Chefchaouen itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Chefchaouen, day by day: the blue lanes of the medina from Plaza El Haouta to Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the Grand Mosque and the Kasbah, the Ras el-Maa spring and sunset from the Spanish Mosque, then a day out in the Rif mountains at the Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Chefchaouen in 1 day
Day 1
Plaza El Haouta
Small shaded square in the medina with a fountain, a quiet place for mint tea away from the main square.
Historic centre of Chefchaouen (blue medina, Plaza Uta el-Hammam)
A walk through the blue-washed lanes and stairways of the medina to the main square, with craft shops, cafes and mountain views.
Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen (outside)
The town's oldest mosque, with an octagonal minaret on Plaza Uta el-Hammam; non-Muslims see it from the square.
Kasbah of Chefchaouen and museum
Red-walled fortress on the main square with a shady garden, a small ethnographic museum and a tower to climb for views.
Ras el-Maa spring
Mountain spring at the edge of the medina where the stream runs past old washhouses, a cool spot with cafes beside the water.
Spanish Mosque viewpoint (sunset)
Disused mosque built in the 1920s on the hill east of town, the classic place to watch the sunset over the blue city.
Chefchaouen in 2 days
Day 1
Plaza El Haouta
Small shaded square in the medina with a fountain, a quiet place for mint tea away from the main square.
Historic centre of Chefchaouen (blue medina, Plaza Uta el-Hammam)
A walk through the blue-washed lanes and stairways of the medina to the main square, with craft shops, cafes and mountain views.
Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen (outside)
The town's oldest mosque, with an octagonal minaret on Plaza Uta el-Hammam; non-Muslims see it from the square.
Kasbah of Chefchaouen and museum
Red-walled fortress on the main square with a shady garden, a small ethnographic museum and a tower to climb for views.
Ras el-Maa spring
Mountain spring at the edge of the medina where the stream runs past old washhouses, a cool spot with cafes beside the water.
Spanish Mosque viewpoint (sunset)
Disused mosque built in the 1920s on the hill east of town, the classic place to watch the sunset over the blue city.
Day 2
Akchour waterfalls
Series of waterfalls and green pools in Talassemtane National Park, reached on a riverside trail with cafes along the way.
God's Bridge (Akchour)
Natural rock arch high above the Farda river gorge near Akchour, reached on a longer walk up the valley from the trailhead.
Watch: Chefchaouen
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Chefchaouen
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times, with mild days and green hills. Summer is warm but cooler than inland Morocco, and the town and Akchour fill with Moroccan holidaymakers in July and August. Winter in the Rif is cold and wet, sometimes with snow on the peaks, and the Akchour trails can be muddy.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Chefchaouen on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Chefchaouen on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Chefchaouen on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Morocco from Airalo
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Tips for Chefchaouen
- The medina is small and safe to explore alone; its prettiest blue lanes are quietest early in the morning, before day-trip groups arrive.
- Ask before photographing people and their doorways; many residents are tired of cameras, and some ask for a small tip.
- Akchour is about an hour away by road: go by grand taxi, car or a tour, start early, and wear proper shoes for the river trail.
- Walk up to the Spanish Mosque about an hour before sunset; the path from Ras el-Maa takes around 20-30 minutes and is steep in places.
- Try the local goat's cheese and tagines in the cafes around Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and carry cash, since few small places take cards.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Akchour waterfalls: Itachoo1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen (outside): Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Chefchaouen (blue medina, Plaza Uta el-Hammam): Badr Rachadi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kasbah of Chefchaouen and museum: ZAINEB HACHAMI, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spanish Mosque viewpoint (sunset): Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
