A Weekend in Morocco’s Most Photographed Town

Chefchaouen, the legendary “Blue City” tucked into the Rif Mountains, is one of the most sought-after destinations for Italian travelers scrolling Instagram before their trip to Morocco. This 2-day tour from Fes gives you the time you need to enjoy its indigo alleyways at a relaxed pace, at sunrise and sunset, instead of rushing through in a handful of hours like same-day visitors do.

Best Time to Go

Spring and early autumn bring the most pleasant temperatures for the mountain drive between Fes and Chefchaouen. The town is captivating in every season, but during the middle of the day (roughly 11am-3pm) its main alleyways fill up with day-trip groups arriving from Fes or Tangier. That’s exactly why we build an overnight stay into this tour: by sleeping in town, you get to enjoy the medina early in the morning and at sunset, when the alleys are nearly empty and the light brings out every shade of blue.

Temperatures by Season

The Rif Mountains catch more rainfall than almost anywhere else in Morocco, which is exactly what keeps the hillsides around Chefchaouen so green compared to the arid landscapes further south.

Is This For You?

This tour is ideal for photographers, couples, and anyone drawn to history and local culture. Two practical points are worth mentioning honestly. First, the drive itself — roughly 3 to 3.5 hours of scenic but continuous switchbacks through the Rif Mountains — can trigger motion sickness for sensitive travelers; we suggest sitting in the front and bringing any medication you’d normally use. Second, the Chefchaouen medina is built on a slope, so walking its alleys involves a fair amount of uphill and downhill movement on often uneven steps, worth factoring in if you have mobility limitations.

What to Pack

Comfortable shoes with good grip are essential: many of the blue-painted surfaces become slippery, especially after rain. Even in summer, mountain evenings cool down noticeably, so pack an extra light layer beyond what you’d need in Fes or Marrakech. Don’t forget a camera or a smartphone with a full battery — you’ll struggle to find a corner of the medina that doesn’t deserve a photo. Finally, bring cash: many of the small shops selling textiles, ceramics and local goat cheese don’t accept card payments.

Pickup and Money

Pickup is from your hotel or riad in Fes in the morning, and the same private vehicle brings you back to Fes on day two — no need to arrange onward transport yourself. Morocco’s currency is the dirham (MAD), a closed currency you can’t buy before arriving; Fes has plenty of ATMs, but Chefchaouen’s are more limited, so withdraw what you’ll need before departing. Most riads accept cards, but the medina’s textile and ceramic shops, and the Kasbah museum entrance fee, are typically cash-only.

How It Differs From an Imperial Cities Tour

Chefchaouen isn’t one of Morocco’s four historic imperial cities (Fes, Meknes, Marrakech and Rabat), but it has become one of the most requested destinations in the country thanks to its unique look. That’s why we offer it as a standalone tour from Fes, but it can also be added as a custom extension to our 5-Day Imperial Cities Tour or our 7-Day Morocco Grand Tour, for travelers who’d rather fold it into a longer itinerary than book it separately. Just let us know when booking if you’d like this combination.

Did You Know?

Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as a fortress to resist Portuguese incursions along Morocco’s northern coast, and it remained closed to non-Muslim foreigners until 1920. That centuries-long isolation is why its historic center has stayed so authentic and remarkably well preserved compared to coastal cities like Tangier, which were far more exposed to European colonial influence.