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Chefchaouen: Photographing the Streets of Morocco’s Blue City

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Classic scene in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.
It's so beautiful that I can clearly see why this is a classic, over photographed spot.

Chefchaouen is unlike most other places we have visited. With a sordid, almost secret history, it’s a walled Moroccan city founded in 1471. A refuge and haven for Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition, Chefchaouen banned Christians (punishable by death) until the 1920s when it was temporarily captured by Spain. Today it is probably most known by its nickname, the “Blue City.” Wandering the streets, we clearly see where the name was derived.

Classic scene in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.
It’s so beautiful that I can clearly see why this is a classic, over photographed spot.
Main square in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.
It was still early when I captured this shot of the main square in Chefchaouen. Later in the day all the cafe’s will be open, chairs and tables will be out, and there will still be cats everywhere.
The contrast of new versus old is highlighted by the satellite dish on the side of one of the homes in Chefchaouen in Morocco.
The satellite dish on the side of one of the old homes highlights the contrast of new versus old.
Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen Morocco
As non-Muslims, we were not permitted to enter the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen. Its octagonal minaret is somewhat unique.
Stairs leading to Riad Dar LBakal in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.
These stairs lead to Riad Dar Lbakal, where we stayed. If you look closely, you can see our girls standing at the rail on the patio just above the top of the stairs.
A laundry washing station alongside the river in Chefchaouen Morocco
The women wash laundry in the local stream.  Set up along the waterway is this workstation where they do the scrubbing.
Paint pigment for sale in Chefchaouen Morocco: blue for the exterior, colours for the interior.
Paint pigment for sale in Chefchaouen: blue for the exterior, colours for the interior.
Donkey on a street in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.
Working donkeys are a common site on Moroccan streets
You can see the Chefchaouen's city wall as it runs up through the Rif Mountains.
You can see the Chefchaouen’s city wall as it runs up through the Rif Mountains.
Mosque at the end of a narrow street in Chefchaouen in Morocco.
Another mosque at the end of a narrow street.

And a few more photos of the blue city:

Stairs in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.

Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.

Windows in Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.

Getting to Chefchaouen 

  • Located in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is about 125 km south-west of Tangier and 200km north of Fes.
  • I don’t remember why we opted to get a driver and guide rather than renting a car as we did in the Atas Mountains. If we were to return, I am sure we would visit on our own, as we are comfortable driving around Morocco. To date, we have had great success renting with RentalCars.com, especially in non-English speaking countries, as their customer service is worldwide and English-speaking.

⇒ Click here to check availability on rental cars in Morocco

  • We used a private guide and paid quite a bit for it as we wanted to stop at a waterfall in Akchour on the way back that was a 40-minute detour off the main road, and then quite a walk from the trailhead for a not very interesting adventure, mostly because after an hour of walking, the guide told us it would be another three hours to get to the waterfall. So we turned around. Total extra time was over 3.5 hours.
  • Group tours are also a great option, especially if you don’t want to drive in Morocco.

Interesting Chefchaouen Facts (or rumours)

  • Chefchaouen is located in the only region of Morocco to have had malaria, although they say it is not a problem today. According to our guide (but I have not been able to verify this anywhere else), the Jewish people first painted it blue with the founding of Israel, and soon all the local Chefchaouen people discovered that blue kept the mosquitoes at bay.
  • The region is also quite popular amongst the tourist sector seeking drugs. The Marijuana plantations in the surrounding hills drive this reputation. Unlike in Oregon where we went into a legal Marijuana dispensary, in Morocco, we steered clear.

Have you been to Chefchaouen? What do you think of this “Blue City”?

If you enjoyed these photos of Chefchaouen, please share them on social media including Pinterest:

A collection of photos of Chefchaouen, the Blue City in Morocco.

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About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Rhonda Albom

      Morocco is one of my favourite countries I have visited. Each city we went to was unique and special in its own way. Chefchaouen is amazing. I wish we spent more than just one night.

      Reply

  2. Deepika

    Lovely photos. We have a blue city in India too! It is in Jodhpur. Blue colour apparently seems to ward off mosquitoes and other insects. It also helps keep the walls of the house cool.

    Reply

  3. Matt Jaffe

    Rhonda, beautiful pics. Btw, when I traveled in israel, I have also noticed blue painted houses in lots of Arab villages and was told that the Arabs believe that the blue color keeps the evil spirits away. Matt

    Reply

      • JR

        As to why the city is blue, I read somewhere that Jewish refugees settled in the city hundreds of years ago and painted many of their homes blue, a significant colour in their religion. Sadly, many of these Jewish families were the victims of discrimination, easily identified by their vibrant blue homes, and so the Moroccans painted all the city’s buildings blue so that it was impossible to distinguish between new and original residents, Jew or Muslim.

        Reply

  5. Lisa

    WOW, wow, and wow. We never went to Morocco and I wish we would have just for the color. These images are fabulous Rhonda.

    Lisa @ LTTL

    Reply

  7. Trekking with Becky

    I absolutely LOVE the blue! It’s so peaceful, and I think it would make me feel like being in the comfort of water. 😀

    Reply

  9. clairejustine

    So beautiful and blue, what a lovely place to be. I would love to be here now taking a walk around with my camera. Lovely pictures 🙂

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      LOL – I would love to be there right now too, although, it might be quite cold being winter and in the mountains.

      Reply

  19. artmusedog and carol

    It is a beautiful blue city and you have captured it so well ~ what a wonderful journey for you and us to see too ~ thanks,

    Wishing you a Happy Week ahead ~ ^_^

    Reply

  20. Jade @ Captured By Jade

    So many beautiful and colourful captures. I love the architecture here, and the picture with the satellite dish definitely shows the contrast of new and old. The picture with the paint pigments is really nice.

    Reply

  21. Cathy Kennedy

    Rhonda, What a fabulous photo journey! I will never see such a place as the Blue City in Morocco. This picturesque city looks like something one might see in a Mission Impossible or other action flicks. I love the beautifully painted buildings. I smiled to see technology touch this old city with the satellite dish on the side of one of the buildings and then I marveled at the women doing laundry at the waterway. I can’t imagine washing clothes like this and am thankful to have a washer and dryer in my home. lol Thanks for sharing these wonderful images with us on WW, my friend. Have a good day!

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      There is such a feel of tradition when I was there, the idea of an action flick seems completely out of place. But, I can see it now that I look back at the photos.

      Reply

  23. Lexa Cain

    They picked such a beautiful shade of blue. The whole city’s amazingly clean. Nowhere in Egypt is like that unless it’s a special place for tourists. I love the wall – so medieval! Thanks so much for sharing – this is a very special place.

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      The train runs from Fes or Tangier to Marrakesh, so the cities along there are most popular in Morocco. This one takes a bit of work to get to.

      Reply

  30. Travelera

    As always GREAT photos! You captured very well the Medina
    When I saw a picture of Chefchaouen for the first time I knew I had to go there, you fall in love in every picture, every corner is beautiful and there is a paradise to do photos, I really loved it and you have seen it on my posts.
    Have a great week dear xxx

    Reply

  34. Teresa Kindred

    Your pictures are gorgeous. My mother would have loved that city as blue was her favorite color. Everything in her house had some blue in it….too much for my taste but oh how I miss her and wish she and her “blues” were still here. Great photos!

    Teresa from NanaHood

    Reply

  35. Paul Pietrangelo

    This picture makes me blue. Get it? Sorry about that. I just felt so blue I had to say it. Oh my goodness I did it again. Sorry about that. One thing that bothers me is you weren’t allowed to enter the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen because you weren’t a Muslim yet if a Muslim were to go into a Catholic church were would be allowed. I don’t get it?

    Have a brilliant blue Tuesday Rhonda. See ya.

    Cruisin Paul

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      LOL – you are too funny to be blue 🙂 As for the mosque, that is how it is in most places around the world. A mosque isn’t a tourist attraction, but rather a place of worship. There are a few we can go into, and we have been in mosques in Muskat, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul.

      Reply

  36. Alissa A Apel

    Such a tranquil city. I love all the blue. I would want to buy all that pigment! All of your pictures are amazing!

    Reply

  38. Alex J. Cavanaugh

    It’s quite beautiful. Blue keeps mosquitoes away? Good to know. And probably smart to steer clear of the Marijuana plantations.

    Reply

  39. Liz Needle

    Stunning blues – my favourite colour too. But I love the shot with the bags of paint. A great catch. Thanks for sharing your travels with this stay-at-home.

    Reply

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