How do I get from Tangier to Chefchaouen?

This is the gateway leg for a lot of people, because Tangier is where the ferry from Tarifa or Algeciras lands, and Chefchaouen is the dreamy blue town everyone wants to see first. The good news is it is short — about 110 km and 2 to 2.5 hours by road, climbing gently into the Rif mountains as you go.

There is no rail line up to Chefchaouen, so this is a road journey whatever you choose. CTM runs comfortable buses from Tangier a few times a day, and there are other private bus lines too; all of them are cheap and drop you at the Chefchaouen bus station, from where a petit taxi takes you up to the medina. Book the CTM in advance in summer when the route fills.

Shared grand taxis are the local way — Mercedes saloons that leave when six passengers are aboard. They are quick and atmospheric but cramped, and you may wait for the car to fill. For a smoother arrival, especially if you have just hauled luggage off a ferry, I usually suggest a private driver: door to door in a couple of hours, no waiting, and you can stop for photos where the road opens onto the Rif valleys.

A practical tip for ferry arrivals: try to get an early crossing so you reach Chefchaouen in daylight. The first sight of those blue lanes, especially in afternoon sun, is the photo you came for, and the medina’s steep little streets are far easier to navigate before dark. Once you are settled in town, you will not need a vehicle again until you move on toward Fes.