Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons for Chaouen. Temperatures in the medina are comfortable, the light is good, and the hiking trails in the Rif are passable without summer heat. Spring brings wildflowers to the hillsides around town.
Summer (June to August) is hot and very crowded. The town has become a major destination on the Morocco backpacker circuit, and in July and August the narrow medina lanes can feel overwhelmed. Prices rise and availability drops. If you must come in summer, arrive midweek and stay for at least two nights so the days balance out.
Winter is quiet and can be cold — the Rif gets frost and occasional snow, and a few guesthouses close. But the medina belongs to residents then, and the light through mountain mist on the blue walls is extraordinary. January and February are the most reliable winter months.