From bustling metropolises to tiny villages, the Explore My City series invites you to discover new favorite places around the world.

Where is Chefchaouen?

Chaouen is a town straight out of a storybook. Founded in the early 1470s, it’s nestled in the Rif Mountains with sweeping views of the countryside where shepherds and goats roam the hills outside the city walls. Chaouen is known for its bright sapphire hues and lives up to its nickname, The Blue City. 

What can you do there?

The streets are narrow and packed with shops selling souvenirs and spices, and just outside the main tourist part of the city, locals work and hang out with their friends and family. People are friendly and make an effort to help strangers on the street, even if they don’t speak a common language.

You can go hiking and visit a Spanish mosque on a hill as well as a small waterfall where people wash their clothing.

Try Moroccan dishes and drink cups of mint tea while listening to the Muslim call to prayer, which they practice communally five times a day. It’s a calm place despite the tourists and hype. 

Getting there

From Tangier Airport, find a grand taxi to drive the two hours to the city. If you’re staying in a Riad or hostel, you can ask the hostel owner to set up the ride for you. Taxis are waiting outside the airport. You can take public transportation as frequent buses run from from Fez, Tetouan, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Ceuta. The ride is interesting in itself as the passing landscape is mountainous and green with forests and farmland. 

What to eat in Morocco

We tried Moroccan dishes including couscous, tajine, pastilla, kefta, Moroccan bread and salad, and some incredible sweets, which oddly enough, we bought from a pizza place just outside the main tourist hub. We drank cups and cups of mint tea, which Moroccans pour using a special technique, lifting the teapot high in the air. We also enjoyed fresh fruit juices, including orange, strawberry and even a mix of avocado and apple.

Worth the hype

Chaouen is well worth the visit. My two female friends and I went without a guide or tour group and never felt unsafe. Locals were helpful and made us feel welcome. We’re all eager to return to this part of the world, next time with better Arabic. النِهاية