Introduction
Chefchaouen is located in the heart of Morocco’s Rif Mountains. Chefchaouen or just called “Chaouen” is place to relaxed, with quite stunning to look at and very affordable accommodations. Most of the buildings and the streets in the medina (old part of town) are painted a most brilliant sky blue. The mountains are majestic and rugged, which you can see at the end of every cobbled street. A magical touch just added by the clear mountain light to the place. So no wonder that Chefchaouen become a favorite place for backpackers visiting Morocco. The medina main square is filled to the brim and lined with cafes with tourist and locals mingling easily.
Chefchaouen Top Attractions:
The Plaza Uta el-Hammam
It is the heart of the medina, The Plaza Uta el-Hammam. This is the spot to drink some mint tea while take a break and watch the world go by. In Plaza Uta el-Hammam Cafes and Restaurants line in one side with views of the walls of the medina and the Grand Mosque. Tourist and locals gather in the square to watch the world go by and chat in the late afternoon. When the sun sets, food stalls are set up offering all kinds of delicious snacks. The cafes and restaurants offer western food as well as traditional Moroccan fare.
Just look at the picture, the Rif Mountains offer wonderful day hikes for visitors. Your pension or hotel should be able with a dependable guide to organize a trip for you. Just be careful not to stray too far off the path, because this is where most of Morocco’s marijuana is grown.
Old City Walls
As in all medinas in Morocco, Chefchaouen’s old city is surrounded by walls, originally put up to defend against invaders to the town.
The Shades of Blue
The old town (medina) of Chefchaouen has the brilliant blue hues that cover the streets, walls and make it quite unique. Most of the walls and many streets in the medina of Chefchaouen are painted blue. What a lovely sight, which give a contrast with the Rif Mountains peaks. The blue trend was started by the Jewish population and transformed in the 1930′s to the look of the town. Nowadays, it is common to see ladies freshening up the blue paint with big brushes outside their homes.
Filled with cozy shops and restaurants, the narrow streets of the medina where locals mix with tourists in an easy manner. Since the town is really not very big, you can’t get lost and most of the larger alleys will lead to Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square. If you have difficulty walking or aren’t very fit, the narrow roads can get quite steep, so that remember to take it easy.
Henna and dyes
Traditionally, Henna has been used to decorate the feet and hands during festivals, weddings and other special occasions. The powder, which made from the henna plant, is mixed with water to produce a paste. The henna usually is painted directly to the foot or hand in intricate patterns. Todays, there are also ready made stencils to use In these modern times, which are imported from the Middle East.
It will be easy to find a henna artist when you visit Morocco, to decorate your feet or hands if you’d like to try it. Usually, the pattern will stay for 1-2 weeks on your skin before fading.
Pottery
It is a dream to shop in Chefchaouen, especially if you’re on a budget. There are loads of little stylish lampshades, handbags and loose cotton clothes to enjoy. If you’re looking for something more specific, a carpet for instance, you’d be better off shopping in Marrakech or Fes. In Chefchaouen, shopkeepers were very laid back, at the fact than those prices offered in Marrakech, their starting prices were much more reasonable. So, Chefchaouen is a good place to shop if your bargaining skills aren’t too sharp.
Getting To and From Chefchaouen
It is easy to getting to Chefchaouen, there are daily buses to and from Tangiers, Casablanca, Fes, Meknes, Cueta and Tatouen. In the main bus station, the CTM bus company has an office which is located down the hill from the medina of Chefchaouen. To most destinations within Morocco, you can purchase tickets in advance.
From Meknes and Fes to Chefchaouen, it takes about 4 hours by bus, which costs around 70 Dirhams. To get from Chefchaouen to Casablanca, it took us just 6 hours that there’s only one bus, leaving in the morning. For most departures, just get to the bus station in the morning.
Getting around Chefchaouen
In Chefchaouen, most small hotels include breakfast. Usually, simpler fare is some French bread with jam. A tradtional Moroccan cooking pot pictured here called a Tagine. You have to try it when you visit Morocco, the dishes served in the tagine are delicious.
Snacks are readily available all over town and there are a couple of good bakeries. Several good restaurants in Chefchaouen including the Restaurant Tissemlal. The Tagine there was one of the best in Morocco. Other restaurants in the medina include the Restaurant Assada and La Lampe Magique ask a local person to direct you. Get there early if it looks like there are a lot of tourists around, because of restaurants tend to not take reservations. In Morocco, early dining means around 7pm.
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