Chefchaouen Medina, Chefchaouen: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Chefchaouen Medina is the walled old quarter of Morocco's Blue City in the Rif Mountains, painted throughout in shades of blue since at least the 1930s in a tradition variously attributed to Jewish refugees fleeing Europe or to earlier Moorish practices. The narrow lanes radiate outward from the Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the 15th-century Kasbah, climbing the hillside toward the Ras el-Maa spring at the northeastern corner. The medina remains primarily residential, with small shops selling woven blankets, goat cheese, and herbal remedies. Walking is free and takes 2 to 3 hours. is just one of many options in Chefchaouen. Major attractions worth considering include Akchour Falls (Cascades d’Akchour), Callejon El Asri, and Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen.