Chefchaouen, aka the Blue City Morocco is one of those unreal fairytale cities. You merely see it on travel sites and dream of going one day. Well we made that dream come true, and brought our daughter along too! We spent just one day in Chefchaouen with a day trip from Fes as part of our 10 day Morocco adventure. Our daughter was in such awe over this city and refers to it as the “Princess city.” It definitely really felt that way the whole time. There was something to discover in every little alleyway and nook.

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One Day in Blue City Morocco

In This Article
How to Get Here
Why is the City Blue?
Where to Stay
What to Do in One Day

Blue City Morocco: How to Get Here

We booked an excursion with a private driver and were left to explore this magical utopia on our own. Since we were lucky to be there during low season we were able to capture the city with less people around. Our tour included round trip transportation, and some guidance on where to go. It was nice to have freedom to choose what we wanted to see.

There is also this tour in a private minivan, and cheaper than what we paid through Fez Guide. You can also take public transit by bus here, which is the cheapest way. But the downfall to that is staying to a strict timetable, or you’ll be stranded within the city with no way back!

As you enter the city you’ll come across a viewpoint, which shows a panorama of the whole city. It’s the perfect place to get a glimpse of the city with the Rif Mountains behind.

Why is the City Blue?

Many people ask if the city is really this blue. It truly is a masterpiece of all different shades of blue. You will be literally asking yourself, “Is this real life?” I can’t believe people live here on a daily basis.

If you’re wondering why the city is blue there’s several theories going around. To represent water, keep the mosquitos away, stay cool, spiritual reasons, protection from evil, the list goes on. But the city really is as blue as the pictures show, and even better in person.

Where to Stay in Chefchaouen

Although we only came here on a day trip, next time we’d love to stay the night. We researched places to stay and here’s a few that we recommend:

Résidence Hoteliére Chez Aziz: A beautiful restored hotel in an excellent location. A nice value with great reviews!

Riad Hicham: We had lunch here and it was delicious! The riad itself looked beautiful and in an excellent location near the main center of town.

Blue City Morocco: What to Do in One Day

Chefchaouen is really the type of place that is best explored with no plan. We merely just walked around admiring the beauty of the streets. With just a day trip here you may feel a bit rushed, but you can definitely get a taste of it. With an overnight stay you can really take it slow and see a lot more.

Lunch

We had lunch at Restaurant Hicham located within Riad Hicham. It was recommended by our guide and although delicious, the service was quite slow, so plan ahead for it. If you’d like to save some time, grab a light meal at a cafe or some snacks in the main square.

The most colorful alley you'll ever see

Clothes and bags hanging against the blue

Shopping in the Medina

As we walked around we came across a lot of colorful shops. We noticed a lot of textiles and dyes lining the streets. Grabbing a few souvenirs is a great way to bring home some memories from here. There were a lot of woven items, bags, and scarves. We also noticed a lot of cats around, sitting on doorsteps, and wandering the alleyways. They made for some wonderful photos!

Plaza Uta el-Hammam, Grand Mosque, and Kasbah Fortress

Plaza Uta el-Hammam is the heart of the city and also the main square. There are a lot of cafes, shops, and street performers which makes it the most lively area here. You can also see the Grand Mosque and Kasbah Fortress nearby, however you have to be Muslim to go inside the mosque. The Kasbah offers wonderful views from the tower, but we decided not to go up due to lack of time.

Ras el-Maa Waterfall

Ras el-Maa waterfall is in the northeastern part of the city. It’s not too impressive, however you can watch the local women washing their clothes here. It’s a nice break from all the streets.

As you can see, The Blue City, Morocco is quite the charming place. You can spend days just wandering the pure beauty of these streets. If you have the time to go, definitely don’t hesitate. It’s worth at least a day trip.

Is the Blue City on your bucket list? If so leave a comment!

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