Before I even planned the Morocco trip, I knew that we definitely had to see Chefchaouen aka the Blue City, even if it meant spending less time in Fes. It’s almost a 4 hour drive from Fes, so it didn’t leave us much time to spend there. However the short time we spent was absolutely unforgettable. If you have the chance, I highly recommend spending at least one night here and just let yourself wander around and explore.
I booked a private day trip to Chefchaouen through Fez Guide. The cost was around $170 total. Our driver picked us up around 8:30am to get an early start. Driving through the landscape allowed us to see deeper into the country. It was very eye-opening to see how people survive in more remote areas of the country and inspired us to perhaps explore these areas more the next time we are here.
Panorama of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Upon arriving to Chefchaouen, we stopped to take some panoramic photos. There’s also a blue door where you can pose, take photos, and dress up in traditional clothes. Seeing the Blue City from afar was truly amazing.
The guide took us to Restaurant Hicham for lunch. It was very busy when we arrived and the wait for the food was quite long, but we got a nice table by the window with a beautiful view. The food was excellent and definitely worth the wait if you have time. They were also nice to give a generous discount for the inconvenience. With that being said, if you’re only here for the day, I’d recommend perhaps exploring quicker food options on your own while walking around the city.
Post lunch we explored the city on our own. Everything really was incredibly blue and there was so much color outside the shops on the streets. It really left me with a feeling of awe. Terra had a blast chasing the cats around through the alleyways. The vibe was very laid-back and we must have been lucky to be there during a low season with less people around.
For more details read more on ourday trip to Chefchaouen.
Doorway in the Blue City
Terra sitting on the famous steps in the Blue City
Walking through an alleyway
Colorful textiles and poufs outside the shops
Since we arrived back so late, we decided to eat at the riad again. We chose the Moroccan salad, some asparagus, and seafood entrees. It was definitely one of the meal highlights of our entire trip. This was our last night here, and it was quite sad to leave and continue on our journey. We highly recommend staying at Le Jardin des Biehn during your time in Fes.
Moroccan salad at Fez Cafe
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This itinerary sounds perfect. I've saved it to use when we eventually go there. So many amazing experiences to look forward to.
Thanks Wendy! It was one of our most memorable trips yet. Such a gorgeous country and perfect for families :)
Hi! Great details - Thanks for sharing! Traveling to Morocco in February 2021. Our son will be a few weeks shy of 4 years old. How old was your daughter on this trip? How did she do on the camel? Did she keep her turban on? What did you do about protecting her during sand storms? Thanks for your help :)
Thanks for stopping by :) Our daughter was only 3 when we went, and she had a blast. She was fine on the camel, she rode in front of one of us, although didn't keep on the turban. We used the turban like a scarf mask to cover her face and mouth during the storm. But she handled it like a champ. It was so much more of a family-friendly country than we expected, you'll love it! Hope you have an awesome time!
Wonderful! And thank you for the response. I have been in contact with Brahim from http://www.Marrakech-Camel-trips.com via email about our trip. Two questions - Did you wire/PayPal a deposit of 100 Euros to book? I have only seen one other review online that required the same deposit, so I'm just checking for my own safety :) Also, which hotel did you stay at/leave your luggage in Merzouga? Brahim offered "Riad nezha or *riad Madou or similar". We are going to stay an extra night before our departure to the desert and an extra night returning from the desert, so I wanted to check which accommodation you preferred.
Hi Stephanie! Yes we did pay a deposit of 100 Euros through Paypal, so that's legit. Then we paid the rest in cash in person. We had a wonderful experience with Brahim and our tour through them. And this post isn't sponsored or anything, just pure honesty :) We didn't stay overnight in Merzouga. We actually did the 3 day tour from Fez to Marrakech with a stop overnight in the desert. So I can't say much about hotels there. But I will say we enjoyed all the hotels we stayed at through this tour, so I think you'd be fine with any of their recommendations. We are dying to go back to Morocco again soon, hope you have a wonderful time. And feel free to ask any additional questions :)
Morocco is a great place for a family trip.
Yes it definitely was! Can't wait to go back :)