Chefchaouene Travel Guide

The Médina of Chefchaouen is a blue old town set in the Rif Mountains, founded in the 15th century by Muslim and Jewish refugees. Tiered blue-and-white houses climb the slope; squares, fountains and craft workshops weave together — Morocco's most photogenic and tranquil mountain maze. The blue shifts from misty dawn light to deep noon blue; every alley corner is a postcard frame.

Ras Elma sits by the spring behind Chefchaouen's old town, where clear mountain water wells from the rock into a green ravine. Locals wash and rest here — the freshest escape from the blue city's crowds, to hear water and birds. Cafés and craft stalls line the stream — a cool rest stop shared by locals and travellers alike.

The Spanish Mosque is a hilltop viewpoint overlooking the blue town of Chefchaouen - a pretty sight. On a hill east of the blue town, it is a great vantage point for the whole blue town panorama (the plain mosque itself is usually closed; visitors come for the viewpoint). Chefchaouen lies in the Rif mountains; from this east hill you overlook the dreamy blue town - a sea of blue houses cascading down the hillside, ringed by green Rif mountains. Especially at sunset, golden light on the blue town is magical.