Chefchaouen's Blue Streets Are Morocco's Most Copied Instagram Backdrop

Chefchaouen sits in Morocco's Rif Mountains, a genuine detour from the usual Marrakech-Fes-Casablanca circuit, and its entire medina is washed in shades of blue that range from pale sky to deep indigo, a look distinct enough that it has become one of the most recognisable, and most photographed, streetscapes in North Africa.

Why blue, and why it stuck

The most repeated explanation traces the colour to Jewish refugees who settled here in the 1930s, associating blue with the sky and, by extension, the divine; a competing theory says it was originally used as a natural mosquito repellent. Neither is definitively confirmed, but the tradition has become self-sustaining regardless, since the town's tourism economy now depends on the colour continuing.

Getting the shot without the crowd

The most-photographed corners, particularly the staircases near Place Outa el Hammam, are genuinely busy by mid-morning, with visitors queuing for the same three or four angles. Arrive before 8am, when the light is softer and the medina is still mostly locals opening shops, for a version of the shot without a queue of other photographers in frame.

Traveller tips

• Wear shoes with real grip; the blue-painted steps and lanes are smooth stone underneath and become genuinely slippery, especially after the town's frequent light rain.
• Ask before photographing doorways with residents visible or laundry hanging out; many of these are private homes, not staged sets, and locals appreciate being asked.
• Base for at least two nights rather than a day trip from Chefchaouen; the town is roughly four hours from both Fes and Tangier, too far for a rushed single-day visit to be worthwhile.
• Buy the wool goods and woven blankets directly from the small medina workshops rather than the main square stalls; prices are comparable but quality is generally more consistent.
• Carry a printed map or offline map download; the medina's blue lanes are genuinely disorienting and phone signal inside the old town is inconsistent.

When to go

March through May and September through November bring mild Rif Mountain weather without the summer heat, which climbs uncomfortably given the town's inland, elevated position.