Chefchaouen a city ‘draped in blue’

In this week’s travel feature, local blogger Manar Ben Tahayekt has listed her top reasons to visit the Moroccan city of Chefchaouen.

By Manar Ben Tahayekt

If you are planning to travel to the north of Morocco, make sure you add ‘Visit Chefchaouen’ on your travel bucket list.

Chefchaouen is only two hours and 15 minutes from Tangiers if you catch the ferry or take a flight. Chefchaouen is in the Rif Mountains and situated inland from Tangiers to Tetouan.

The city was founded in 1471 as a small fortress which exists to this day by Moualy Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached Alami.

The Gorgeous Colours

The colours are the first thing that will catch your eye when you stroll down the old Medina or town.

Chefchaouen is famous for its beautiful streets and buildings that are painted in stunning blue and white shades.

When you first arrive you will notice the magnificent colours of the city. The city is truly draped in blue. Every building and street is painted in a lovely powder blue colour that varies in brightness from house to house and street to street.

The Incredible Views

Each Northern Morocco city has their share of breath-taking views that you could stare at for hours and forget all your worries. Chefchaouen, which is situated by two mountains, also has amazing views.

Ras Elma

Ras Elma is a river that cascades down into a series of small waterfalls connecting a bustling town and peaceful country delights within a short walking distance of each other.

Ras Elma has restaurants where people can sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Some people even wash their clothes in river, there are many different activities you can do and see whilst you are up there.

There's also a Spanish Mosque sitting on the hillside, another short walk from town which is popular with locals and tourists who go up there to watch the sunset.

Places to stay

There is a variety of places where you can stay whilst you are planning on visiting Chefchaouen, whether it is hotels, hostels or apartments, you are covered.

Uta-El Hammam

In the heart of the medina, there is a square with cafes, restaurants and bazaars. It is very relaxing to just sit there and watch the world go by after a day of exploring.

The Kasbah

The Kasbah is a heavily-restored walled fortress that now contains a lovely garden, a small museum and a small art gallery. The museum shows some fascinating view of the old Chefchaouen, including the plaza and Kasbah. The gallery shows the works of local artists.

When is the best time to go?

I would recommend visiting in spring time when the weather is not too cold or too hot. Remember Chefchaouen is in the Rif Mountains so unfortunately there is no sea breeze so it is incredibly hot in the summer and absolutely freezing in the winter.

What to expect when I visit Chefchaouen?

Chefchaouen is quieter than other places in Morocco - instead of vendors inviting you to their shops, you will find quiet men waiting for you to ask them for the price of an item. Streets are filled with locals enjoying their day and you can hear laughter coming from the children playing football. You can definitely try to get lost and observe local life and the many kittens in Chefchaouen.

To keep up to date with Manar’s travels and other interests, visit her blog: https://wobblyblogger.blogspot.com/.
For Manar’s Facebook page, visit: https://www.facebook.com/WobblyBlogger/.