Oh the beautiful blue city, my favorite part about Chefchauouen was just meandering around the streets and taking pictures of kittens. I suggest waking up early one morning and experiencing Chefchaouen when everyone is still sleeping and it’s eerily quiet. Here is my guide to Chefchaouen, Morocco.
How to Get There
We got there by taking a bus from Tangier, I suggest taking the CTM bus. CTM buses are air conditioned, clean and generally on time. Being from the U.S. we were not able to purchase bus tickets in advance. We got to the bus station an hour and a half early and had no issues getting bus tickets. Once at the station in Chefchaouen, we walked to the old city. The walk from the station is all up hill, so if you have a lot of baggage I highly suggest taking a taxi. Coming back down to the bus station was a lot easier!
Things to See
Hike up to Spanish Mosque
We hiked up to Spanish Mosque twice, once for sunset and once for sunrise. Sunset was nice, but hard to take pictures until the sun was down. It is a popular place at sunset, so just be aware it will be a bit crowded. Sunrise was nice because no one was there, but it took awhile for the sun to come over the mountains and light up the town. I suggest going mid-to-late morning if you want to take nice pictures, that is when the lighting will be the best.
Get Lost
Like I said, this was my favorite thing to do. Take wrong turns, go off the beaten path away from the crowds. You will come across some beautiful and different photo opportunities. Be prepared to see cats and kittens everywhere, you will definitely want to take one home if you are a cat person.
Kasbah Fortress
The entrance fee was a little steep and the experience was mediocre. If you are tight on a budget, I would suggest skipping this. This would be the perfect place to sit and reflect on your travels, write in your journal while enjoying the gardens and sounds. There are also some great views from one of the towers.
Things to Eat
Beignets
In the morning head to Casa Perleta, right outside will be a woman selling beignets from a cart. You won’t regret it!
Goat Cheese
This will be the freshest goat cheese you will ever eat. Served with a little bit of olive oil and herbs, it is like magic in your mouth.
Tagine
Tagine is a stew-like meal, slow cooked in a ceramic pot called a tagine. You will find this dish all over Morocco, cooked with all different kinds of meats.
Where to Eat
Hamsa Restaurant
One of my favorite restaurants in Morocco, and they serve vegan & gluten free options. We ate on their rooftop and people-watched down on the main square. We kind of did our meal backwards and started with some tea and cookies that were homemade and delicious. I then ordered a Moroccan soup and a side of falafel, both were super tasty!
Bab Ssour
This restaurant was suggested to us by someone working at our hotel. A little tough to find, but they had a wonderfully refreshing grape juice that they suggested to us and I do not regret it one bit. We ordered two different kinds of their tagine and they were both great! A traditional Moroccan restaurant that was very friendly and accommodating.
Where to Stay
Casa Perleta
Casa Perleta is where we stayed and I highly suggest it. The front desk was super welcoming and helpful with places to eat. The morning breakfast on the rooftop was top notch. We stayed in room H4 and loved it, they have free Wifi and air conditioning.
If you liked my guide to Chefchaouen, Morocco, then check out My Guide to Lisbon, Portugal! Don’t forget to book your trip with your favorite travel planner, yours truly.
