The city of Chefchaouen, or as it is called locally in short as "Chaouen", is one of the world-known tourist destinations. Pictures of this city, nicknamed "The Blue Jewel", are widely spread on social media, after the city has known in recent years the influx of many celebrities, and influencers who chose the walls and paths of Chefchaouen to take pictures and make it look more amazing.
The history of the founding of the city of Chefchaouen dates back to 1471 AD, by a Moroccan military commander named Moulay Ali bin Rashid, who chose its difficult mountainous location, in order to use it as a starting point to confront the European invasion, especially after the Portuguese occupied the nearby cities of Ceuta and Tangier.
Chefchaouen was a refuge for hundreds of Muslims fleeing from Andalusia after the fall of their cities one by one at the hands of the Castilian Christians, starting from the late fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century, when Moulay Ali bin Rashid made it a haven for them, knowing the suffering of these, especially since he spent several years fighting in Andalusia against the Christians, before deciding to return to Morocco to found the city of Chefchaouen.
The geographical location of the city of Chefchaouen is considered distinct, as it is located at the foot of a mountain called the "Kalaa" (Castle), and the city is surrounded by many mountain peaks, and many historians say that the name Chefchaouen is a Berber name that means mountain peaks.
Arrival to Chefchaouen
The city of Chefchaouen is located in the north of Morocco, close to the cities of Tangier and Tetouan, and the foreign tourist can disembark at the airport of one of the two cities, or through the port of Tangier City or through the port of Tangier Med, and then go to Chefchaouen by bus or taxi for a trip that does not exceed 3 hours At most.
Although the city does not have an airport, nor does it have a port because it is a mountainous city, its great proximity to Tetouan and Tangier, makes the task of reaching it very easy, as transportation such as buses and cars are available in large numbers and meet the purpose.
Getting around in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is one of the small tourist cities where the tourist does not need to ride taxis or buses, so getting around the city on foot is the best way to visit the city and enjoy its scenic views and discover its multiple tourist sites.
However, blue Petit taxis are available in sufficient numbers in the city, to take you anywhere you wish, and there are two stations for this type of taxi, the first of which is located next to the Parador Hotel, while the second is located next to Bir Anzran Square, and the price of the trip is often not more than 10 dirhams.
The city of Chefchaouen also has 5 stations for Grand taxis, which connect Chefchaouen to major cities and neighboring villages. The first station is located next to the Hassan II Mosque, the second station is located on Abdel Karim El Khattabi Street, the third station is located on Moulay Idriss Street, and the fourth station is located next to the modern mosque of Moulay Abdel Rahman Sharif, for the fifth station, which connects Chefchaouen to the resort of Akchour, it is located at the intersection of Mohammed V Street in the Boulevard of Ghazwat Badr.
Where to spend your night in Chefchaouen:
Accommodations in Chefchaouen and the surrounding areas are widely available with multiple options. In the city of Chefchaouen, there are many classified and unclassified hotels, in addition to guest houses and hostels, all of which are located on the various main streets of the city, especially in the old city.
There are also many mountain shelters in the area surrounding Chefchaouen, and the prices in Chefchaouen are reasonable compared to other cities and tourist places in Morocco.
To facilitate some details for tourists, the municipality of Chefchaouen has developed an official website in Arabic, French, and Spanish, which includes the names and phone numbers of many hotels for the benefit of those wishing to spend their nights in the city.
Places to visit in Chefchaouen
A tourist can visit many tourist sites in the city of Chefchaouen, which is characterized by the presence of these sites in close proximity to each other, and therefore the visitor can visit a number of them in one day and spend an enjoyable day without getting bored in this charming city.
The old city (The Medina):
The most prominent tourist place that a tourist would like to visit, is "Old Chefchaouen", which is the starting point of this city, as it is full of many monuments and beautiful tourist sites, such as the historical Kasbah, which was built by Moulay Ali bin Rashid as a fortress protecting Chefchaouen from attacks, and the place to monitor what is happening outside the city walls and gates.
Souika neighborhood:
This neighborhood is considered one of the oldest places and neighborhoods in the old city of Chefchaouen. It is one of the tourist sites that has taken great fame in the world, thanks to the pictures spread on social media and sites interested in tourism in the world, where tourists come to take pictures in front of its walls painted white and blue and its paths that take the same colors.
Ras El Ma Waterfall:
This waterfall is one of the natural tourist sites that tourists prefer to visit in Chefchaouen to get some rest and calm, by watching the water streams descend from a mountainous height and pass over the stones, making beautiful and relaxing sounds.
Outa El Hamam Square:
Outa El Hamam Square is a famous square located in the center of Chefchaouen, and is characterized by the presence of many shops, restaurants, and kiosks.
It is also a place where tourists from all over the world meet to exchange conversations and take pictures with the birds present in the place.
Sites to visit near Chefchaouen:
Akchour Resort:
Akchour is the name of a picturesque natural resort that is only 30 kilometers from the city of Chefchaouen but reaching the resort when approaching requires walking for about two hours through the mountain paths, which makes the trip a tourist adventure fraught with enjoyment.
This resort is characterized by waterfalls and mountains with high peaks, in addition to the presence of a wonderful green forest cover, and a natural water pool, to which tourists from different regions of the world flock, either to swim in or take pictures next to it and sometimes some tourists camp there for several days.
Talassemtane National Park:
In the vicinity of the resort of Akchour, there is a natural park called Talassemtane Park, which is a national reserve that includes many places for outdoor picnics in the presence of scenic landscapes, dozens of species of birds, and peaceful wild animals.
Bouhachem Park:
This park is a nature reserve that extends over an area of 8000 hectares and belongs to Chefchaouen with other areas of it belonging to Tetouan and Larache. It is also characterized by the presence of many mountain peaks and is considered a suitable place for lovers of mountain tourism.
Chefchaouen Coast:
Although the city of Chefchaouen is a mountainous city far from the sea, many coastal villages belong to the province of Chefchaouen, which makes it other tourist options that enrich the Chefchaouen tourist offer.
The beaches belonging to the province of Chefchaouen are located on the coastal national road No. 16, which are beaches belonging to coastal villages that depend on traditional sea fishing throughout the year, and beach tourism in the summer.
The most prominent of these beaches are Stihat, Chmaala, Targha, Qaa Asras, Azenti, Sidi Yahya Aarab, Amtar, Taghasa, and Jebha.
Shopping places in Chefchaouen
There are many shopping places in Chefchaouen, ranging from traditional markets where there are various food products, modern shops selling clothes, shoes, and various devices, bazaars dedicated to selling souvenirs to tourists, and traditional shops selling traditional clothes.
In the surrounding areas of Chefchaouen, whether mountain villages or coastal villages, there are many weekly markets specialized in selling all products, clothes, food, and various products that tourists desire.
Eating in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is a tourist city that provides tourists with many meals and dishes that are rooted in authentic Moroccan cooking, with some Andalusian touches related to the history of the city.
Chefchaouen has many restaurants and shops serving delicious meals, such as Moroccan meat Tagine, chicken Tagine, and Couscous, in addition to popular foods such as green pea soup and vegetable soup with meat.
In order not to get lost in the search for the restaurant in which to eat your meal, the municipality of Chefchaouen has developed a website that includes the names and addresses of a number of restaurants that serve delicious meals for the benefit of tourists and visitors to the city.
A visit to the city of Chefchaouen is an unforgettable tourist experience, and the experience's pleasure increases with the pictures that you will take through the paths and alleys covered in blue, the scenic landscapes, the adventures that you will experience climbing mountains and rugged paths to reach the charming natural resorts. Indeed, it is a unique experience that deserves a tourist program to visit this city.
