How Many Days in Chefchaouen? Ultimate Local’s Guide in 2024

Well all know that Chefchaouen is a gorgeous city that is well worth a visit. But, the real question is, how many days in Chefchaouen are ideal?

Well, I’m not gonna lie to you. Chefchaouen is a super small city. Like, you could see it all in a day kind of small.

But, because it’s hidden away in the Rif Mountains, there are lots of cool trails and mountains to explore in the area.

So, how long to stay in Chefchaouen really depends on the activities you are into and how much you want to relax.

I mean, you could easily spend four or five days in Chefchaouen. But, you’d probably just be chilling on rooftops and watching the sunset.

Trust me, I am a local who has visited Chefchaouen multiple times. The first time I visited I spent like five days here.

Honestly, it was a bit long for me since I am very much a person who likes to get up, get out, and be busy all day.

But, if you’re super into relaxing and chilling then Chefchaouen is a great place for it.

So, let’s dig a little deeper and figure out how long you need in Chefchaouen in this local’s guide.

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How Many Days in Chefchaouen? The Short Answer

Ultimately, two full days in Chefchaouen is enough time to see the city.

You can spend the first day exploring the Medina, visit the Kasbah, and then watch the sunset at the Spanish Mosque.

The next day, get up, grab a group taxi, and head to Talassemtane National Park. After a 45-minute drive, get out and do God’s Bridge and the Akchour Waterfall hike near Chefchaouen.

This will take most of the day and then you can leave Chefchaouen the next day.

Best Things to do in Chefchaouen

If you are spending one or two days in Chefchaouen there here are some cool things to do during your trip that make Chefchaouen worth visiting.

1. Explore the Medina

If you only do one thing in Chefchaouen, let this be it. See, the Medina is the older part of the city and is essentially the pretty part where everything is blue.

I mean, you definitely could walk around the are in between the Medina and the bus station, but it is fairly ordinary and looks like every other city you’ve ever been to.

So, take some time to explore the Old Town and see all of the Majorelle blue buildings and alleys that have made this city Insta famous.

You’re also probably gonna take a lot of photos. Therefore, plan what you’re going to wear so that you look super nice in your photos.

Now, a benefit of spending more than one day here is that you can walk around the Medina without the crowds.

Just get up before 10:00 am, bonus points if it’s a weekday since no local visitors will be here, and walk through the many charming squares and alleys.

You’ll probably get lost since there are minimal signs and the Medina has a funky layout, but that’s part of the fun.

Afterward, grab breakfast at a local cafe or at your hotel around 10:00 am.

Local Tip: Many of the prettiest spots in the city require you to pay 5-10 Dirham for a photo. I did not do this but a lot of people like getting super beautiful photos for the gram.

I would also avoid taking photos of people, unless you ask and they give you permission. This is ESPECIALLY true for kids since Morocco has strict laws about child photography.

2. Explore the Souks and Sample Unique Local Foods

Twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, local farmers come together at the souk (or traditional market) to sell a variety of goods.

These include everything from fresh fruits to cheese to bread and vegetables.

However, the really cool thing about the market is that it sells local foods that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

A good example of this is Jben. It’s a mild, white goat cheese that is really only found in Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Tetouan.

So, while you’re in the area, definitely give this cheese a try. I’m not a fan but a lot of people LOVE it.

3. Visit Cafe Clock

This is one of my all time favorite cafes in Morocco and they have awesome locations in Fes, Marrakech, and Chefchaouen.

I love it because the decor is fun and traditional, the prices are reasonable, the food is great, and the views from the rooftop are stellar.

Additionally, all of their locations have live musical performances in the evening, with the option to sig up for cool cooking and calligraphy classes too.

Heck, you can even try a camel burger if you’re a super adventurous eater.

My personal fave is the Berber Omelet and I usually pair this with a spiced cappuccino that has cocoa powder and cinnamon on top.

Additionally, prices are pretty reasonable with dishes costing somewhere between 50 Dirham ($5.00) and 100 Dirham ($10.00) each.

So, check out their outpost in the medina of the blue city and enjoy the views from their lovely rooftop. It’s a great place to go if you’re not sure where to eat in Chefchaouen.

4. Visit Lavadero de la Ciudad and a Cute Waterfall

A short walk outside the northern end of the medina (near Bab El Onsar) is where you’ll find Lavadero de la Ciudad.

It’s known as the “city laundry” in English because there is a small river and waterfall here where locals used to come to wash their clothes.

Nowadays, people just grab some fresh orange juice and relax at a table by the river as they look out at Ras El Maa before heading to the Spanish Mosque.

Just beware of the restaurants here. My boyfriend ordered food at one and it was next-level terrible.

Trust me, there are much better restaurants in Chefchaouen.

5. Catch the Sunset at the Spanish Mosque

Another added benefit of spending the night in Chefchaouen is that you get to watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque.

Yes, it is a popular thing to do in Chefchaouen. Yes, it will be packed with people. But, the view from the top is stunning.

Just try to get there maybe an hour or two before the sunset so that you have a place to sit.

Plus, it’s a pretty easy 20/25 minute walk up a well-paved pathway to the top. You can also get an up close and personal view of the building, which dates back to the 1920s.

It was built by the Spanish and was never used. So, it just kind of sits up there looking out over the town.

6. Explore the Kasbah

A lot of people totally skip over the Kasbah when they visit Chefchaouen. But, I actually found it to be really lovely. Plus, it’s located right in the Medina so you can’t miss it.

See, after paying 60 Dirham ($6.00) to enter, you’ll see a lovely Andalusian-style garden that sits inside a clay structure dating back to the 15th century.

It used to be a prison but is now home to the Center for Research and Andalusian Studies and a small art gallery.

Most of the info isn’t in English so you’ll be able to move through this area quickly.

Just don’t leave without climbing to the top of the Portuguese Tower (it gets its name from the fact that it was built by Portuguese prisoners) and enjoying epic views of the city.

7. Hike to Akchour Waterfall

This is a really beautiful waterfall inside Talassemtane National Park.

However, you’ll have to take a group taxi here from the bus station if you want to visit. It costs 25 Dirham ($2.50) and takes 45 minutes.

Because this is a group taxi, you’ll have to wait for the taxi to full up before you can leave for the park.

Upon arrival, you’ll cross the dam and then take the trail going left. In total, the hike will take around 3 hours and the prettiest waterfalls are at the beginning.

It’s a fairly easy hike but there are a ton of arrows along the way. So, they can sometimes make the trail more confusing.

Yeah, I have done this hike twice and the waterfall at the end is pretty dry and unimpressive.

However, a guy sometimes cooks tagine at the end of the trail. So, you can eat by the waterfall after a long hike. It was really nice TBH.

Otherwise, just chill by the start of the trail and sip some tea at a local cafe before going swimming.

8. Hike to God’s Bridge

This is a much shorter but much harder hike in Talassemtane National Park, The incline on this trail is pretty steep (moderate difficulty) and the trail is quite narrow.

But, this 30-minute hike will take you to this stunning land bridge that extends over the canyon.

You can actually stand on top of the bridge and look out at the canyon.

Just be sure to wear good hiking shoes since you’ll need them, as well as lots of water and sunscreen, on this hike.

From here, you can take a dirt road back through a village or connect with the Akchour Waterfall hike. Honestly, I would ask someone about this because we just went back the way we came.

9. Eat at Sofia’s

Okay, so a lot of people swear by Bab Ssour since it’s a lovely little spot in the Medina with great authentic Moroccan food and enchanting decor.

You basically feel like you’re eating in your Moroccan friend’s living room. The food is also really good and I liked the chickpeas I had here.

However, the food at Sofia’s is awesome. This female-owned and operated restaurant sits above Plaza Uta El Hammam Square and serves the best food I had in Morocco…period.

Honestly, I went the first time and ordered a veggie sandwich and it sucked. I then went back and ordered the vegan soup and vegetarian tagine.

Both were epic and even better than my partner’s mom’s cooking – and that’s saying something since his mom is a really good cook.

So, grab a seat at one of the white plastic seats outside the restaurant and order what you like. This place is epic with a capital “E”.

Is it Worth Staying in Chefchaouen?

Yes, it is worth staying in Chefchaouen, even if it’s for just a night in a local Chefchaouen hotel. This way you can watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque before leaving the following day.

Is a Day Trip to Chefchaouen Enough?

A day trip to Chefachaouen from Tangier, or a day trip to Chefchaouen from Fes, is enough if you want to explore the Medina, get some photos, and enjoy the beauty of this gorgeous blue city.

However, a day trip to Chefchaouen is usually not enough is you want to watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque or do a day trip to Talassemtane National Park to hike God’s Bridge and to Akchour Waterfall.

How Many Days in Fes and Chefchaouen?

Both Chefchaouen and Fes are worth visiting. So, if you are planning a Morocco itinerary then I would try to spend 2 days in Chefchaouen and 2 days in Fes.

This way you can travel at a more relaxed pace and see the major highlights of both of these incredible Moroccan cities.

Well, I hope you found this guide on how many days in Chefchaouen useful and are now ready to plan an amazing trip there.

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