W E L C O M E TO TH E
G O O D L I F E
I N
C H E F C H A O U E N
P L A N N I N G
Chefchaouen is a quieter look at Morocco, but its great beauty attracts quite a few guests, Moroccans and foreigners alike.
If you can, avoid weekends, as plenty of Moroccans will come to visit, and in general, you can avoid the day-trippers by just taking advantage of the earlier hours of the day.
Note that Fridays are Holy days, and many shops are likely to be closed.
It’s also somewhat more conservative than other larger centres, and as such, try and dress a bit more conservatively with that in mind, choosing longer garments, and those that keep your shoulders covered.
Chefchaouen sits in the edge of the Rif Mountains, which means that as soon as Autumn rolls around, it can get quite chilly compared to Marakkech, or Fez, for example.
A full day here, i.e., two overnights, is enough to visit everything in the town itself you might want to. However, if you wanted to stay longer, between relaxing in Hamams, and exploring beautiful hiking spots, there are plenty of options.
M U S E U M & S I T E B O O K I N G
Short of planning ahead for a special Riad or Hamman, you’ll likely not need to worry too much.
S U G G E S T E D I T I N E R A R Y P O I N T S
DAY I
Plaza el Makhzen & Ras el Ma
In the morning, you’ll probably want to spend a good bit of time in the Medina, enjoying the sheer aesthetic beauty of the place.
Head over to the Plaza el Makhzen, have a lovely lunch—and consider a sardine tagine, a local specialty from the nearby coast—and potter about through the shops at the edge of the square. You’ll find carpentry, textiles, and leather here, and often with slightly better prices than in larger Moroccan centres, and anyways with more relaxed sellers.
As is usually the case, start by offering about 50% of the asked price, and work up from there.
After lunch, head over to the Grand Mosque & Kasbah. The price for foreigners is significantly higher than for Moroccans, but it’s a nice enough experience, and the view from the roof is lovely.
To finish up the day, visit the Ras el Ma spring on your way up to see the Spanish Mosque. For dinner, consider trying a handful of local dishes. A pastilla, or savoury pie in filo pastry, or baqula, a cooked green salad, or a beef-and-quince tagine, a sfarjel.
DAY II
Waterfalls of Akchour & Bridge of God
Consider a trip to hike up to the cascading waterfalls of Akchour, or to the Bridge of God, a stunning rock arch formation.
Both are about a 45 minute drive from Chefchaouen, and either will probably take about a half a day all told.
If you feel particularly ambitious and arrive relatively early, you could potentially manage both.
M E E T Y O U R G U I D E
All of our guides can offer you a spectacular experience. As each person has a slightly different look at the world, due to their own unique interests and specialties, we'd encourage you to read a few profiles.
