Fes to Chefchaouen: Bus, Private Driver, Day Trip or Overnight

With its lanes painted in every shade of blue and tucked at the foot of the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s most famous images. It is also one of our guests’ favourite escapes from Fes. The question always comes up: how do you get there, and should you stay the night? Here are our answers, with travel times, transport options and what not to miss once there. For other outings around Fes, see day trips from Fes.

Chefchaouen in a nutshell

Founded in the late fifteenth century by Moulay Ali Ben Rachid and partly settled by refugees from Andalusia, Chefchaouen long remained a small, inward-looking mountain town. Its white-and-blue medina climbs the slopes around a kasbah with ochre walls. Several explanations are given for the blue, religious tradition, keeping cool or simply local taste: the only certainty is that the result is spectacular.

Distance and journey time

Chefchaouen lies about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Fes. The road crosses farmland and then climbs into the Rif, passing through Ouezzane. Allow three and a half to four hours depending on traffic and stops. There is no train: you go by bus, taxi or car.

How to get from Fes to Chefchaouen

By bus

CTM runs several departures a day from its station in the Fes new town, with comfortable coaches and checked luggage. It is the cheapest and simplest option if you are staying the night. In high season, book your ticket a day or two in advance.

With a private driver

The most comfortable and flexible option: leave when you like from the medina gate, stop for photos on the way and continue to Tangier or Tetouan if you wish. The price is per vehicle, which makes it attractive for a group. Your riad can recommend a trusted driver.

By grand taxi

Shared grand taxis run from Fes to Ouezzane, then from Ouezzane to Chefchaouen. It is cheap but less comfortable, with waits while the car fills up; you can also hire a whole grand taxi for the day.

By rental car

Roads are in good condition but winding in the Rif. In Chefchaouen you park outside the medina, as in Fes. Our general advice on journeys is in how to get to Fes.

Day trip or overnight?

A return trip in one day is possible, but it means seven to eight hours on the road for a few hours in town, usually when it is busiest. Our advice: spend at least one night in Chefchaouen. In the evening and early morning, once the day-trippers have left, the lanes regain their calm and soft light. Many travellers fit Chefchaouen into a wider route, arriving from Tangier before Fes or heading north after Fes; see our 10-day Morocco itinerary.

What to see in Chefchaouen

• The blue medina: wander aimlessly from stairway to small square, between colourful doors and flower pots.
• Outa el-Hammam square, the lively heart of town, lined with cafés and facing the kasbah.
• The kasbah, with its garden, small museum and the view from its tower.
• Ras el-Maa, the spring at the edge of the medina, where mountain water still feeds the washhouses.
• The Spanish Mosque, on the neighbouring hill, a twenty- to thirty-minute walk: the best viewpoint at sunset.
• The Akchour waterfalls, in Talassemtane National Park about 45 minutes’ drive away, for a lovely hike if you stay two days.

When to go to Chefchaouen

Spring and autumn are ideal, with mild temperatures and beautiful light. Summer is pleasant in the mountains but very busy. Winter is cooler and wetter than in Fes, sometimes with snow on the peaks. To compare with Fes, see the best time to visit Fes.

Practical tips

• Always ask before photographing residents, and do not settle on people’s doorsteps for photos.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the medina constantly climbs and drops.
• You may be offered cannabis in the region: simply decline, as recreational use remains illegal in Morocco.
• Bring cash: ATMs are fewer than in Fes.

Chefchaouen or another day trip?

If you only have one free day and love history, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes make a shorter and very rich excursion. If you dream of photos and mountains, Chefchaouen is the one, ideally with a night there. To plan the rest of your stay, see also things to do in Fes and our article is Fes worth visiting?.

Leaving from La Petite Maison

Our riad is a five-minute walk from Rcif square, where drivers and taxis can pick you up. We are happy to advise you on getting to Chefchaouen, and we can keep a room for your return to Fes. Browse our rooms and write to us with your dates.