, what can I say?)

    Reply

  17. Morrocco is on our bucket list for the next year! Your picture look stunning. So blue!! Love it. I can’t wait to go check it out in person.

    Reply

  20. Your photos are absolutely stunning! Morocco is so very high on my wishlist so I loved reading this post. In addition to the incredibly unique scenery, any place that has a cheese salad is my kind of place 🙂

    Reply

  21. The color blue is meant to ward off evil. That’s why the traditional houses in Greece and Turkey have blue painted around the doors and windows, and the doors are blue. Looks like this town is taken that warding off evil to heart. This looks like an amazing place to visit. One to add to the list for sure. @rovingjay from Birds of a Feather Press

    Reply

  22. So so so beautiful! The scenes look like movie setups and some of the photos look like paintings 😍 The one with the cats at the alley is super gorgeous. You know what, if you didn’t mention, I would never be able to tell it is cold, with the sun shining and all, glad you wrote that down. Now I shall dream of when I shall visit this otherworldly place 😊

    Reply

  23. It’s so pretty! I’ve been wanting to go for awhile and your photos just make me want to go even more! I’m glad you included the tips about what to wear because I was wondering that actually.

    Reply

  24. I was there last january and yes, it was cold. there was even snow and I did the exact same thing. I escaped to the local hammam. Interesting and painful experience indeed.

    Reply

  25. I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco! I adore the blue buildings and beautiful ocean scenery. Such a gorgeous place to visit! Incredible pictures! 😍

    Reply

  27. I so want to take a photo of a ginger cat against all that blue and eat a cheese salad. This place (which I’m not attempting to spell) has definitely moved up a few notches on my travel wish list.

    Reply

  28. Hi. I’ll have 9 days in Morocco with my hubby and 2 kids (10 and 8). Planning on Marrackech and Tagazhut. I really wanted to head to the Blue City but the flights are an obstacle (but possible) and we’re not sure we’re up for the ride/drive/train. Would you recommend making it happen or skipping it and going to Essaouira instead? You’ve been to both so I’d be grateful for your guidance. Thanks.

    Reply

    • I’d go to Essaouira instead. Chefchaouen is cool, but Essaouira felt less touristy and I actually found the city more beautiful than Chefchaouen. Have an amazing time!

      Reply

        • Essaouria is prettier and much easier to get to.
          Also consider the cities on the Mediterranean coast like Tetuoan, M’diq and of course Marina Beach.
          I go every year. All over Morocco.
          Enjoy

          Reply

  29. Chefchaouen was our favorite city in Morocco. I feel that the tones of the blue-washed city helped to calm not only the locals, but also the tourists that roam the streets. Such a contrast to Marrakech!

    Thanks for such a beautiful and informative post! Keep up the inspiration.

    —

    Nash&Kim
    Care.Inspire.Share.

    thenomadicpeople.com

    Reply

  30. Hello,
    Love your blog!
    Can you tell me which part of March you were there? I am planning for next March and don’t want to be too cold.
    Thank you

    Reply

      • Thank you so much! Also were you alone? I have read that’s one of the few cities in Morocco that is comfortable for a solo female traveler…even a seasoned one. Was that your experience?
        Thank you!

        Reply

        • I was there with another woman. I felt probably the most comfortable in Chefchaouen and Essaouira, and the least in Marrakech, though really as long as you dress conservatively you shouldn’t get too much attention. I did see some girls walking around in shorts in Chefchaouen and they were getting a lot of comments from people and looked kind of upset by it. Not sure if it was because of how they were dressed or not, but I would dress conservatively just to be on the safe side.

          Reply

          • Thank you so much! I have decided to take an Intrepid tour of Morocco. I like to travel independently but it seems to make sense to take a tour there.
            Thank you!

  33. Hello Silvia!

    I was in Chefchaouen last year – and I don’t recall being in another place that felt so whimsical.

    Great read – thank you!

    Mick 🙂

    Reply

  34. Hi!

    We are heading to Morocco in a few months. We are wanting to purchase things to take home, but some people warned us not to interact with the sellers at the medinas, especially in Fez and Marrakesh… Advice?

    Reply

    • That seems like odd advice. You should be careful about not paying more than you’re comfortable with, as you do have to bargain quite hard to get reasonable prices, but there’s so much lovely stuff to buy in Fez and Marrakesh (at a much better price than you’d find at home) so it would be a shame not to interact with the sellers at all! If you’re really worried though, I think there are a lot of day shopping tours you can books, so that a guide can help you buy things.

      Reply

  35. I LIVE IN Morocco but I never visit chefchauen ,it’s a beautiful city ,I visited almost all the citys,I live in Marakech,I recommend you visit Marrakech and go to hammam and jamae fana, you will enjoy it,and your are welcome in our city, Thank you Silvia for such amizing pictures 🙂

    Reply

  37. Hi!

    I’m going to Fez with a friend next month only for 4 days, and we were thinking about booking a day trip to Chefchaouen. We would only be 4 hours in the city, do you think it is worth it?

    All the pictures look amazing! I can’t wait to go to Morocco!

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Personally I wouldn’t do it because I got really carsick on the drive from Chef to Fez, but if you’re fine with winding roads then yeah, it would be worth it! It really is such an amazing place to see – and I mean, how often is one in Morocco?

      Reply

  39. Always loved to visit Chefchaoun whenever I get a chance to visit my home country.
    It’s calm and colourful with so much positivity around here.

    Reply

  40. Im thinking of going for my birthday next month. I would be alone and I have an expensive camera. Is it safe for a woman to travel alone and wander around taking photos? Also is three days too much? Im coming from Spain so not to far….

    Thanks

    Reply

  41. I’m coming to Morroco for vacation In March and I have never heard about Chefchaouen. After seeing these pictures I think I have to reserve a few days just to visit this city. Both of my kids’ favorite color is blue, so I think it will be an awesome trip with plenty of great warm memmories. Thanks for spreading word about this place 🙂

    Reply

  42. Hi,
    Loved your posts & photos!! Wow! About the hammam, I had hammam in Marrakesh and in a village in the Atlas mountains and neither of them was painful – vigorous scrubbing, but not painful, and the hot water and steamy atmosphere felt great. I enjoyed it and felt great afterwards. I loved the communal hammam in the village. In the village, women scrubbed each other (not a special ‘hammam’ person), and the woman whose house my friends and I were staying in scrubbed me. In Marrakesh it was someone brought in by the Riad management to use their hammam room for guests.
    Again, thank you for the wonderful and helpful posts & photos!

    Reply

  43. Know I’m late to the conversation, but I saw this place online and now I really, really want to do there! But I was bit concerned when you said that it was one of the most touristy places; can you elaborate a bit? I think my heart is set on going, but I don’t want to spend time in a place that is designed for tourists…. thanks so much!

    Reply

    • HI Diz ,

      im local from chefchouen and I can promise that you will love it blue peaceful and simple .

      We don’t really paint it for tourist it local painted for us to give a good picture of our houses strret and door since the color is a apart of our culture .

      Reply

  45. Enjoyed reading your post. My family will be taking a 3/2 day Sahara dessert tour from Marrakech on 8/28/19 and planning to travel from there to Fez .. what would be your travel recommendation. Thanks

    Reply

  46. Wonderful article about the Moroccan blue city. It’s one of the best cities to explore.
    If you plan any new adventure to Morocco: Desert tour, Atlas Mountains, Marrakech, off-road experience…. please feel free to contcat us

    Reply

  47. i really liked this post .thank you for the great words about my country and its people .i have been working in Morocco tourism for 15 year now and most of the people go with a smile and full of memories.

    Reply

  48. It’s painted blue because that’s the color YHWH the God of Israel gave to the 12 Tribes of Israel to put in their tzit tzits. 9 strands of white, one strand of blue.

    Reply

  49. Hi Silvia,

    I just discovered your blog and am enjoying your posts. We will be going to Morocco in early September 2020 for 25 days. I saw that you ate salad there which I am told is a big no no. Did you have any intestinal issues while you were there? Thanks.
    Former Leominster, MA resident.

    Reply

  50. I think that visiting Morocco, without visiting chefchaouen is really missing a big part of the real soul of north morocco, this is by far the best place to visit ( 3 to 5 days) and relax especially during summer

    Reply

  52. So beautiful Morocco. Wishing all this crazy situation ends so that I can come back. Great post thanks for sharing and making us dream!

    Reply

  54. I really like your blog, i have been in morocco and is very beatiful country, sahara desert & chefchaouen are my favorite places, thank you for sharing this article with us

    Reply

  56. It’s always fascinating to see such beautiful articles about our Country, it makes us proud and appreciates it More!
    Thank you so much for sharing your tour in Morocco with the world!

    Reply

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