A week is a good amount of time for northern Morocco: two days in Tangier, a detour to the seaside town of Asilah or the white medina of Tetouan, two nights in blue-washed Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains, and a final two days in Fes. The distances are shorter than on the desert routes, the landscapes are green and hilly, and the region suits travellers arriving by ferry from Spain or by train from Casablanca and Rabat. Here is a day-by-day plan, with transport options and ideas for adjusting it.
The route at a glance
| Day | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Tangier | Medina, Kasbah, Cap Spartel, Hercules Caves |
| 3 | Tangier or Tetouan | Day in Asilah, or move on via Tetouan |
| 4–5 | Chefchaouen | Blue medina, Ras el-Maa, Spanish Mosque viewpoint, hiking |
| 6–7 | Fes | Fes el-Bali medina, madrasas, tanneries, Fes el-Jdid |
The route runs just as well in reverse, which may suit you if you fly into Fes and leave by ferry from Tangier.
Days 1–2: Tangier
Tangier sits where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, within sight of Spain on a clear day, and its long international history gives it a character quite unlike Morocco’s other cities. If you arrive by ferry, our guide to the Tangier ferry from Spain explains the ports and the crossing.
Spend the first day in the old city. Start at the Grand Socco, the lively square at the edge of the medina, and wander down through the lanes to the Petit Socco, once the heart of the international city’s café life. Climb up to the Kasbah, where the former sultan’s palace now houses the Kasbah Museum, and enjoy the views across the strait. In the late afternoon, the terraces and viewpoints along the old walls are lovely for watching the light change over the water.
On the second day, look at the newer city around the Boulevard Pasteur and the Terrasse des Paresseux viewpoint, then head west along the coast to Cap Spartel, the headland where the Mediterranean and Atlantic meet, and the Hercules Caves nearby, with their famous sea-facing opening often compared to the shape of Africa. The long Atlantic beaches south of the cape are good for a walk.
Day 3: Asilah or Tetouan
You have two attractive options for day three, depending on your mood.
Option A: Asilah
Asilah is a small, relaxed town on the Atlantic coast south of Tangier, with a whitewashed medina inside Portuguese-era ramparts. Its walls are decorated with murals, many created during its long-running summer arts festival, and the atmosphere is calm and artistic. Spend the day wandering, walk the ramparts at sunset, and eat fresh fish. Asilah is on the railway line, so it is easy to visit as a day trip from Tangier and return for the night.
Option B: Tetouan
Tetouan lies between Tangier and Chefchaouen, at the foot of the Rif, so it fits naturally into the route as a stop on the way. Its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, notable for its Andalusian heritage, since many of its early inhabitants were refugees from Spain. It feels authentic and comparatively untouristed, with whitewashed houses, busy artisan quarters and a distinctive Spanish-era new town. You can visit for a few hours and continue to Chefchaouen the same day, or stay overnight.
If you have an extra day, you can of course do both.
Days 4–5: Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is the north’s most photographed town, its medina washed in shades of blue against the steep green slopes of the Rif. The reasons for the colour are debated, and our article on why Chefchaouen is blue looks at the most common explanations.
Arrive in the afternoon and wander up to Ras el-Maa, the spring at the top of the town where water runs down from the mountain and local women traditionally washed laundry. On your first full day, explore the medina slowly: the Outa el-Hammam square, the red-walled kasbah with its small museum and garden, and the endless blue alleys that reward getting slightly lost. For sunset, walk up the hillside path to the Spanish Mosque, a simple white building on a ridge with a superb view over the town.
On the second day, consider a hike. The hills around Chefchaouen offer walks for every level, and Talassemtane National Park, with its cedar and fir forests, lies close by. A popular half-day outing leads to the Akchour area and its waterfalls and natural rock bridge, often called God’s Bridge, although the walk there can be longer and steeper than people expect. Good shoes are important, and checking conditions locally is wise, especially after rain.
Chefchaouen is also a pleasant place simply to slow down: tea on a terrace, a browse in the craft shops for woollen blankets and woven goods, and early-morning photography before the lanes get busy. Our guide on what to wear in Morocco is helpful here, since the Rif is conservative and evenings in the mountains can be cool.
Days 6–7: Fes
The road from Chefchaouen south to Fes winds through the Rif foothills and fertile farmland, passing olive groves and small market towns. Arrive in the afternoon and give yourself an easy first evening, perhaps with a view over the medina from one of the hillside forts, the Borj Nord or the Marinid tombs, as the call to prayer echoes across the rooftops.
Fes el-Bali is enormous, ancient and utterly absorbing. On your full day, a licensed guide for the morning is well worth it for a first visit, helping you find the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Nejjarine square and fountain, the entrance of the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and the Chouara tannery from a terrace above. In the afternoon, visit Fes el-Jdid, the old Mellah or Jewish quarter, and the grand gates of the Royal Palace. Our guide on how to navigate the Fes medina offers practical tips for finding your way.
From Fes, you can fly home, take a train to Rabat, Casablanca or back towards Tangier on the high-speed line, or continue south to the desert.
Getting around
The north is one of the easier regions to travel independently.
- Trains. Tangier is linked to Rabat and Casablanca by the Al Boraq high-speed line, and ordinary ONCF trains connect Tangier with Asilah and, with a change, with Fes. Our Morocco train travel guide explains how to buy tickets and choose classes.
- Coaches. There is no railway to Chefchaouen or Tetouan, so coaches run by CTM and other operators are the usual way to reach them from Tangier and Fes. Seats on popular routes can fill up, particularly in high season and at weekends, so buying a day or two ahead is sensible.
- Shared grands taxis. These run frequently on shorter routes, for example between Tetouan and Chefchaouen, and leave when full.
- Self-drive. Renting a car is straightforward and lets you stop at viewpoints in the Rif, but mountain roads are winding and medinas are car-free, so plan where you will park.
- Organised tours. Some travellers join an organised tour for part or all of the route; if you do, check how much free time is included in each town.
When to go
Spring, from around March to May, is beautiful in the north, with green hills and wildflowers. Autumn is also excellent. Summer is warm in Fes and busy with domestic and returning visitors along the coast, while winter brings rain to the Rif and chilly nights in Chefchaouen, so pack layers. Our guide to the best time to visit Morocco by region has more detail.
Adjusting the itinerary
- Five days only? Cut Asilah and Tetouan, and spend one day in Tangier, two in Chefchaouen and two in Fes.
- Ten days? Add Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis from Fes, a night in Rabat on the way back to Tangier, or a longer hiking stay in the Rif.
- Combining with the south? Continue from Fes to the Merzouga dunes and on to Marrakech; our 10-day Marrakech, Sahara and Fes itinerary can be run in reverse from Fes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a week enough for northern Morocco?
Yes. A week covers the three main highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for one coastal or Andalusian side trip.
Is Chefchaouen worth two nights?
We think so. Day visitors fill the lanes in the middle of the day, and staying overnight lets you enjoy the town quietly in the evening and early morning, and fit in a hike.
Is the north safe for independent travellers?
Generally, yes. Normal precautions apply in busy medinas, and our article on common Morocco scams explains the few tricks worth knowing about.
Plan your trip
Each stop on this route has its own guide in our library. The Tangier travel guide, the Chefchaouen travel guide and the Fes travel guide go into far more depth on neighbourhoods, walks and day trips. Find them all in our Morocco travel library.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, and was reviewed and edited by Yassine. How the guides are written and checked
