Chefchaouen Travel: Getting There from Tangier & Fes in 2026
Journey to Chefchaouen, Morocco's stunning blue village nestled in the Rif Mountains. This 2026 guide covers everything from bus routes to top sights.
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Journey to Chefchaouen, Morocco's stunning blue village nestled in the Rif Mountains. This 2026 guide covers everything from bus routes to top sights.
Morocco Travel
Chefchaouen

Hello! Durimap here 😊
Nestled in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco, Chefchaouen is a small town with a population of approximately 46,000 people.
With its blue-painted alleys and houses cascading down the mountainside, it's famously known as 'Morocco's Blue Pearl’.


The charming atmosphere of every single alleyway made it one of my absolute favorite cities in Morocco.
Today, I'll share a guide on how to get to Chefchaouen and the must-visit spots I explored myself.
📍 Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen, Morocco
How to Get to Chefchaouen |
Chefchaouen doesn't have a train station, so if you're traveling independently, you'll most likely use a bus or a rental car.
The most popular routes for travelers are primarily Tangier → Chefchaouen and Fes → Chefchaouen.
First, let's look at traveling by bus.
You can use CTM, Morocco's leading long-distance bus company.

You can sometimes get a promotional fare by booking a round trip on the official CTM website, but these tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, so only opt for them if your itinerary is set in stone!
If you're booking a one-way trip, just check the standard fare.
Category | Tangier | Fes |
Price (Discounted/Standard) | 77 dirhams/85 dirhams | 131 dirhams/145 dirhams |
Travel Time | 2h 15m ~ 2h 40m | 4h 10m ~ 4h 50m |
Daily Trips | 6 trips a day | 4 trips a day |
Of course, you can buy tickets on the spot at the terminal, but there's a chance tickets might be sold out on the day of travel.
I recommend completing your online booking at least a day in advance!
📍 Official CTM Booking Page📍
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Here's how to check schedules and fares:

Another option is to join a tour. You can find day tours that depart from Fes and explore Chefchaouen for a day, or even longer transfer tours starting from Casablanca to Tangier (or vice versa) that include a visit to Chefchaouen.
The third option is to travel by rental car, but there's one important thing to remember!
You'll need to park outside the Medina, so if your accommodation is within the Medina, I recommend parking somewhere not too far from your stay.

We parked quite a distance away and had a bit of a struggle lugging our suitcases up and down the stairs. 😂
Must-Visit Spots in Chefchaouen |
We planned a 3-day, 2-night trip, mainly because we included a trek to Akchour, which is about 30 minutes from Chefchaouen.
Otherwise, a 2-day, 1-night stay should be sufficient.
Even if you're on a half-day tour, I highly recommend making time to visit.
Place Outa El Hammam
The heart of Chefchaouen's Medina is Place Outa El Hammam.

Surrounding the square, you'll find the Kasbah and the Grand Mosque, along with a cluster of cafes and restaurants.
The photo above was taken from the rooftop of Aladdin Restaurant, where I dined, overlooking the square.
It's famous for its great ambiance and view, although the service and food are just average. Still, for the view alone, it's worth a visit!
📍 The Magic Lamp House of Aladin
Rue, targha, Morocco




The Blue Medina Alleyways
But if I had to pick just one favorite place in Chefchaouen, I'd have to choose the entire Medina alleyways.
With white walls painted in various shades of blue, and steps, doors, and even flower pots in vibrant yellows, blues, reds, oranges, and more,
each alleyway has a slightly different vibe.


Some popular photo spots might ask for 5-10 dirhams to take a picture, or require you to buy a juice or an item to snap a photo.
While I did notice some places that were a bit over-decorated to attract tourists, I found the more natural spots to be much prettier.


There were also many small shops selling leather bags, carpets, and handicrafts scattered throughout, making window shopping quite enjoyable.

A particularly lovely shop selling soaps and perfumes really stuck with me, so I'm sharing its location!
It would be perfect for a Moroccan travel souvenir or a gift.
It's called La Botica de la Abuela Aladdin, and it's just a minute away from the Aladdin Restaurant I mentioned earlier.
📍 La Botica De La Abuela De Aladdin
17 RUE TARGI, Chefchaouen 90001 Morocco





In conclusion, if you love taking photos, I highly recommend allowing plenty of time in Chefchaouen. 😊📷

Ras El Maa Laundry Spot
If you walk east from the Medina, you'll come across Ras El Maa.
It's where water flows down from the Rif Mountains, and locals have been utilizing this water for ages.
📍 Ras El Maa
Ras El Maa, Chefchaouen, Morocco
When I visited, locals were actually doing their laundry at the communal washing area.


Right in front, in the clear water, people were having fun diving from higher spots.


Rather than simply sightseeing a famous attraction, it felt like I briefly stepped into the daily lives of the people of Chefchaouen, which made it a truly memorable place.
Bouzafar Mosque Viewpoint
If you head up the mountain from Ras El Maa, you'll find the Bouzafar Mosque Viewpoint, offering panoramic views of Chefchaouen's blue town.
📍 Bouzafar Mosque
5P8V+6QV Chefchaouen, Morocco

It's a particularly popular spot for travelers around sunset.
We couldn't make it, though! 😂 The Akchour Waterfall trekking, which is about 30 minutes from Chefchaouen, was much tougher than we expected the day before. 😢
If you want to see the entire landscape of Chefchaouen from above, definitely add it to your itinerary.

Overall Review |
In summary, Chefchaouen wasn't about rushing to famous sights; it was a wonderful destination where slowly strolling through the blue Medina was the experience itself.
If you're traveling to Tangier or Fes, I highly recommend combining them with a visit here. 💙
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If you take a CTM bus, the fare from Tangier to Chefchaouen is 77 Dirhams for a discount ticket and 85 Dirhams for a regular ticket. The travel time is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes, and there are 6 departures per day.
Outa el Hammam Square is the heart of Chefchaouen's Medina, with the Kasbah and the Grand Mosque at its center. Cafes and restaurants are gathered around the square, making it a great place for meals or relaxation.
In some famous photo spots within the blue Medina alleys, people may ask for 5-10 Dirhams for taking pictures, or you might need to purchase juice or other items to take photos. Keep in mind that natural, less crowded alleys are often more beautiful.
The article's itinerary included Akchour trekking, which is 30 minutes away from Chefchaouen, hence the 2-night, 3-day trip. If Akchour trekking is not included, a 1-night, 2-day itinerary is said to be sufficient.
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