How to Get from Rabat to Chefchaouen

When traveling from the Moroccan capital of Rabat to the "blue city" of Chefchaouen, travelers have several options ranging from 3 to 4 hours. You can hire a private driver, grab a taxi, or take the train: which mode of transport is best depends primarily on whether you would like to stop at points along the way, or even detour slightly to see Tangier, another of Morocco's most famous cities. 

By Private Transfer

Duration: 4 hours 

The simplest way to get from Rabat to Chefchaouen is by private transfer. Private drivers and taxis can help you stop to see points of interest along the way, like the cork oak forest you will spend part of the driving time passing through. There are other historical sites near Chefchaouen it may be beneficial to have a car to explore, such as the art deco Pont du Loukkos, which until the 1950s was the frontier between the French and Spanish protectorates in Morocco. 

If you are staying at a hotel, you will want to make sure to specify to the concierge that you are going to Chefchaouen rather than simply asking for a taxi to be called. The hotel will need to call a "grand taxi," a type of taxi that takes travelers around Morocco outside of cities.

If you are not staying in a hotel, you may need to take your own "petit taxi" (which can typically hold three people) to a "grand taxi" station. Grand taxis can typically hold up to six people. The drive by taxi will take approximately four hours. 

By Train and Car

Duration: 3.5 hours 

Although taking the train for the first leg of your journey will still require you to take a taxi for the second portion of your journey, which will add to the time required to complete the trip, taking the train offers the significant benefit of getting to stop in the coastal city of Tangier for as long as you like to explore.

Travelers interested in this option should plan on taking the train from Rabat to Tangier. Trains leave multiple times a day, and for a small premium, a first-class ticket will allow you to reserve your seat, which you can use to secure a window seat, out of which you can watch the Moroccan countryside go by. 

Once you have arrived in Tangier, you can stop for a meal and city exploration if you like, and then hire a taxi to complete the rest of the journey to Tangier. The taxi will take about two hours and forty-five minutes. Depending on where you go to explore Tangier, you may need to take a petit taxi to a grand taxi.