Full of vivid colour, rich history and diverse culture, Morroco is such a unique place that really needs to be seen and experienced to be believed. While Marrakech is the go-to Moroccan destination, the Northern cities hold so much magic and really shouldn’t be missed on a visit to this beautiful country. From the hustle and bustle in the Medina’s of Fes, to the blue-stained walls of Chefchaouen and then to the relaxed coastal city of Rabat, this 6 Day North Morocco Itinerary will hopefully give you a small glimpse into all that this part of the world has to offer.
Itinerary:
- Day 1 – Arrive in Fes, explore the city & Medina
- Day 2 – Day trip to Meknes
- Day 3 – Travel to & explore Chefchaouen
- Day 4 – Akchour Waterfall Hike
- Day 5 – Travel to & explore Rabat
- Day 6 – See more of Rabat & fly out
Top left: pottery drying hut / Top right: gate into Fes Medina / Middle left: pharmacy doors / Middle right: leather skins in Medina alleyway / Bottom left: Bab Boujloud in Fes / Bottom right: cart with leafy greens.
Day 1 – Arrive in Fes, explore the city & Medina
You’ll be starting your Northern Morocco adventure in Fes, the handicraft capital of this beautiful country. After dropping your bags at your accommodation, make your way to Dar Al-Makhzen (the Royal Palace) to marvel at the stunning mosaic walls and bronze doors surrounding the palace. The Mellah, or old Jewish quarter, is another must-see when exploring Fes and is believed to be the oldest mellah in Morocco dating back to the 15th century. Borj Nord provides an iconic view over the historic city, including the Merenid Tombs, a royal necropolis for the dynasty that ruled Morocco throughout the 13th to 15th centuries. You may want to take a few taxi rides to help you see all the wonderful sights of Fes, or book onto a tour of the city (more on that below).
As the afternoon rolls around, it’s time for the fun to really begin…as you dive head first into the Medina of Fes! A UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest Medina in the world, you can truly spend hours getting lost among the narrow alleys and marveling at the amazing handicrafts. Fes is well known as the handicraft capital of Morocco and you’ll find everything from rugs to leather bags to intricate metal goods. Enter the Medina through Bab Boujloud, or the Blue Gate, and wander your way to the Chouara Tanneries where you can watch local craftsmen softening, dying and drying leather skins in an array of stone pots (fair warning, the tannery is pretty smelly so I’d recommend picking up some fresh mint on your way in to mask the smell, or perhaps skipping it altogether if you have a weak stomach or are vegetarian/vegan).
Next on the agenda is Al Attarine Madrasa, a traditional Islamic school that was built in the 1300’s and is now open to the public (entry will set you back 20 dirham). Sit for a while and admire the amazingly intricate zellj tile work that adorns the building. As you explore the Medina, you’ll most likely come across the Mosque and University of al-Qarawiyyin. Not only is it the world’s oldest university and still operating as a university today, it was also founded by a Muslim woman way back in 859 AD. Now that’s what we like to see!
This is quite a lot to get through in one day and while it’s absolutely possible to do it yourself, you might want to look at booking a guided sightseeing tour to help you fit everything in. We booked a tour through Airbnb Experiences, which was super affordable and ticked off all the spots we had on our list to see.
Dining suggestions in Fes
- Mom’s Touch – great rooftop patio and delicious food
- Le Tarbouche – delicious homemade Moroccan food, with a modern touch
- Fondouk Bazaar – right in the heart of the Medina, made sure you try the homemade lemonade!
- The Ruined Garden – a beautiful hidden courtyard garden, a great spot for lunch or dinner. They also offer bread making classes!
- Riad Dar Bensouda – a hotel which has a rooftop bar with great views over the city
Top left: handicraft stalls in Fes Medina / Top right: inside Al Attarine Madrasa / Bottom left: donkey in the streets of the Medina / Bottom right: clay pots at Chouara Tanneries
Day 2 – Day trip to Meknes
On your second day in Fes, a day trip to the beautiful historic town of Meknes is on the cards. While I hadn’t heard of Meknes before visiting Morocco, it was one of the most recommended places to visit once I was there! The city, sitting perched on a hilltop, has two Medina’s to explore…the ancient UNESCO-listed Medina and newer Ville Nouvelle…plus so much more. Walk through the iconic Bab el-Mansour, grab a mint tea in Place el-Hedim, and spend the day immersing yourself in the Meknes way of life!
You can book a CTM bus to get from Fes to Meknes for around 34 dirhams (approx. £2.70). The trip takes just under an hour and there are plenty of bus times to choose from. You could also book onto an organised day trip from Fes to Meknes.
Left: Pottery hanging on wall / Right: Moroccan rugs in Medina.
Day 3 – Travel to & explore Chefchaouen
It’s day 3 and you’re making your way to Chefchaouen, the blue city of Morocco! The easiest (and cheapest) way to get between the two cities is via CTM bus. There are usually only 4 CTM buses running each day so I’d recommend booking your seats well in advance! The journey takes around 4hrs so I would also suggest stocking up on snacks and getting a bus early in the day and making the most of your afternoon! Once you arrive in Chefchaouen, head to Restaurant Bab Ssour for a delicious and much-needed lunch. Check into your accommodation and then head out to wander through the historic Medina’s twisting alleyways, where the streets and buildings are all bathed in blue. Just before sunset, take the short walk to the town’s Spanish Mosque, sitting perched above the town and dating back the 1920’s, to watch the sunset over the mountains. Chefchaouen’s main square, Place Outa el-Hammam, is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner and take in the lively hustle and bustle of the town.
Dining suggestions in Chefchaouen
- Restaurant Bab Ssour – delicious food with a great rooftop view, try the goat cheese, tajine and Moroccan salads
- Cafe Restaurant Marisco Twins – perfect for people watching in the main square
- Restaurant Hamsa – treat yourself to iced Moroccan tea and a mouth watering falafel plate
- Mido’s – delish (and super affordable) takeaway paninis and quesadillas
- Cafe Clock – best breakfast spot in town and a great variety for lunch, with a beautiful view over the town
Top left: Sunset view from the Spanish Mosque / Top right: streets of the Medina / Middle left: Blue house front / Middle right: Sleepy dog in blue streets / Bottom left: artwork hanging on walls in Medina / Bottom right: handicrafts for sale.
Day 4 – Akchour Waterfall Hike
Getting out of the main cities is a great way to see a different side to Morocco and soak up all the natural beauty on offer. I was so surprised at how green and lush a lot of the Moroccan country side is, and the hike to Akchour Waterfall was no exception. The best way to get to the start of the hike from Chefchaouen is via a shared ‘grand’ taxi, which I promise isn’t as intimidating as it sounds! Head to the shared taxi stand and let the drivers know you want to go to Akchour Waterfall. The taxi’s leave when they’re full and even in low season this usually doesn’t take too long. The trip to Akchour should cost 150dhr in total, so if you have 6 people in the taxi then it would be 25dhr each. The drive to the start of the hike takes around 45mins and you’ll get dropped off at a car park with a few restaurants, this is also where all the shared taxis wait for return journeys back to Chefchaouen. If you want a guide to lead you along the hike, you can easily find one here for around 100dhr, but I honestly don’t think you need one for the waterfall hike.
To start the hike, head off down the one main road towards what looks like a toll gate…you’ll also walk past some small shop stalls and cafes lining the street (plus a lady with an ostrich if you’re lucky). Once you get to the big dam wall, you want to take the path to the left to head towards the waterfall, or you can take the path to the right for the God’s Bridge hike. It’s an easy hike and there are red and yellow arrows painted on rocks and trees along the trail, so follow these and you’ll be all set!
Hiking to the ‘Little’ waterfall will take you around 1hr each way, and going all the way to the Grande Cascade will take approximately 2hrs each way. If you manage to get up and at ’em early enough, you could definitely fit in both the waterfall and God’s Bridge hikes in one day (God’s Bridge is a 45min hike each way), although keep in mind that you don’t want to return to the shared taxi rank too late as there are less cars waiting to take you back to Chefchaouen after about 4pm.
Top left: Petite cascade / Top right: clear water along the hike / Bottom left: dam wall where you will take left hand path / Bottom right: arrows painted along path.
Day 5 – Travel to & explore Rabat
Saying goodbye to the magic of Chefchaouen will be hard, but making your way to Rabat will make it all worth it. Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and while it may lack the hustle and bustle that you’ll find in Marrakech and Fez, it more than makes up for with mind-blowing history and a laidback coastal charm that you don’t find in other Morrocan cities. To get to Rabat from Chefchaouen, look once again to CTM buses. The journey takes around 5hrs and only runs twice a day, so again I would highly recommend booking the early bus if you can to make the most of the day.
We stayed at Riad Dar Rabiaa during our time in Rabat which I would 100% recommend. The space is stunning and comfortable, and the staff were so lovely and accommodating. Once you’ve arrived and freshened up after the long bus ride, get ready to explore. First up, make your way up to Kasbah des Oudayas, the fortified heart of Old Rabat that sits on the headland at the river mouth. The Kasbah dates back to the 12th century and is home to some of the oldest buildings in Rabat, plus you can get one of the best views of Rabat beach, the river mouth and Sale from the viewing platform. Head to Café Maure in the Kasbah for a mint tea and traditional Moroccan biscuit (these will all be 10 dirham each), while soaking in the stunning view over the Bou Regreg River. On your way out, you can stop by the Andalusian Gardens for a shady retreat from the city.
And now it’s time for some shopping! Head across the road from the Kasbah to the Médina, which is buzzing with buyers and sellers alike. Rugs, cushions, ceramics, tagine pots, leather goods, shoes, fresh fruit and veg…you can find just about anything you’d want or need in the Médina de Rabat. Rue des Consuls in particular has lots of rug and textile stalls to peruse, so start there and work your way further into the Médina! It also has the added benefit of being more affordable and less chaotic than the Médina’s in Fez, Chefchaouen and Marrakech.
To wrap up your day in Rabat, book into an Airbnb Experiences cooking class. My partner and I learnt how to make a chicken tajine, which was so delicious that we rushed to buy our own tajine pot after the class so we can make it again at home! We were also lucky enough to try some other home made goodies that Ibtissem, our host, had prepared…mint tea, almond biscuits, fresh orange juice, pastilla and flan for dessert (plus an extra tajine to take away for dinner)! We felt so welcomed into Hamza and Ibtissem’s home and would highly recommend this cooking experience.
Top left: goods for sale in Kasbah des Oudayas / Top right: Cafe Maure in Kasbah des Oudayas / Bottom left: view over Rabat city / Bottom right: Jess standing in front of big wooden doors in the Kasbah, drinking an orange juice
Day 6 – See more of Rabat & fly out
Start your last morning with a stroll on the boardwalk that runs along the Bou Regreg River, making your way to check out Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Both of these impressive monuments mark significant moments in Rabat’s history. The Hassan Tower is a twelfth century minaret of an incomplete grand mosque, which was originally intended to be the largest mosque on earth. The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is a lavishly decorated grand tomb of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons. You can also visit Chellah, a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis and ancient archeological site that’s a must see when visiting the city! Sadly, it was closed to the public when I visited, so check before you go to see if it’s open again. Make sure you book a later afternoon flight so that you can make the most of the final day of the trip and see the historical sites of Rabat. For more ideas on how to spend your time in Rabat, take a read through my How to Spend 24hrs in Rabat, Morocco guide.
Left: coloured threads hanging in alley in Fes Medina / Right: cat in the streets of Morocco
Save this post for later on Pinterest
