Chefchaouen, pronounced Shef-shown and known as the Blue City, is far and away one of the most surreal cities I’ve visited. Winding alleys, all covered from floor to ceiling in vibrant shades of blue paint, entice visitors to get lost in the enchanting maze, the entire city nestled into a mountain side and full of colours, scents and visual treats. What a feeling to get to come somewhere you’ve seen so many times photographed and then get to wander the streets for yourself.
We drove up to Chefchaouen from Casablanca, where I had met the group of travelers I'd be exploring Morocco with through Much Better Adventures. The drive took about five hours, although we added more time for breaks to stretch our legs and eat lunch while spotting hundreds of stray cats along the way.
Sunrise over Casablanca
Driving past the salt flats of Northern Morocco
Lunch spot in Ouazzane
First Viewpoint of Chefchaouen
As we approached Chefchaouen, our guide prepared us for what would be our first jaw-dropping viewpoint of the Blue City. Our driver pulled over to the side of the road and we all eagerly hopped out to snap our first photos of the jewel of Morocco from afar.
Where to Stay in Chefchaouen
All of our accommodation for our trip through Morocco was pre-booked by Much Better Adventures as we were traveling as a group. I might not have selected this hotel if I had done my own research, but in the end, it was in a very quiet part of Chefchaouen and in perfect walking distance both into the old town as well as up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.
We stayed at the Hotel Ziryab, tucked higher up on the edge of the city rendering it quiet, peaceful and with stunning views across the blue city. Although all our acommodation was pre-chosen for us on this tour, I really liked this particular hotel and would stay again!
The view from our terrace
Wandering the Streets of Chefchaouen
We were guided around Chefchaouen by our guide which was fabulous for my ability to then focus entirely on gorgeous photography and capturing the stunning blues of the city, but hard because I cannot identify many of the places photographed as I didn't plan the route. The pros and cons of pre-planned group travel!
However, I did track our entire walk through Chefchaouen on Strava if you're interested in seeing which streets and plazas we walked through to get the shots below:
The stree right outside our hotel heading towards the city
Best Sunset Spot in Chefchaouen
The Spanish Mosque which is home to the greatest viewpoint over Chefchaouen. The hike is an easy one, more of a walk up above the city. The Spanish Mosque was built in the 1920s and - apparently - never actually used. But is sure is the best spot in all of Chefchaouen to catch a sunset.
Check out my full guide to the best sunset spot in Chefchaouen!
Best Hike Near Chefchaouen
We arose early on our first morning in Chefchaouen to drive northward to Akchour Falls, another wildly different landscape to explore. The 12km round trip along the stunning falls and pools, accompanied by three gorgeous dogs, plenty of laughter along the way, exquisite sunlight glistening into the valley, and the chance to teach the fellow adventurers on my group tour around Morocco how to take the perfect candid insta made for the perfect day in the Rif Mountains.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
