I find it hard to compare Chefchaouen with other places in the world that I’ve visited. It's so unique it created a name of its own. Chefchaouen is a small town tucked in northern tip of Morocco, a land bordering Europe especially Spain, so this is why it has strong Arab-Spanish influence. It's defined as peaceful, quiet, and laid-back, but not too remote to be away from modern living. Traveling around is all about slow pace.
It’s blue everywhere
Also known as the Blue Pearl, what truly sets Chefchaouen apart is that all houses and buildings here are painted in blue, a tradition that dates back 15th century.
As said, houses were originally painted in white before. However, during the Spanish inquisition in 1492, the Jewish people in Spain started fleeing to the neighboring countries, which includes Morocco.
For the Jews, the color blue represents heaven. They believe that painting their houses blue mirrors the skies and makes them closer to heaven.
The vibrant shades of blue are so pleasing to the eyes, a sight that invites tourists from Europe, China, and Japan.
The blue walls blend well with other colors, thus making it a colorful mix.
Rich in nature
Chefchaouen is blessed with natural resources. For one, it's wrapped and beautifully surrounded by the Rif Mountains, which provide breeze and coolness especially during summertime.
The Ras el’Ma can also be easily glimpsed upon, a rushing river not too far from the center where most hostels, shops, and restaurants are at. Local women are usually caught in morning washing clothes using the river’s fresh water.
In the same area, several orange vendors can be seen since orange trees are abundant Chefchaouen. A glass of freshly squeezed oranges can be bought at MAD 7 (less than USD 1) per glass.
One of the common activities in Chefchaouen is a 45-minute trek to the hill going to the Spanish Mosque, a small abandoned structure that was never used but has become an attraction since the view from there offers a picturesque view of the blue city.
Sound of prayers is normal
Majority of Moroccans are Muslims. With this, they pray 5 times a day, a practice that’s part of their religion Islam. The imam usually leads the prayer, which is recited in Arabic and amplified through a megaphone.
The biggest mosque in the area is this Grand Mosque located at the town’s center seated beside the Kasabah and Place Outa Al Hammam.
Since Chefchaouen is a small town and mosques are nearby, the praying sound resonates all over the place. The first prayer usually starts before sunrise and possibly get awakened by it early in the morning. It may be something foreign to non-Muslims, but is part of everyday life not only in Chefchaouen, but in entire Morocco.
Cat-friendly town
Any cat lover may find Chefchoauen a place like home. The cats can be seen lying on the cobblestone paths. They seem very at ease with humans so they’re safe to play with.
The cats know well how to blend with the environment. Some have gone too far that they camouflage well already.
When I asked around, I found out that each household owns around 3-4 cats. There’s no exact story as to how the cat tradition started, but one thing’s for sure: the people in Chefchaouen are truly cat lovers.
Bread is life
A big part of every Moroccan meal is bread, which is made up of durum wheat, a component that makes the texture of their bread harder and darker in color. In Chefchaouen, breakfasts are usually limited to bread as the locals themselves eat bread too with yogurt, Moroccan tea (loose green tea leaves with mint) or coffee.
Come lunch and dinner, though main dishes are already available such as couscous and tagine, bread is still on the side. The bread is usually eaten with olives and different spicy spreads in small portions.
How to get there
A common way to get to Chefchaouen is to take the bus. In Casablanca, Morocco, there’s a daily bus trip (via CTM Bus) to Chefchaouen departing at 1:30PM. However, note that the bus schedule is only ONCE A DAY so It’s advisable to get bus tickets in advance. The trip going back to Casablanca is also once a day but departs on an earlier schedule at 7:00AM.
Ticket costs MAD 150 (USD 19). In Casablanca, it's sold at CTM Bus Station Rue L’Africain, a 10-minute walk from Casa Port train station and a 3-minute walk from Central Market tram station. Meanwhile, the bus station in Chefchaouen (called Gare Routière) is 5 minutes away from the Medina or the plaza that is accessible by petit taxi for MAD 20 (USD 2).
Casablanca to Chefchaouen is approximately 6-7 hours with a few stopovers for snacks and toilet usage. The road to Chefchaouen is generally safe, and it’s a smooth ride passing by a few cities including Rabat and Ouezanne.
It’s blue everywhere
Also known as the Blue Pearl, what truly sets Chefchaouen apart is that all houses and buildings here are painted in blue, a tradition that dates back 15th century.
As said, houses were originally painted in white before. However, during the Spanish inquisition in 1492, the Jewish people in Spain started fleeing to the neighboring countries, which includes Morocco.
The vibrant shades of blue are so pleasing to the eyes, a sight that invites tourists from Europe, China, and Japan.
The blue walls blend well with other colors, thus making it a colorful mix.
Rich in nature
Chefchaouen is blessed with natural resources. For one, it's wrapped and beautifully surrounded by the Rif Mountains, which provide breeze and coolness especially during summertime.
The Ras el’Ma can also be easily glimpsed upon, a rushing river not too far from the center where most hostels, shops, and restaurants are at. Local women are usually caught in morning washing clothes using the river’s fresh water.
In the same area, several orange vendors can be seen since orange trees are abundant Chefchaouen. A glass of freshly squeezed oranges can be bought at MAD 7 (less than USD 1) per glass.
One of the common activities in Chefchaouen is a 45-minute trek to the hill going to the Spanish Mosque, a small abandoned structure that was never used but has become an attraction since the view from there offers a picturesque view of the blue city.
Sound of prayers is normal
Majority of Moroccans are Muslims. With this, they pray 5 times a day, a practice that’s part of their religion Islam. The imam usually leads the prayer, which is recited in Arabic and amplified through a megaphone.
The biggest mosque in the area is this Grand Mosque located at the town’s center seated beside the Kasabah and Place Outa Al Hammam.
Since Chefchaouen is a small town and mosques are nearby, the praying sound resonates all over the place. The first prayer usually starts before sunrise and possibly get awakened by it early in the morning. It may be something foreign to non-Muslims, but is part of everyday life not only in Chefchaouen, but in entire Morocco.
Cat-friendly town
Any cat lover may find Chefchoauen a place like home. The cats can be seen lying on the cobblestone paths. They seem very at ease with humans so they’re safe to play with.
The cats know well how to blend with the environment. Some have gone too far that they camouflage well already.
When I asked around, I found out that each household owns around 3-4 cats. There’s no exact story as to how the cat tradition started, but one thing’s for sure: the people in Chefchaouen are truly cat lovers.
Bread is life
A big part of every Moroccan meal is bread, which is made up of durum wheat, a component that makes the texture of their bread harder and darker in color. In Chefchaouen, breakfasts are usually limited to bread as the locals themselves eat bread too with yogurt, Moroccan tea (loose green tea leaves with mint) or coffee.
Come lunch and dinner, though main dishes are already available such as couscous and tagine, bread is still on the side. The bread is usually eaten with olives and different spicy spreads in small portions.
How to get there
A common way to get to Chefchaouen is to take the bus. In Casablanca, Morocco, there’s a daily bus trip (via CTM Bus) to Chefchaouen departing at 1:30PM. However, note that the bus schedule is only ONCE A DAY so It’s advisable to get bus tickets in advance. The trip going back to Casablanca is also once a day but departs on an earlier schedule at 7:00AM.
Ticket costs MAD 150 (USD 19). In Casablanca, it's sold at CTM Bus Station Rue L’Africain, a 10-minute walk from Casa Port train station and a 3-minute walk from Central Market tram station. Meanwhile, the bus station in Chefchaouen (called Gare Routière) is 5 minutes away from the Medina or the plaza that is accessible by petit taxi for MAD 20 (USD 2).
Casablanca to Chefchaouen is approximately 6-7 hours with a few stopovers for snacks and toilet usage. The road to Chefchaouen is generally safe, and it’s a smooth ride passing by a few cities including Rabat and Ouezanne.
ShellyViajera Travel Blog
