Chefchaouen in October

October is a gentle, golden month in Chefchaouen as autumn settles over the Rif. Daytime highs around 24°C are comfortable for walking the blue lanes and the surrounding hills, the summer crowds have largely cleared, and the warm, low light deepens the colour of the medina from the early alleys to the sunset viewpoint. Evenings turn cooler, so a jacket returns after dark, and the first autumn rains begin to reappear — pleasant days, but with the wetter season starting to announce itself.

It remains a good month for the mountains on clear days. The Akchour Waterfalls and Talassemtane's cedar trails are comfortable and atmospheric in the crisp autumn air, though the rivers may rise with early rain, so it pays to watch the forecast and keep hikes flexible. In town, the full circuit is relaxed and uncrowded: early photography on Rue Targa, the Kasbah Museum and Ras El Ma by day, Rif goat cheese and mint tea on a rooftop, and the Spanish Mosque hike for a golden, autumn-clear sunset.

October rewards travellers who want comfortable daytime walking, thinning crowds and that warm autumn light, and who accept cooler evenings and the occasional wet day. Prices ease from the summer peak, and the relaxed, post-season atmosphere suits the blue city well. Pack a light waterproof and grippy shoes for the returning showers, and October offers a calm, photogenic blend of the medina and the mountains before winter sets in.