Myriad shades of blue wash over the walls of Chefchaouen, a remote village cradled in the rugged Rif Mountains of northeastern Morocco.  

Nicknamed Morocco’s “Blue City,” the town is one of the dreamiest places in this North African country. Smaller and calmer than frenzied Fez and Marrakesh, Chefchaouen’s arched doorways and maze-like alleys create stunningly blue photo backdrops.  

In the heat of summer, tourists snapping selfies can overrun the medina, or old city. However, when I added a winter weekend in Morocco’s Blue City to my three-week journey through Morocco, I encountered blue skies, friendly vendors and sparse crowds.  

Visiting offseason also meant I could book a suite at Lina Ryad & Spa, a luxury guesthouse with breathtaking mountain views. In the riad’s spa, I enjoyed a rejuvenating hammam, or private steam bath, by candlelight.  

To read more about my adventures in Morocco’s Blue City, please follow this link to Travel By Vacation Rental.

You can learn more about Morocco in my articles about the Fairmont Tazi Palace in Tangier for Travel Weekly and about my Gate 1 Travel tour from Rabat to the Sahara Desert for Gate 1 Travel’s blog.  A podcast about my travels in Morocco is also available on Big Blend Radio.