Chefchaouen — the blue town of the Rif — was founded in 1471 by Andalusian exiles and Moroccan Jews. Its indigo-washed lanes have become one of the most photographed corners of Morocco, but the town has kept a quiet dignity that surprises travellers who arrive expecting a set.
How to visit well
One or two nights is enough. Come by private car from Fès (about four hours) or Tangier (about two hours). Arrive in the late afternoon and walk the town at first light the next morning — that's when the blue reveals its full range.
Skip the guided daytripper coaches. They arrive at noon and reduce the town to a filter.
Beyond the photographs
Meet a master indigo dyer, visit a 17th-century mansion converted into a small museum, hike into the Talassemtane national park behind the town, and eat goat cheese from the surrounding villages — a Rif specialty.
