Chefchaouen

In this city in the Rif Mountains everything is a shade of blue, from the front doors of local homes to the staircases winding through the village.

Wander up and down Chefchaouen’s narrow alleys to explore leather and weaving workshops before visiting the red-walled Kasbah, a 15th-century fortress and dungeon, in Place Outa el Hammam. Once under Spanish occupation, the influence here remains – as does the Spanish Mosque. Just be aware that Chefchaouen’s recent popularity on social media means that tourism has boomed in this small hillside town.

That said, nature awaits at the village’s doorstep, with the 6km Jebel el Kalaa trail starting from the village and further afield the Talassemtane National Park where visitors can hike to Ackour waterfalls – some of the most beautiful in Morocco. Slow travellers could easily spend a few days here and not feel ready to leave.