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Destination guide Morocco

Chefchaouen

A kasbah and its garden on the main square of the blue town.

See Chefchaouen Kasbah tickets
Chefchaouen’s blue medina and the mountains, seen from the kasbah tower
Chefchaouen from the kasbah tower

In the city

The kasbah of the blue town.

The Kasbah stands on Place Outa el-Hammam, in the heart of Chefchaouen’s medina. Visit its garden, towers and rooms.

Explore Chefchaouen Kasbah
Timed entry

Kasbah admission

Earthen walls, towers and an Andalusian garden at the heart of the blue medina.
€25per adult
The lily pond and palms of Jardin Majorelle

Also in Morocco

Marrakech

From the blue of Jardin Majorelle to the courtyards of the medina’s palaces and tombs.

Read the Marrakech guide
The rocky Atlantic coast outside the Caves of Hercules

Also in Morocco

Tangier

Sea caves at Cap Spartel and a villa in the forest above the Strait of Gibraltar.

Read the Tangier guide
A restored Roman gate at Tamuda, with Tétouan behind

Also in Morocco

Tétouan

A school of traditional crafts by the medina, and Roman gates outside the city.

Read the Tétouan guide
Ruins at Lixus above the meanders of the Loukkos river

Also in Morocco

Larache

Phoenician and Roman ruins on a hill above the Loukkos estuary.

Read the Larache guide
The tiled courtyard and fountain of the Marinid Madrasa in Salé

Also in Morocco

Salé

A Marinid madrasa in the old town across the river from Rabat.

Read the Salé guide
The ruins of Volubilis below the Zerhoun hills

Also in Morocco

Meknes

Roman ruins in the farmland north of Meknes, below the Zerhoun hills.

Read the Meknes guide
Blue fishing boats below the Skala du Port in Essaouira

Also in Morocco

Essaouira

Ramparts, cannons and blue boats on the Atlantic harbour.

Read the Essaouira guide
Beni Mellal and the plain below, seen from the hills above the city

Also in Morocco

Beni Mellal

A heritage centre by the gardens of a mountain spring.

Read the Beni Mellal guide

Visitor guide

Know before you go.

Practical information for a visit to Chefchaouen and its Kasbah, from getting around to staying safe and finding somewhere to eat.

Checked 8 November 2026. Prices, apps and advice change; check the sources before you travel.

Quick facts

Currency
Moroccan dirham (MAD).
Language
Moroccan Arabic (Darija) day to day; French is widely used, and Spanish is often understood in the north.
Time
GMT (UTC+0) all year.
Plugs
Type C and E (European two-pin), 230 V.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October, when the weather is mild. Winters can be wet, and rooms can be hard to find from mid-July to September.

About Chefchaouen

  • Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 by Mulay Ali ibn Rashid as a small fortress.
  • The Kasbah, the original citadel, stands on Place Outa el-Hammam beside the Great Mosque; it is now a museum, with a garden in its courtyard.
  • Spanish troops occupied the town in October 1920, under the protectorate.
  • Chefchaouen is one of the “emblematic communities” of the Mediterranean diet, which is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

Getting around

Getting around

The town is compact and best explored on foot. Petit taxis wait at the bus station, about 15 minutes’ walk uphill from the medina.

Coaches

There is no railway. CTM coaches link Chefchaouen with Tétouan (about 1½ hours), Tangier (2½ to 3 hours, via Tétouan) and Fès (about 4¼ hours).

Grand taxis

Grand taxis leave from a rank next to the bus station; agree the fare before you set off.

Nearest airports

There is no airport in Chefchaouen. The nearest are Tétouan (TTU), about 65 km away, with a few flights, and Tangier (TNG) and Fès (FEZ), which have more.

Staying safe

The UK government’s advice for Morocco applies in Chefchaouen too: a threat of terrorism in busy tourist places, and petty theft and unofficial guides in medinas. It has no separate warnings for the town or the Rif mountains around it.

  • Morocco has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, including cannabis; possessing or using them carries severe penalties.
  • Official guides carry a badge; ask to see it if someone offers to show you around.
  • If you hike in the hills, research the route and consider a professional guide; activity providers may not meet UK safety standards.
  • Heavy winter rain can cause flash floods in the mountains and near rivers.
  • Moroccan sources also give 19 for police and 15 for fire and rescue.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance and fire
150
Gendarmerie (outside cities)
177

Places to eat nearby

Well-known restaurants near the sights, listed for convenience. Apollonaut has no connection with them and takes no bookings. Price levels (€ to €€€) are a rough guide; check opening times before you go.

  • Restaurant Bab Ssour Medina, just below Place Outa el-Hammam · Traditional Moroccan (closed Mondays) €
  • Café Clock Medina, Derb Tijani · Moroccan and international, rooftop €€
  • Sofia Medina, uphill from Place Outa el-Hammam · Home-style Moroccan, vegetarian options €
  • Restaurant Tissemlal (Casa Hassan) Medina, just off Place Outa el-Hammam · Moroccan, terrace €€
  • Bilmos Place Outa el-Hammam · Moroccan and Mediterranean, vegan options €€
Sources for this guide
Photography credits

Images have been resized and cropped for this guide.

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