The Blue City of Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen (pronounced: "Shaf-shauen") is one of the most photogenic places in the world — and that's no exaggeration. The entire medina is painted in countless shades of blue, from delicate sky blue to indigo to deep cobalt. Combined with the terracotta roofs, colorful flower pots, and the light of the Rif Mountains, a scenery is created that enchants even after the hundredth photo.

★★★ The Medina

Chefchaouen's medina is a labyrinth of blue alleys climbing up the mountainside. Unlike in Marrakech or Fès, it is manageable, safe, and relaxed — you can wander aimlessly for hours without ever being pestered. The most beautiful corners are in the northeastern part, where the alleys are narrower and the blue tones more intense. Everywhere hang handwoven wool blankets, stand brightly glazed pottery, and herbs dry on the house walls.

★★ Plaza Uta el-Hammam

The central square of the medina, lined with cafes with rooftop terraces — the perfect place to watch the hustle and bustle over a mint tea. On one side, the restored Kasbah (museum, small garden, observation tower: 60 MAD), on the other, the Great Mosque with its unusual octagonal minaret.

★★ Ras el-Maa

At the northeastern edge of the medina, the spring Ras el-Maa gushes from the rock — here Berber women wash wool and laundry, children splash, and you have the best view back to the blue city. Above, hiking trails lead into the mountains. The place is especially magical at sunset.

Why Blue?

The explanations vary: Jewish refugees from Spain (from 1492) supposedly brought the tradition of painting houses blue (symbol of heaven/God). More pragmatically: blue keeps mosquitoes away. Most likely: the city eventually switched to blue, tourists loved it, and today repainting is a civic duty — those who don't regularly paint their house blue get into trouble with the community.

Hashish

Chefchaouen is located in the Rif Mountains, the historic center of Moroccan cannabis cultivation. In the medina, you are likely to be approached — a polite "No, thank you" is enough. Possession is illegal and can lead to problems with the police, even if the practice is tolerated in the region.