Ready for a drive that shows off Morocco’s northern charm? The road from Tétouan to Chefchaouen is one of the most scenic routes in the Rif Mountains. This region blends dramatic mountains, rich culture, and eye-catching towns. Whether you're here for the landscapes or the cool mountain air, renting a car in Morocco is a great way to dive deeper into the northern part of the country. Let’s explore why it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
Dutch travelers can book rentals either online or at local offices. Online booking is often cheaper and faster. You can also compare prices and vehicle options. Also, pre-booking ensures you don't waste time if you land in a busy city. Just show your confirmation and passport to pick up your car.
If you're heading to mountain towns like Chefchaouen or Ifrane, go for a compact SUV or a reliable 4x4. These cars handle winding roads better and have stronger suspension for rural detours. A small sedan is fine for city-to-city drives, but rougher terrains require extra clearance and control. Make sure the vehicle has working air-conditioning, especially if you’ll be driving during the warmer months.
Dutch citizens can drive in Morocco with a valid Dutch driver’s license if their stay is under 90 days. Watch out for fuel policies because many rentals operate on a “full-to-full” basis, so return the car with a full tank. Insurance usually includes basic coverage, but you can upgrade to full coverage for peace of mind. Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, and road rules are enforced more strictly in cities than in rural areas.
Tétouan is an ideal starting point if you're renting a car in northern Morocco. It’s about 61 km from Tangier Airport, 254km from Fès, and 273 km from Rabat. Among these cities, Tangier is the nearest. Starting your trip in Tétouan is also ideal if you will to explore the Rif Mountains. The city also has everything you need, such as fuel stations, supermarkets, and small shops for snacks and supplies. Roads are well-maintained, and traffic is light compared to larger cities. Here are other reasons why you should start your trip in Tétouan:
1. Quick Access to Scenic Mountain Roads
Tétouan is situated at the base of the Rif Mountains in Morocco. The city is nestled in the Martil Valley, with the Rif Mountains forming a backdrop. It’s the perfect launch point for drives to places like Chefchaouen or Akchour.
2. Calm City, Easy Driving Conditions
Tétouan is smaller and less crowded than cities like Fès or Marrakech. The city has wide main roads like Avenue Allal El Fassi and Avenue Hassan II, where traffic flows smoothly. Roundabouts are marked, and there are fewer aggressive drivers compared to larger cities. Most signs are in Arabic and French, but you’ll also find Spanish in some areas. Parking is also more available, especially near spots like Place Moulay El Mehdi and Boulevard Mohamed V.
3. A Cultural Warm-Up Before the Road
Tétouan’s charm begins in its Andalusian medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with whitewashed buildings, narrow alleys, and traditional workshops. Walk near Bab el-Okla, the main medina gate. For Spanish-influenced architecture, stroll through Avenue Mohammed V, where colonial-era buildings reflect Tétouan’s past under Spanish rule. The city’s art scene comes alive at the Institut National des Beaux-Arts, a respected fine arts school with local exhibitions, and at Galerie Khizana, a quiet spot for browsing modern Moroccan art.
The Tetouan to Chefchaouen road trip is about 63 km and takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes depending on traffic. You'll mostly follow N2, a national road that winds through the scenic Rif Mountains.
Start on Avenue des FAR, pass through city roundabouts, and transition onto Rte Torreta. From there, follow N2 south for the bulk of your drive. Along the way, enjoy green hills, small villages, and panoramic views. Near the end, take P4105/R412, which leads you into Chefchaouen’s town center.
Here are some driving tips for the Tétouan to Chefchaouen route:
1. Take your time on the Rif Mountain curves
Once you leave Tétouan and get on N2, the road begins to wind through the Rif Mountains. The stretch between Derdara and Chefchaouen has several tight bends and blind corners. Keep your speed between 40 and 60 km/h, especially in fog or rain.
2. Stay alert through villages like Derdara and Azilane
These villages are along N2 and don’t have traffic lights or barriers. At any time, pedestrians, motorbikes, donkey carts, and livestock may cross the road. Honk lightly if visibility is poor, and slow down when passing local shops or schools.
3. Fuel up at Afriquia Station before leaving Tétouan
The last reliable fuel stop before the mountains is the Afriquia gas station on Avenue Al Massira, near the city exit. After that, fuel stations are rare until you reach Chefchaouen. It’s also a good time to check tire pressure and stock up on water, snacks, and offline maps, as signal can drop in the mountain areas.
Driving from Tétouan to Chefchaouen is a journey through northern Morocco’s mountain landscapes and quiet rural scenes. Here are recommended stops along the way:
About 40 km from Tétouan and 9 km before Chefchaouen, Derdara is a small mountain village where you can experience authentic rural Morocco. Derdara is known for its fresh local products, especially goat cheese, olives, and warm bread sold right along the roadside. Auberge Dardara is a well-known guesthouse and restaurant that serves traditional Moroccan meals using locally grown ingredients. It’s perfect if you're hungry and want a full sit-down lunch in a quiet garden setting.
The Rif Mountain Viewpoints appear about 25 km south of Tétouan along the N2 as the road begins to climb into the hills. Several gravel pull-offs appear on the right-hand side, especially near bends. From these viewpoints, you can see layered mountain ridges, steep terraced farmland, and clusters of olive trees stretching across the valleys. On clear days, the light creates dramatic shadows over the hills, and you may even spot shepherds with goats or small farmhouses nestled on the slopes.
Azilane Viewpoint is one of the best stops, about 12 km before you reach the town. It is outside the small village of Azilane, at a sharp curve on the N2 road. There’s a gravel shoulder where many drivers pull over to take a break and enjoy the view. You can see the Rif Mountains, terraced farms, and winding roads stretching through the hills. On clear days, you can spot Chefchaouen’s blue buildings in the distance. This is the final stop before you enter Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen is a small mountain town in northern Morocco, known for its blue-painted streets, relaxed vibe, and breathtaking location in the Rif Mountains. It is in the foothills of the Rif Mountains at about 600 metres above sea level, with Jebel el-Kelaa (1,616 m) rising behind it and Jebel Tisouka nearby. Despite being in the mountains, the landscape is lush and green, not dry or desert-like. The town is small and peaceful, known for its blue-painted streets, fresh air, and slow pace.
Once you’re in town, the streets get narrow fast. The old medina is full of steep, cobbled alleys, and cars aren’t allowed inside. GPS doesn’t always work well, so it helps to know your landmarks or ask locals. Before you start exploring, check in at your hotel or riad. Many places are inside the medina, so you must park outside, usually near Bab El Ain, and walk in with your bags.
Chefchaouen is one of the most unique towns in Morocco because the buildings in the old town are painted in shades of blue. Walls, doors, stairs, and even flower pots are also all washed in blue. Spending two days here is ideal. Here are five things to do while you're in the Blue City:
The medina is compact and easy to walk. Inside, you’ll find shops selling local crafts, such as Beni Ourain-stle rugs, cedarwood goods from the Rif region, and goat leather bags tanned using traditional methods. Prices are generally lower here compared to tourist-heavy cities. The medina has several notable spots, including Place Outa El Hammam, the main square where locals gather, and Bab El Ain, the medina’s main gate. It's a good place to pick up locally made soap bars scented with fig or rose, and natural dyes and pigments used in traditional textiles.
Ras El Ma is a small but essential freshwater spring located at the eastern edge of Chefchaouen’s medina, near Bab El Onsar gate. People often come here to wash clothes using traditional washbasins built along the stream, and you may spot older residents rinsing wool rugs or vegetables. A small waterwheel, once used for milling, still turns here. Ras El Ma is also the starting point for the uphill trail to the Spanish Mosque, making it a natural rest stop before a short hike.
The Spanish Mosque, built in the 1920s during Spanish occupation, sits on a hill east of Chefchaouen. Though it was never fully completed or used as an active mosque, it is open to the public. The walk to the mosque begins near Ras El Ma and takes about 20 minutes. At the top, you’re rewarded with a panoramic view of Chefchaouen backed by the Rif Mountains. Sunset is the best time to visit, when the sun casts warm tones over the town and the sky glows behind the peaks.
In the heart of Chefchaouen’s main square, Place Outa El Hammam, the Kasbah Museum invites visitors to explore the town’s history. This 15th-century fortress has thick walls, a garden courtyard, and a small ethnographic museum. You’ll find displays of old weapons, musical instruments, local costumes, and historical photos inside. You can climb the tower for a wide view over the square, the medina, and the mountains beyond. The calm garden with orange trees is a nice place to sit. Visiting the Kasbah is a good way to understand Chefchaouen’s past beyond its colorful streets.
Rooftop dining is one of the highlights of visiting Chefchaouen. The city’s elevated terraces offer wide views of the Rif Mountains and the blue medina below, especially at sunset. One popular spot is Aladdin Restaurant, located near Place Outa El Hammam. It's a three-level rooftop overlooking the Kasbah, and the menu includes lamb tagine with prunes, vegetable couscous, and grilled chicken brochettes.
Another favorite is Restaurant Bab Ssour, tucked into a quiet corner of the medina. It serves beef with figs tagine, lentil soup, and homemade harira as well as vegetarian options like zucchini and carrot pastilla. Cafe Clock Chefchaouen blends traditional flavors with creative twists for more modern Moroccan fare. Their menu features camel burger, goat cheese briouats, aubergine zaalouk, and cooking classes for those wanting to learn local recipes.
The road trip from Tétouan to Chefchaouen is one of the best ways to see the beauty of Northern Morocco. Dutch travelers in Morocco can stop for goat cheese in Derdara, pull over for mountain views, and arrive in Chefchaouen. To make things easy, rent a car with FinalRentals. We offer the lowest car rental prices and a variety of vehicles, whether you need something small or a bigger SUV for mountain roads. Don’t forget to book ahead to get the best vehicle for your travels.
