You probably have seen a picture or heard about this Moroccan blue city somewhere. Chefchaouen is a very small town located in the North of the country, between Tetouan and Fez, among the Rif Mountains. Its blue streets became popular among visitors not long ago, and it’s now a trendy destination, especially among Chinese and fashion bloggers.
The name Chefchaouen means “look at the horns”, because of the shapes of mountains surrounding it. Also known as Chaouen, the city was founded in 1471 as a small fortress to fight the Portuguese invasions in the region. In 1920 it was conquered by Spain, and returned to Morocco in 1956 when the country became independent. It is said that the blue color is the result of a tradition that comes from the Jewish population that used to live in the city, others claim it’s to keep mosquitoes away.
Apart from being famous for its blue colored houses and walls, Chefchaouen is also popular for shopping due to its handicrafts, cheaper than other parts of Morocco, as well as unique to the city. One to two days are enough to see every blue corner, coming from major cities in the country, you will be impressed by the blue city’s quietness.
Getting to Chefchaouen is possible by bus or taxi, from cities like Fez, Tetouan, Tanger and Rabat. We came from Tanger (2 hours and half) and left to Fez (around 5 hours) with CTM’s bus. Don’t be alarmed by the first impression when you arrive at the bus terminal, as soon as you enter the medina you will understand why Chaouen became so famous. We loved the city and it was one of our favorite places from our Morocco itinerary. Calm, friendly, safe, no harassments to buy anything, and, of course, beautiful. Without further ado, I leave you to have an overdose of blue yourself:
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