If you’ve ever seen a picture of Morocco showing a city completely painted in shades of blue, that’s Chefchaouen. Located in the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco, this small city of about 40,000 inhabitants has become one of the country’s most photographed destinations and one of the most distinctive worldwide. Every wall, every staircase, every doorway, every flowerpot of the medina is painted in shades of blue ranging from pale cerulean to deep cobalt. The visual effect is genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth and explains why Chefchaouen has become a place that travellers visit specifically just to experience.
Why is Chefchaouen blue
The origin of Chefchaouen’s blue colour is one of Morocco’s most debated cultural questions. The most commonly cited explanation is that the tradition was introduced by the Sephardic Jewish community that settled in the city after the Spanish expulsion of 1492. In Jewish tradition, blue represents the sky and heaven and was used to paint homes as a reminder of divine presence. However, historical evidence suggests the blue painting is actually a relatively recent practice from the 20th century rather than the arrival of the Sephardim. Whatever the precise origins, the effect is extraordinary and Chefchaouen has embraced its blue identity as a cultural treasure.
What to see in Chefchaouen
The medina
The most rewarding way to experience Chefchaouen is simply to walk without a fixed destination. The medina is small enough to navigate without a guide, and the experience of getting lost in its blue alleyways is one of the most pleasurable disorientations you can have on a Morocco trip. Each turn reveals a new stair, a new flowering courtyard, a new combination of blue tones. The best light for photography is early morning between 6 and 9am, when the streets are empty and the directional light creates strong shadows on the walls.
Plaza Uta el-Hammam
The central plaza of the medina is the natural starting point for any exploration. The ancient mosque and the restored 15th-century kasbah flank the square. The cafes lining the edges serve excellent coffee and traditional mint tea. Sitting in a café on the square and watching the city’s life flow past is one of Morocco’s great pleasures.
The Spanish Mosque
A 30-minute walk from the medina leads to the Spanish Mosque, a 1920s structure on a hill above the city. Although it has never been used as an active mosque, the view from there over the blue rooftops of Chefchaouen with the Rif Mountains in the background is the best panoramic perspective on the city and the best location for wide-angle photography.
How to get to Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is located 110 kilometres southeast of Tangier and 300 kilometres north of Fes. Regular bus and shared taxi services connect the city with both, and most organised tours include private transfers. There is no airport in Chefchaouen itself; the nearest airports are Tangier (with direct flights from many European cities) and Fes (with limited direct connections). Our tours include this destination as part of the northern Morocco circuit.
Combining Chefchaouen with the rest of Morocco
Chefchaouen is most logically combined with Tangier (in the north) and Fes (about 4 hours south by road), connecting to the imperial cities and the desert circuit. Tours that include Chefchaouen typically take a full week or more. Our Tours from Tangier includes Chefchaouen as part of the northern circuit. For travellers approaching from Tangier, our Tours from Casablanca is the most popular option. Visit our blog for more articles about northern Morocco. Practical references at UNESCO – Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou.
