Day Trip: Chefchaouen Blue City and Tetouan in the Rif Mountains
The blue-painted mountain city of Chefchaouen is three hours from Tangier. The Andalusian-influenced medina of Tetouan is just one hour away. Both make excellent day trips or overnight excursions into the Rif Mountains from the northern coast.
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Chefchaouen Medina
The UNESCO-recognized blue city paints its medina in dozens of shades of blue and white. The mountain setting, the Ras el-Maa waterfall and the craft workshops make it one of Morocco most photogenic destinations.
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Tetouan Medina
Just 60 km from Tangier, the UNESCO-listed medina of Tetouan is less visited but architecturally outstanding, with strong Andalusian influence from the Moorish refugees who settled here in 1492.
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Rif Mountain Landscape
The drive south from Tangier through the Rif Mountains offers dramatic scenery of forested ridges, traditional Berber villages and terraced hillsides. The road to Chefchaouen is particularly beautiful.
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Tetouan Artisan Market
Tetouans medina specializes in leatherwork, embroidery and the distinctive white Rif costume. The weekly souk draws rural Berber traders from across the mountains with produce and textiles.
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Cape Malabata to Asilah Drive
The coastal road south of Tangier to the whitewashed artists town of Asilah passes clifftop viewpoints and beaches used by local families. Asilah itself has an annual international arts festival.
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Ksar es-Seghir
A small fortified coastal village 35 km east of Tangier with Portuguese and Moroccan ruins, a quiet beach and wonderful views across the strait. A peaceful alternative to the busy Tangier waterfront.