Chefchaouen, the blue-washed mountain town in the Rif of northern Morocco, sits about 200 km from Tangier and 115 km from Tetouan. The CTM bus from the Tangier bus station runs via Tetouan and takes roughly three hours, costing about 80 MAD ($8.60); from Tetouan the trip is closer to 1 hour 15 minutes. The bus station lies below the old town, and the medina is a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk or a short petit taxi ride away. Because of the distance, an early departure is essential for a single-day visit, ideally on a bus leaving Tangier before 8 a.m. so that the town is reached by late morning and the return coach can be caught in the late afternoon. The centre of activity is Place Outa el Hammam, the main square of the medina, where the Kasbah and its small museum stand beside the Great Mosque with its octagonal minaret. The Kasbah Museum (entry about 60 MAD, $6.50, confirm on arrival) has a garden courtyard and a tower with views over the rooftops. The medina itself is a tangle of lanes washed in shades of blue, with steps, doorways and flowerpots that reward slow wandering; the area around Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the lanes towards Bab el-Ain are the most photographed. A sensible one-day arc starts with coffee and breakfast on the square, followed by the Kasbah and the narrow lanes while the light is soft and crowds are thin. Lunch can be taken at one of the rooftop or courtyard restaurants, where tagine, harira soup and goat cheese salads cost around 60 to 120 MAD ($6.50-13). The afternoon suits a walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hill east of town, about 30 to 40 minutes each way, for sunset views over the whole town. The best seasons are March to June and September to November, when the weather is mild. Summer is hot and busy, and winter is cold and wet, with mist often covering the mountains. Visitors should leave time to reach the bus station before the last departure, and should ignore touts offering to lead them to cheap hotels or to hashish. Souvenirs include woven wool blankets, local goat cheese and natural dyes. A full day typically costs 350 to 550 MAD ($38-59) per person including transport, food and the museum.
| Distance | About 115 km from Tetouan and 200 km from Tangier |
|---|---|
| Travel time | About 3 hours from Tangier, 1 hour 15 minutes from Tetouan |
| Getting there | CTM bus from the Tangier bus station via Tetouan to the Chefchaouen bus station (about 80 MAD, $8.60), then a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk or petit taxi to the medina |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Address | Place Outa el Hammam, Medina, Chefchaouen 91000, Morocco |
How to get there
- CTM bus
- Supratours bus
- shared grand taxi from Tetouan
- rental car
- private transfer
Location
Place Outa el Hammam, Medina, Chefchaouen 91000, Morocco
35.1688, -5.2684 View on map
Highlights
- Wander the blue-washed lanes of the medina around Place Outa el Hammam
- Climb the tower and garden courtyard of the Kasbah Museum
- Hike up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset views over the town
- Taste local goat cheese, tagine and fresh bread at a rooftop restaurant
Tips for visiting
- Take a CTM or Supratours bus from Tangier before 8 a.m. to allow a full day in town
- Check the return coach time on arrival and reach the station early
- Agree petit taxi fares before riding from the station to the medina
- Ignore touts offering hotels or hashish and politely keep walking
- Ask before photographing residents, who often prefer not to be pictured
When to visit
Spring and autumn are most comfortable, and early morning gives soft light and thin crowds before tour groups arrive around midday.
Accessibility
The medina is steep with many steps and uneven cobbles, so wheelchair and limited-mobility access is difficult beyond the main square. Petit taxis can reach the edge of the old town.
Frequently asked questions
Can Chefchaouen be visited as a day trip from Tangier?
Yes, but the journey is about three hours each way by bus, so an early start is needed. Many visitors prefer to stay overnight or approach from Tetouan, which is about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
How much does the Kasbah Museum cost?
Entry has been reported at about 60 MAD ($6.50). Confirm the current price on arrival.
How do visitors get from the bus station to the medina?
The medina is a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk or a short petit taxi ride from the bus station.
When is the best time to visit?
March to June and September to November are mild and pleasant. Summer is hot and crowded, and winter is cold and wet.