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Chefchaouen on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Chefchaouen is very good on a budget. Plan on about 290 MAD per person per day (bed 150 MAD, food 100 MAD, sights 20 MAD, transport 20 MAD), a little more on the day you go to Akchour.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MAD150 | MAD350 | MAD900 |
| Food & drink | MAD100 | MAD200 | MAD400 |
| Sights & tickets | MAD20 | MAD60 | MAD150 |
| Local transport | MAD20 | MAD100 | MAD250 |
| Per person, per day | MAD290 | MAD710 | MAD1,700 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Chefchaouen day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the blue lanes of the Onsar quarter and the upper medina early in the morning
- Sit in Outa el Hammam square and watch the town go by
- Visit Ras el Ma, the spring and stone washing basins at Bab Onsar
- Hike up to the Spanish Mosque for the sunset view over the town
- Look at the octagonal minaret of the Grand Mosque from the square
- Walk the trails into Talassemtane National Park at the edge of town
Cheap eats
- Bissara (fava bean soup) with bread: a few dirhams to about 20 MAD
- Bissara and grilled meat in the lanes below the square: about 30–60 MAD
- Tagine on a terrace: about 60–90 MAD
- Fresh orange juice: about 10–15 MAD
- Mint tea: about 10–15 MAD
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and simple guesthouses inside the medina walls, a few minutes from Outa el Hammam, at about 200–400 MAD a night for a room. Many have roof terraces with views.
Getting around cheaply
Walk everywhere in the medina. From the bus station, walk 15–20 minutes uphill or take a petit taxi for about 10–20 MAD. For Akchour, share a grand taxi. Arrive by CTM bus from Fez (about 4 hours), Tangier (about 3 hours) or Tetouan (about 1 hour 15 minutes); the nearest airports are Tangier and Tetouan.
A sample budget day
- Morning: photograph the blue lanes at 7:30–8:00, then breakfast at your riad (usually included)
- Lunch: bissara and bread in the lanes (about 20 MAD)
- Afternoon: Kasbah (small fee), Ras el Ma and the walk to the Spanish Mosque for sunset (free)
- Evening: tagine and mint tea (about 75–100 MAD)
- Total: about 110–140 MAD plus your bed (150 MAD per person), so roughly 260–290 MAD
More ways to save
- Carry small notes and coins; small cafes and taxis rarely have change for 200 MAD notes.
- Have one big meal a day and keep the other light with bread, jben and fruit from the market.
- Travel in spring or autumn for lower prices than July and August and pleasant hiking weather.
- Go to Akchour early and bring a picnic; the river cafes are simple but add up.
- Do the medina, Ras el Ma and the Spanish Mosque on foot without a guide; save guide money for mountain hikes.
- Stay at least two nights: it saves an expensive day trip from Fez and lets you see the town at its best hours.
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Common questions
Can you visit Chefchaouen on a budget?
Yes. With a medina hostel, local food and walking, about 290 MAD per person per day is realistic.
What can you do for free in Chefchaouen?
Walk the blue lanes, visit Ras el Ma, hike to the Spanish Mosque for sunset and walk into Talassemtane National Park.
What is the cheapest way to get to Chefchaouen?
The bus from Fez (about 4 hours), Tangier (about 3 hours) or Tetouan (about 1 hour 15 minutes); CTM is the most reliable.