Arrive at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or the ferry terminal and transfer to your riad in the Kasbah quarter, dropping bags and stepping straight into the medina’s lively rhythm. Begin with a leisurely breakfast on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, then wander the Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen) to see Andalusian gardens, historic ceramics and panoramic views that introduce you to Tangier’s layered history.
After lunch at a café near Place du Petit Socco, stroll through the old medina’s narrow alleys, browsing leather shops, spice stalls and art galleries — don’t miss Galerie Delacroix and the colorful shops along Rue de la Mer. Continue to the American Legation Museum to learn about Tangier’s international past, then take a short walk down to the port area and the Grand Socco to watch local life and sample mint tea at a bustling square-side terrace.
As daylight fades, return to the Kasbah to catch sunset from the kasbah walls overlooking the Strait, then enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner at a nearby riad or at Le Saveur du Poisson for fresh seafood in a casual, local setting. End the night with a relaxed walk through the medina’s quiet lanes or a nightcap on your riad’s rooftop while listening to the distant call to prayer and the soft bustle of Tangier at night.
Start your day with breakfast on your riad’s rooftop, then drive or take a short taxi ride west to Cap Spartel lighthouse where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean — pause at the clifftop viewpoints for sweeping sea vistas and photos. Continue to the nearby Caves of Hercules, where you can explore the cavern with its famous natural arch shaped like the African continent and learn the local legends while feeling the sea breeze through the cave opening.
After a seaside lunch in the village of Achakar or at a beachside café near Cap Spartel, stroll along the coastal paths toward the quiet beaches of Sidi Kankouche, watching fishermen mend nets and sampling freshly grilled fish if you like. Head back toward Tangier via the scenic coastal road, stopping at the Cape Spartel viewpoint again at a different angle or visiting the small Museum of the Sea in Tangier if time allows to connect the day’s coastal history with the city’s maritime past.
Return to the medina in time for sunset — take a leisurely walk along the corniche and enjoy mint tea at a waterfront café near Petit Socco as the sky softens over the Strait of Gibraltar. For dinner, choose a seafood-focused restaurant such as Le Saveur du Poisson or a traditional riad meal back in the Kasbah, then wander the medina’s lantern-lit alleys to absorb Tangier’s nocturnal atmosphere before turning in for the next day’s drive toward the Rif Mountains.
After breakfast in Tangier, drive northeast through the rolling Rif foothills, pausing at scenic overlooks to stretch your legs and admire terraced fields and olive groves; arrive in Chefchaouen late morning and check into a riad near the medina. Begin your introduction to the Blue City with a gentle walk from Plaza Uta el-Hammam up to the Ras Elma spring, letting the cool mountain air and the first glimpses of blue-washed lanes set the tone for exploring.
Have lunch at a terrace café on Plaza Uta el-Hammam offering tagine and fresh salads, then wander the maze-like medina to photograph its iconic indigo walls, browse local wool and pottery shops, and visit the Kasbah Museum’s small garden and ethnographic exhibits for context on regional crafts. If you’re up for a short hike, follow the path from the medina up to the Spanish Mosque just above the town for panoramic views of Chefchaouen and the surrounding Rif Mountains at mid-afternoon.
Return to the medina as late afternoon light deepens the blues and enjoy a relaxed dinner at a family-run restaurant—try grilled mountain lamb or koobideh—with mint tea to round off the meal. After dinner, stroll the quiet alleys as lanterns and shop lights glow, soaking in Chefchaouen’s tranquil atmosphere before an early night or a rooftop chat beneath the stars.
Wake to soft blue light on your riad’s terrace and head out early to Plaza Uta el-Hammam, where the cool morning is perfect for photographing the square, the Great Mosque façade, and the first market stalls setting up. From there, wander the quieter lanes toward the Ras Elma spring and the leather and wool workshops along Calle Outa Hammam, pausing for fresh orange juice and to watch artisans at work as the medina slowly comes to life.
After a leisurely lunch at a rooftop café overlooking the alleys—try a vegetable tagine or local goat cheese—spend the afternoon exploring the souks for handwoven blankets, indigo-dyed textiles and ceramics; be sure to visit the Ras El Maa craft stalls and the small Kasbah Museum garden for calm, photogenic courtyards. If you want wider vistas, take the short hike up to the Spanish Mosque in mid-afternoon for sweeping shots of the town and Rif slopes as the light softens.
Return to the medina as lanterns begin to glow and enjoy dinner at a family-run restaurant near the Plaza—sample grilled mountain lamb or b’stilla if available—followed by mint tea on a rooftop to watch the town settle under the stars. Cap the night with a slow stroll through the blue lanes, where shopkeepers draw shutters and the colors deepen, offering memorable evening photography and a serene end to your Chefchaouen immersion.
After a relaxed breakfast in Chefchaouen, set out on the scenic drive through the Rif and Middle Atlas foothills toward Fes, pausing at roadside viewpoints and a village café for coffee and fresh pastries to stretch your legs. Arrive in Fes late morning and check into your riad in or near Fes el-Bali, then take an orientation stroll to Bab Bou Jeloud (the Blue Gate) to feel the pulse of the city as you enter the ancient medina.
After lunch at a traditional restaurant near the gate, begin exploring Fes el-Bali with a guided walk to the Nejjarine Fountain and the restored Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, followed by a visit to the Al-Attarine Madrasa to admire its intricate zellij, carved cedar and luminous courtyard. Continue deeper into the medina to the Karaouine mosque area for exterior views and to glimpse the bustling souks—leather goods, metalwork and spice stalls—so you get a first sense of the medina’s scale and specialties.
As evening falls, return to your riad to freshen up, then enjoy dinner on a riad terrace overlooking the medina—try a classic Fassi tagine or pastilla and a pot of mint tea—while watching the city lights come alive. Finish the night with a gentle post-dinner walk around the nearby souk streets or a rooftop moment listening to the call to prayer, letting the sounds and scents of Fes set the tone for tomorrow’s deeper explorations.
Start early with breakfast on your riad terrace, then return to Fes el-Bali to visit the stunning Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, where carved cedar, zellij tilework and luminous courtyards reward the morning light; pause at the nearby Nejjarine Fountain and its museum for a coffee and a dose of traditional craftsmanship. From there, follow a guided route through the winding alleys toward the Chouara Tanneries, stopping at leather-dye viewpoints to watch artisans at work and to inhale the heady mix of dyes and fresh goat hides—consider a brief detour to a leather workshop for a demonstration and bargaining tips.
After lunch in a medina riad or at Café Clock, delve deeper into the labyrinthine souks around Souk el-Attarine and the Moulay Idriss quarter, hunting for Fassi ceramics, brassware and hand-stitched babouches while your guide points out historic fountains, caravanserai remains and hidden mosques. Continue to the Batha Museum to see a fine collection of Andalusian arts and get a quieter museum interlude, then climb to a rooftop viewpoint near Bab Bou Jeloud in late afternoon for sweeping panoramas as the light softens over the old city.
Return to your riad to freshen up before dinner—choose a classic Fassi restaurant or a riad table to sample pastilla, khefta or a saffron-scented tagine—then take a gentle post-dinner stroll through the illuminated streets near Place Seffarine to hear metalworkers at their forges and feel the medina’s nocturnal rhythm. End the night on a rooftop with mint tea, reflecting on the day’s textures and colors while the calls to prayer and distant city lights usher you toward tomorrow’s last-minute discoveries.
Pack after a final riad breakfast and take a last wander through the nearby souks of Fes el-Bali to snap one more photo of the Blue Gate (Bab Bou Jeloud) and pick up small gifts—spice mixes from the Attarine quarter, a pair of handmade babouches or a tile from a Fassi workshop. If time allows, visit the nearby Nejjarine Museum shop for finely crafted wood pieces and a final coffee on the fountain terrace before returning to the riad to settle bills and collect luggage.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a nearby riad or at Café Clock, savoring a last taste of pastilla or a simple tagine while you review your route to the airport; then head out for final errands—a quick stop at the Batha Museum shop for postcards or a last-minute pottery purchase—before your pre-arranged transfer picks you up. Allow extra time for traffic and the airport check-in process, handing your driver the riad address and flight details to ensure a smooth departure.
Depending on your flight time, spend any remaining moments in Fes airport cafés reflecting on the trip with mint tea, or, if you have an evening window, enjoy a calm rooftop dinner near your riad before you depart, letting the calls to prayer and twinkling medina lights provide a gentle farewell. Arrive at Fes-Saïs Airport with ample time for international check-in, leaving Morocco with the textures, colors and flavors of the north fresh in your memory.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport / Ferry Terminal transfer to riad | MAD 80-200 by taxi (airport); MAD 30-80 from ferry terminal; private transfer MAD 300-600 |
| Rooftop breakfast in Kasbah/riad | MAD 30-90 per person (included in some riads) |
| Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen) | MAD 10-30 (entrance) |
| Lunch near Place du Petit Socco / café | MAD 60-150 per person |
| Medina shopping & Galerie Delacroix / Rue de la Mer browsing | Free to browse; purchases MAD 20-1,000+ depending on items |
| American Legation Museum | MAD 10-30 |
| Port area / Grand Socco & mint tea | Mint tea MAD 10-25 |
| Sunset from kasbah walls | Free |
| Dinner at a riad / Le Saveur du Poisson | Riad dinner MAD 80-200 per person; Le Saveur du Poisson MAD 100-250 per person |
| Taxi to Cap Spartel | MAD 80-180 one way by taxi; shared petit taxi MAD 20-40 per person |
| Cap Spartel lighthouse & viewpoints | Free |
| Caves of Hercules | MAD 20-50 (entrance / small fee varies) |
| Lunch in Achakar / beachside café | MAD 60-150 per person |
| Walk to Sidi Kankouche / coastal path | Free |
| Museum of the Sea (Tangier) | MAD 10-30 |
| Corniche walk / mint tea on waterfront | Mint tea MAD 10-25 |
| Drive Tangier → Chefchaouen (via Rif foothills) | Private car/taxi MAD 900-1,700; grand taxi per person MAD 150-300; rental car fuel & tolls MAD 400-800 total |
| Check-in riad in Chefchaouen | MAD 200-600 per night (midrange riad); budget MAD 100-200; luxury 800+ |
| Plaza Uta el-Hammam & Ras Elma spring stroll | Free |
| Lunch at terrace café (Chefchaouen) | MAD 50-140 per person |
| Kasbah Museum (Chefchaouen) | MAD 10-30 |
| Spanish Mosque hike / viewpoint | Free |
| Photography & souk shopping (Chefchaouen) | Free to browse; purchases MAD 50-1,000+ |
| Dinner in Chefchaouen (family-run restaurant) | MAD 60-160 per person |
| Drive Chefchaouen → Fes | Private transfer MAD 1,000-2,000; grand taxi per person MAD 200-400; rental car fuel/tolls MAD 450-900 |
| Check-in riad in Fes (Fes el-Bali) | MAD 250-700 per night (midrange); budget 120-250; luxury 800+ |
| Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) orientation stroll | Free |
| Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts | MAD 10-30 |
| Al-Attarine Madrasa | MAD 10-40 |
| Bou Inania Madrasa | MAD 10-40 |
| Chouara Tanneries (viewpoints & leather workshop demo) | Free to view; small tip/goodwill MAD 10-50 for guides/workshop demo; leather purchases MAD 100-1,500+ |
| Lunch in medina / Café Clock | MAD 60-150 per person |
| Souk shopping (Fes) for ceramics, brassware, babouches | Free to browse; purchases MAD 50-2,000+ |
| Batha Museum | MAD 10-30 |
| Rooftop viewpoint near Bab Bou Jeloud / sunset photos | Drink/snack MAD 10-50 |
| Final shopping morning in Fes el-Bali (spices, babouches, tiles) | Spices MAD 20-100; babouches MAD 80-300; tiles MAD 30-300 each |
| Transfer to Fes-Saïs Airport | MAD 80-250 by taxi; private transfer MAD 300-600 |
| Riad breakfasts / rooftop coffees across trip | Often included; if not MAD 30-80 per person |
| Miscellaneous: tips, small local transport, water, snacks | MAD 20-100 per day |
| Estimated Total (per person) | MAD 4,000-12,000 per person (7 days, excluding international flights) - Budget traveler estimate: ~MAD 4,000-6,000 (shared transport/grand taxis, budget riads, modest meals, limited paid guides) - Midrange traveler estimate: ~MAD 6,500-9,500 (private taxis for some transfers or rental car split, midrange riads, guided tours in Fes, moderate shopping) - Comfort/luxury estimate: ~MAD 9,500-16,000+ (private transfers for all legs, higher-end riads, multiple guided tours, more shopping and dining at pricier restaurants) Notes: totals assume 1 traveler; for two travelers, shared costs (taxi, room) reduce per-person total. Rental car costs or private guided transfers raise totals. Entrance fees and meals are included in the ranges above; flights to/from Morocco are excluded. |