Fes, Chefchaouen and Tangier by bus

Fes for the maze of the medina, Chefchaouen for the blue streets, Tangier for the sea and a softer landing before your flight home. We did this trip in winter, on a tight budget, and I wrote down what I wish I had known before going. We were two travellers sharing a room, so hotel prices are per room.

The route and where we stayed

We spent two nights in each city, but one full day is enough to see the main sights of each, so you can shorten the trip to three or four days. You can also do it in reverse, depending on where the flights are cheaper.

A few honest notes. The Fes apartment is about 30 minutes' walk from the medina, with a big supermarket five minutes away. The Chefchaouen hotel is very basic and has no breakfast, but its air conditioning also heats, which matters in January. The Tangier hotel had no air conditioning, but gave us three warm blankets, and the staff were friendly.

Fes: the maze

Start at Bab Boujloud, the main gate of the medina, and wander in. The tanneries are the famous sight: several rooftops have views over the leather pits.

People will offer to guide you to the tanneries and say it's free. Decide in advance what you're comfortable with.

Chefchaouen: the blue city

There is no list of must-sees here: the whole medina is the sight. Wander, get lost, take photos. There are no supermarkets in the old town, so buy a few bottles of water in Fes and bring them with you.

Tangier: the soft landing

Tangier is mostly a beach town, so it's quiet in winter and there isn't much to tick off. It works well as one easy day between the bus and your flight: walk the medina, then the promenade if the weather is good.

What it cost us

Hotels, flights and buses came to about 365 € for the two of us, before food and taxis: 183.08 € for the three hotels, about 165 € for the two Ryanair flights, and about 16 € for the two bus tickets.

The price of every bus ticket and taxi, and how we got to Tangier airport for less than the hotel quoted, are in the PDF guide.