Fes
Key Facts
Best Time to Visit
March to May and September to November (pleasant 20-28°C, avoiding summer heat and winter rain)
Language
Darija (Moroccan Arabic), French, Amazigh (Berber)
Currency
Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
Time Zone
WET (UTC+1, no DST since 2018)
Airport
Fes-Saiss (FEZ)
Population
1.2 million (city proper)
Climate
Mediterranean, hot dry summers (35-40°C), mild wet winters (8-16°C)
Safety Rating
Exercise Normal Caution (Level 1)
UNESCO Status
Fes el-Bali medina inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site (1981)
Top Highlights
Fes el-Bali Medina
The world's largest car-free urban area with 9,000+ winding alleys. Hire an official guide (MAD 300-500/half day) from the tourist office at Bab Bou Jeloud — essential on your first visit as GPS is useless here. Allow a full day.
Chouara Tannery
The most photogenic of Fes's three medieval tanneries, where leather is still dyed by hand in stone vats using centuries-old techniques. View for free from surrounding leather shop terraces (they'll expect you to browse). Bring mint to hold under your nose — the smell is intense.
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque & University
Founded in 859 AD, recognized by UNESCO and Guinness as the world's oldest continuously operating university. Non-Muslims can only peek through the doors, but the courtyard glimpse is stunning. The adjacent library (restored by the Moroccan government) occasionally opens for guided tours.
Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate)
The ornate blue-and-green tiled gate marking the main entrance to Fes el-Bali. Blue on the outside (the color of Fes), green on the inside (the color of Islam). The surrounding cafés offer rooftop terraces with views of the gate and medina. Free to visit anytime.
Ceramic Workshops in Fes
Visit the Art Naji or Fes Pottery Cooperative on the outskirts to watch artisans hand-paint traditional zellige tiles and blue-and-white Fassi ceramics. Free tours of the workshop; a hand-painted tagine pot costs MAD 100-300. 15 minutes by taxi from the medina.
Borj Nord & Merenid Tombs Viewpoint
Climb the hill above the medina for a panoramic sunset view over the entire city. The 16th-century Borj Nord fortress houses an arms museum (MAD 20). The Merenid Tombs nearby are free ruins. Best at golden hour. Allow 1-2 hours including the walk up.
Moroccan Cooking Class
Learn to make tagine, couscous, and pastilla in a traditional riad kitchen. Classes include a market tour to buy ingredients in the medina. Half-day classes from MAD 400-700/person. Palais Amani and Café Clock are well-regarded options.
Planned Itinerary
7-Day Fes Itinerary
Arrival & Riad Check-In
Arrive at Fes-Saiss Airport (FEZ) and transfer to your riad in the medina. The narrow alleys mean taxis drop you at the nearest gate — a porter from the riad will meet you and navigate the final stretch on foot.
Airport transfer to the medina(30 minutes)
Grand taxi fixed rate MAD 150 ($15) from FEZ to Bab Bou Jeloud. Call your riad — they'll send someone to guide you through the alleys
Check into your riad(1 hour)
Riads (traditional courtyard houses) start at MAD 400/night ($40) with breakfast and rooftop terrace. Mid-range MAD 800-1500
Rooftop mint tea and orientation(1 hour)
Most riads serve welcome mint tea on the roof. Ask your host for medina navigation tips and restaurant recommendations
Evening walk to Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate)(1 hour)
The ornate blue-and-green tiled main entrance to Fes el-Bali. Café terraces above the gate offer rooftop views. Try harira soup (MAD 5) from a street stall
Fes el-Bali Medina with Guide
Hire an official guide for your first medina exploration — GPS is useless in these 9,000 alleys. A half-day guided tour hits the major landmarks and teaches you how to navigate.
Meet your guide at Bab Bou Jeloud(15 minutes)
Hire an official guide with brass badge from the tourist office. MAD 300-500 for half day. Essential on your first visit
Chouara Tannery viewing(45 minutes)
Medieval tannery where leather is dyed by hand in stone vats. View free from surrounding leather shop terraces. Bring mint to hold under your nose — the smell is intense
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University(30 minutes)
Founded 859 AD — the world's oldest continuously operating university. Non-Muslims peek through the doors. The courtyard glimpse is stunning
Lunch at Café Clock(1.5 hours)
Famous for its camel burger (MAD 85) and cultural programming. Located in the medina near the tanneries. Live Gnawa music on some evenings
Ceramic workshop visit(1 hour)
Art Naji or Fes Pottery Cooperative on the outskirts — watch artisans hand-paint zellige tiles. Free tours. A tagine pot costs MAD 100-300
Solo Medina Exploration & Cooking Class
Navigate the medina on your own today — you'll get lost, and that's the point. Afternoon Moroccan cooking class in a riad kitchen.
Morning wandering the medina(3 hours)
Follow your nose. The dyers' district, carpet souqs, and spice market all reveal themselves when you stop looking for them. 'Balak!' means a mule train is coming — press against the wall
Street food lunch near Bab Bou Jeloud(45 minutes)
Lamb sandwich MAD 15, harira soup MAD 5, fresh-squeezed orange juice MAD 5. The cheapest and often best food in Fes
Moroccan cooking class(3 hours)
Learn tagine, couscous, and pastilla in a riad kitchen. Includes market tour to buy ingredients. MAD 400-700 at Palais Amani or Café Clock
Evening at Borj Nord viewpoint(1 hour)
Climb the hill above the medina for panoramic sunset views. Borj Nord fortress has an arms museum (MAD 20). The Merenid Tombs nearby are free ruins
Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip
Day trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis (1 hour west) and the imperial city of Meknes. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and easily combined.
Drive or bus to Volubilis(1.5 hours)
Grand taxi MAD 800-1000 round trip for both sites, or CTM bus to Meknes (MAD 30, 1 hour) then taxi to Volubilis
Volubilis Roman ruins(2 hours)
Best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco — mosaics, triumphal arch, and a basilica. Entry MAD 70. Olive groves and wildflowers surround the site. Early morning for the best photos
Lunch in Meknes medina(1 hour)
Try the famous Meknes olive-oil-rich cuisine at Riad Ritaj or a local restaurant in the medina. Tajine MAD 40-60
Bab Mansour gate and Meknes souqs(1.5 hours)
One of the most impressive gates in North Africa. The Meknes medina is less touristy than Fes — better bargaining. The Heri es-Souani granaries (MAD 10) are architecturally fascinating
Souq Shopping & Hammam Experience
Serious shopping in the Fes souqs in the morning, then a traditional hammam (bathhouse) — an essential Moroccan cultural experience.
Carpet and leather souq shopping(3 hours)
Fes is famous for its carpets and leather. Start at 30-40% of asking price. Walk away if the price isn't right — they'll call you back. A good kilim rug starts at MAD 500
Light lunch at Najmat Souafine(1 hour)
Tucked inside the medina, this tiny restaurant serves the best bastilla (pigeon pie) in Fes. MAD 60-80. Ask locals for directions
Traditional hammam experience(2 hours)
Riad Rcif hammam or Les Bains Amani offer tourist-friendly versions of the scrub and steam ritual. MAD 200-400 for the full treatment. Bring a swimsuit
Evening stroll through Fes el-Jdid(1 hour)
The 'New Fes' (built in 1276) with the Royal Palace gates (exterior only) and the Mellah (historic Jewish quarter). Quieter than Fes el-Bali
Ifrane & Middle Atlas Day Trip
Drive 1 hour south to the Middle Atlas mountains for cedar forests, Barbary macaques, and the surprisingly Swiss-looking town of Ifrane.
Drive to Ifrane(1 hour)
Grand taxi MAD 400-600 round trip. Or rent a car for more flexibility
Ifrane town walk(1 hour)
Known as 'Morocco's Switzerland' — European-style houses, flower gardens, and the carved stone lion statue. Surreal contrast to Fes's medina. Free
Cèdre Gouraud (Giant Cedar Forest)(1.5 hours)
Walk through an 800-year-old cedar forest. Wild Barbary macaques (monkeys) hang in the trees — don't feed them. Free. 20 min south of Ifrane
Lunch at Restaurant de l'Azrou(1 hour)
Mountain town restaurant serving Atlas trout and Berber tajine. MAD 50-80
Return to Fes for farewell dinner(1.5 hours)
Dinner at Dar Roumana — one of Fes's best restaurants in a restored riad. 5-course tasting menu MAD 650. Book ahead
Departure Day
Final morning in Fes. Last-minute shopping and transfer to the airport.
Riad breakfast on the terrace(1 hour)
Most riads include breakfast — msemen (Moroccan pancakes), eggs, olives, fresh juice, and mint tea. Linger on the roof
Last-minute souvenir shopping(1 hour)
Spices from the spice souq (cumin, ras el hanout, saffron — MAD 10-50 per bag), leather slippers (MAD 50-150), and a hand-painted ceramic plate
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Petit taxi to FEZ airport MAD 150. Or arrange riad transfer. Arrive 2 hours before international flights
14-Day Fes Itinerary
Arrival & Riad Check-In
Arrive at FEZ airport. Grand taxi to Bab Bou Jeloud (MAD 150). Riad porter guides you through the final alleys.
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Grand taxi MAD 150. Call riad for porter
Riad check-in(1 hour)
From MAD 400/night with breakfast and rooftop
Rooftop mint tea(1 hour)
Welcome tea, navigation tips from your host
Bab Bou Jeloud evening walk(1 hour)
Blue Gate terraces. Harira soup MAD 5
Guided Medina Tour
Official guide for your first medina day. Tanneries, university, and the deep souqs.
Guide from tourist office(15 minutes)
Brass badge guide. MAD 300-500 half day
Chouara Tannery(45 minutes)
Medieval leather dyeing. Free from terrace. Bring mint for the smell
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque(30 minutes)
World's oldest university (859 AD). Peek through doors
Lunch at Café Clock(1.5 hours)
Camel burger MAD 85. Live Gnawa music some evenings
Ceramic workshop(1 hour)
Art Naji — watch zellige painting. Free tour. Tagine pots MAD 100-300
Solo Medina & Cooking Class
Get lost on purpose. Afternoon cooking class.
Morning medina wandering(3 hours)
Dyers' district, carpet souqs, spice market. 'Balak!' for mule trains
Street food lunch(45 minutes)
Lamb sandwich MAD 15, orange juice MAD 5
Moroccan cooking class(3 hours)
Tagine, couscous, pastilla. Market tour included. MAD 400-700
Borj Nord sunset viewpoint(1 hour)
Panoramic medina views. Arms museum MAD 20. Merenid Tombs free
Volubilis & Meknes Day Trip
Roman ruins and the imperial city. Both UNESCO sites.
Drive to Volubilis(1.5 hours)
Grand taxi MAD 800-1000 round trip for both sites
Volubilis ruins(2 hours)
Best Roman mosaics in Morocco. MAD 70. Wildflower setting
Meknes medina lunch(1 hour)
Olive-oil cuisine at Riad Ritaj. Tajine MAD 40-60
Bab Mansour & Heri es-Souani(1.5 hours)
Impressive gate and granaries. MAD 10. Less touristy souqs
Souq Shopping & Hammam
Serious medina shopping then traditional bathhouse experience.
Carpet and leather shopping(3 hours)
Start at 30-40% of asking. Kilim rugs from MAD 500
Lunch at Najmat Souafine(1 hour)
Best bastilla (pigeon pie) in Fes. MAD 60-80
Traditional hammam(2 hours)
Riad Rcif or Les Bains Amani. MAD 200-400 full treatment
Fes el-Jdid evening walk(1 hour)
Royal Palace gates, Mellah Jewish quarter
Ifrane & Middle Atlas
Cedar forests, Barbary macaques, and Switzerland-in-Morocco.
Drive to Ifrane(1 hour)
Grand taxi MAD 400-600 round trip
Ifrane town walk(1 hour)
'Morocco's Switzerland.' Stone lion statue. Free
Cèdre Gouraud cedar forest(1.5 hours)
800-year-old cedars with wild macaques. Free. Don't feed them
Lunch at Azrou(1 hour)
Atlas trout and Berber tajine. MAD 50-80
Rest Day & Artisan Workshops
Slower day visiting medina artisans — leatherworkers, coppersmiths, and weavers.
Late riad breakfast(1.5 hours)
Msemen, eggs, olives, fresh juice. No rush
Artisan quarter walk(2.5 hours)
Visit the coppersmiths' souq (Place Seffarine), woodcarvers near Al-Qarawiyyin, and silk weavers. Watch craftsmen at work. Free
Lunch at The Ruined Garden(1.5 hours)
Hidden garden restaurant in a restored riad ruin. Modern Moroccan cuisine. MAD 100-150 for a main
Afternoon on riad rooftop(3 hours)
Read, journal, watch the storks on the medina rooftops. Rest
Chefchaouen Blue City (2-Night Side Trip)
Drive 4 hours north to the famous blue-painted hill town in the Rif Mountains. Worth at least one overnight.
CTM bus or grand taxi to Chefchaouen(4 hours)
CTM bus MAD 75 (2 daily). Grand taxi MAD 250-300/person. Mountain road through the Rif
Check into a blue riad(30 minutes)
Riads and guesthouses from MAD 300/night. Dar Echchaouen or Lina Ryad are excellent
Blue medina walk(2 hours)
Every wall, stair, and doorway is painted blue. The most photogenic town in Morocco. Wander slowly. Free
Dinner at Bab Ssour(1.5 hours)
Rooftop restaurant overlooking the blue medina. Goat cheese salad and tajine. MAD 60-100
Chefchaouen — Hiking & Hash-Free Fun
Hike to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint and explore the Ras El Maa waterfall where locals wash laundry.
Hike to Spanish Mosque viewpoint(1.5 hours)
30-minute uphill walk from the medina for the iconic panoramic view of the blue town against the Rif Mountains. Best at sunrise or sunset. Free
Ras El Maa waterfall(1 hour)
Walk to the east edge of the medina where mountain water cascades through rocks. Local women wash clothes and rugs. A scene unchanged for centuries
Lunch at Casa Aladdin(1 hour)
Terrace restaurant with medina views. Their kefta tajine with egg is excellent. MAD 50-70
Afternoon browsing shops(2 hours)
Chefchaouen's souqs sell woven blankets (MAD 100-300), goat cheese, and the lighthearted blue pottery. Prices are better than Fes
Return to Fes(4 hours)
Evening bus or grand taxi back. Arrive late but worth the full second day
Rest Day in Fes
Recovery day after the Chefchaouen trip. Riad lounging and gentle medina exploration.
Sleep in and late breakfast(2 hours)
Riad rooftop breakfast at your pace
Batha Museum(1.5 hours)
Beautiful Hispano-Moorish palace housing ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. MAD 20. Peaceful garden
Afternoon tea at Dar Tazi(1.5 hours)
Elegant riad tearoom with garden views. Mint tea and Moroccan pastries. MAD 30-50
Evening at leisure(2 hours)
Wander or rest. Your choice
Sefrou Cherry Capital & Berber Villages
Day trip 28 km south to Sefrou — an under-visited medina town with a waterfall, mellah, and surrounding Berber villages.
Grand taxi to Sefrou(30 minutes)
MAD 100-150 round trip. Easy half-day trip
Sefrou medina and mellah walk(2 hours)
A smaller, calmer medina than Fes with a large Jewish quarter (mellah). The waterfall in the center of town is a lovely surprise. Free
Berber village visit in the hills(2 hours)
Arrange with your taxi driver to visit a village. Home-cooked Berber lunch (MAD 50-100 per person by donation) with a family. Authentic cultural exchange
Calligraphy Workshop & Night Market
Learn Arabic calligraphy in the morning, then explore Fes's lesser-known night food scene.
Arabic calligraphy workshop(2.5 hours)
Several riads and cultural centers offer calligraphy classes. Learn basic Arabic script and take home your artwork. MAD 200-400
Lunch at Fes el-Bali market stalls(1 hour)
Full tagine at a market stall for MAD 30-50. Sit with locals
Afternoon visit to Dar Batha Garden(1.5 hours)
Peaceful Andalusian garden attached to the Batha Museum. A quiet retreat from the medina buzz
Night food market at Place Rcif(2 hours)
Less known than Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fna but equally atmospheric. Grilled meats, snail soup (MAD 5), and msemen vendors. Dinner for MAD 30-50
Farewell Fes — Last Explorations
Final full day. Revisit favorites and have a farewell dinner at Fes's finest.
Morning return to the medina(2 hours)
Walk without a map. By now you know the landmarks. Buy last souvenirs
Lunch at Riad Fes(1.5 hours)
Elegant restaurant in one of the city's most beautiful riads. Set lunch MAD 300-400
Farewell sunset from Borj Nord(1 hour)
One last panoramic view over the medina
Farewell dinner at Dar Roumana(2 hours)
5-course tasting menu MAD 650. Book ahead. One of Fes's best restaurants
Departure Day
Final morning. Last riad breakfast and airport transfer.
Riad breakfast(1 hour)
Savor the last msemen and mint tea on the terrace
Final shopping — spices and slippers(1 hour)
Ras el hanout MAD 10-30, leather slippers MAD 50-150, argan oil MAD 80-150
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Petit taxi MAD 150 to FEZ. 2 hours before international flights
21-Day Fes Itinerary
Arrival & Riad Check-In
Arrive at FEZ. Grand taxi MAD 150 to medina. Riad porter navigates final alleys.
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Grand taxi MAD 150
Riad check-in(1 hour)
From MAD 400/night with breakfast
Rooftop mint tea(1 hour)
Navigation tips from host
Bab Bou Jeloud evening(1 hour)
Blue Gate terraces. Harira MAD 5
Guided Medina Tour
Official guide for tanneries, university, souqs.
Guide at Bab Bou Jeloud(15 minutes)
MAD 300-500 half day
Chouara Tannery(45 minutes)
Free from terraces. Bring mint
Al-Qarawiyyin(30 minutes)
Oldest university. Peek through doors
Café Clock lunch(1.5 hours)
Camel burger MAD 85
Ceramic workshop(1 hour)
Free tour. Tagine pots MAD 100-300
Solo Medina & Cooking Class
Get lost. Cook Moroccan food.
Morning medina wandering(3 hours)
Dyers, carpets, spices
Street food lunch(45 minutes)
Lamb MAD 15, OJ MAD 5
Cooking class(3 hours)
Tagine, couscous, pastilla. MAD 400-700
Borj Nord sunset(1 hour)
Panoramic views. Museum MAD 20
Volubilis & Meknes
Roman ruins and imperial city. Both UNESCO.
Drive to Volubilis(1.5 hours)
Grand taxi MAD 800-1000 round trip
Volubilis ruins(2 hours)
Best Roman mosaics in Morocco. MAD 70
Meknes lunch(1 hour)
Tajine MAD 40-60
Bab Mansour & souqs(1.5 hours)
Impressive gate. Less touristy
Shopping & Hammam
Souq bargaining and bathhouse.
Carpet and leather shopping(3 hours)
Start at 30-40%. Kilims from MAD 500
Bastilla lunch at Najmat Souafine(1 hour)
MAD 60-80
Hammam(2 hours)
MAD 200-400 full treatment
Fes el-Jdid evening(1 hour)
Royal Palace, Mellah
Ifrane & Middle Atlas
Cedar forests and Barbary macaques.
Drive to Ifrane(1 hour)
Grand taxi MAD 400-600
Ifrane walk(1 hour)
Switzerland in Morocco. Free
Cèdre Gouraud(1.5 hours)
800-year-old cedars, macaques. Free
Azrou lunch(1 hour)
Trout and Berber tajine. MAD 50-80
Rest Day & Artisan Workshops
Slow day with medina craftsmen.
Late breakfast(1.5 hours)
Riad rooftop
Artisan quarter — coppersmiths, weavers(2.5 hours)
Place Seffarine, woodcarvers, silk weavers. Free
The Ruined Garden lunch(1.5 hours)
Hidden garden restaurant. MAD 100-150
Rooftop reading(3 hours)
Storks on the medina rooftops
Chefchaouen (2 Nights)
Blue-painted hill town in the Rif Mountains.
CTM bus or taxi to Chefchaouen(4 hours)
Bus MAD 75. Taxi MAD 250-300/person
Check into blue riad(30 minutes)
From MAD 300/night
Blue medina walk(2 hours)
Every surface painted blue. Free
Rooftop dinner at Bab Ssour(1.5 hours)
Goat cheese salad and tajine. MAD 60-100
Chefchaouen Hiking & Shopping
Spanish Mosque viewpoint and Ras El Maa waterfall.
Spanish Mosque viewpoint hike(1.5 hours)
30-min uphill. Iconic blue town panorama. Free
Ras El Maa waterfall(1 hour)
Women wash laundry at the cascading mountain water
Casa Aladdin lunch(1 hour)
Kefta tajine with egg. MAD 50-70
Souq shopping(2 hours)
Woven blankets MAD 100-300, goat cheese, blue pottery
Rest Day in Fes
Recovery after Chefchaouen.
Batha Museum(1.5 hours)
Hispano-Moorish palace. MAD 20
Tea at Dar Tazi(1.5 hours)
Garden tearoom. MAD 30-50
Sefrou & Berber Villages
Under-visited medina, waterfall, and Berber hillside villages.
Taxi to Sefrou(30 minutes)
MAD 100-150 round trip
Sefrou medina and mellah(2 hours)
Calmer medina, Jewish quarter, waterfall. Free
Berber village lunch(2 hours)
Home-cooked meal with a family. MAD 50-100 donation
Calligraphy & Night Market
Arabic calligraphy workshop and evening food scene.
Calligraphy workshop(2.5 hours)
Learn basic Arabic script. MAD 200-400
Market stall lunch(1 hour)
Full tagine MAD 30-50
Dar Batha Garden(1.5 hours)
Peaceful Andalusian garden
Night food market at Place Rcif(2 hours)
Grilled meats, snail soup MAD 5, msemen. Dinner MAD 30-50
Marrakech by Train (3-Night Side Trip)
Take the 7-hour train to Morocco's most famous city for a completely different medina experience.
Train Fes to Marrakech(7 hours)
ONCF first class MAD 295 ($30). Comfortable reclining seats, AC, café car. Scenic through the plains
Check into Marrakech riad(30 minutes)
Riads from MAD 500/night in the medina. Near Jemaa el-Fna is most convenient
Evening at Jemaa el-Fna square(2 hours)
The world's most famous market square — snake charmers, food stalls, storytellers, musicians. Dinner from the stalls MAD 30-50. Watch from Café de France terrace
Marrakech — Palaces & Gardens
Marrakech's main attractions — Bahia Palace, Majorelle Garden, and the souqs.
Bahia Palace(1.5 hours)
19th-century palace with stunning zellige tilework. MAD 70. Open 9AM-5PM
Majorelle Garden(1.5 hours)
Yves Saint Laurent's cobalt blue garden. MAD 150 (includes Berber Museum). Go early to avoid crowds
Lunch at Nomad(1.5 hours)
Rooftop terrace overlooking the spice souq. Modern Moroccan. MAD 100-200
Marrakech souq shopping(2 hours)
Leather bags, lanterns, argan products. More aggressive selling than Fes — bargain firmly
Marrakech — Saadian Tombs & Hammam
Morning history, afternoon royal hammam experience.
Saadian Tombs(1 hour)
16th-century royal necropolis hidden for centuries. MAD 70. The Chamber of 12 Columns is breathtaking
Koutoubia Mosque (exterior)(30 minutes)
Marrakech's landmark minaret — visible from everywhere. Non-Muslims exterior only. Beautiful gardens
Lunch at Le Jardin(1 hour)
Hidden garden restaurant in the medina. Salads and tajines. MAD 80-150
Royal Mansour hammam(2 hours)
Luxury hammam experience with argan oil treatment. MAD 500-1000. Book ahead. Or try Heritage Spa for MAD 300
Evening return to Jemaa el-Fna(1.5 hours)
The square transforms nightly. Different food stalls, music
Return to Fes
Morning train back to Fes. Comparing Marrakech and Fes — two halves of Morocco.
Train Marrakech to Fes(7 hours)
ONCF first class MAD 295. Departure 7:45AM, arrive 2:45PM
Riad check-in and rest(2 hours)
Return to your Fes riad (or try a new one)
Quiet medina walk(1.5 hours)
After Marrakech's intensity, Fes feels like home. Walk familiar alleys
Dinner at Riad Fes(1.5 hours)
Elegant riad restaurant. Set menu MAD 300-400
Rest Day
Full rest after the Marrakech trip. Riad life at its finest.
Sleep in(3 hours)
No alarms after the train
Riad courtyard reading(3 hours)
The fountain, the tiles, the silence
Evening hammam revisit(1.5 hours)
A second hammam — you'll appreciate it more now. MAD 200-300
Moulay Idriss & Olive Groves
Visit Morocco's holiest town (recently opened to non-Muslim overnight visitors) and the surrounding olive countryside.
Drive to Moulay Idriss(1 hour)
Grand taxi MAD 200-300 round trip. The white hill town is visible for miles
Moulay Idriss walk(2 hours)
Morocco's holiest town — tomb of Moulay Idriss I (founder of Morocco). Non-Muslims cannot enter the tomb but can explore the town. Panoramic terrace viewpoint. Free
Olive grove and countryside walk(1.5 hours)
Walk through olive groves between Moulay Idriss and Volubilis (3 km path). Peaceful and beautiful
Lunch at Scorpion House café(1 hour)
Charming café near Volubilis with terrace views of the ruins. MAD 60-100
Leather Workshop & Perfume Making
Deep-dive into Fes's artisan heritage — learn leather crafting and make your own perfume.
Leather workshop visit(2 hours)
Arrange through your riad to visit a family leather workshop in the medina. Watch the full process from raw hide to finished bag. MAD 100-200 for a guided visit
Perfume and essential oils workshop(2 hours)
Learn to blend Moroccan essential oils — argan, rose, orange blossom. Create your own signature scent. MAD 300-500 at a medina atelier
Lunch at Maison Mezzara(1 hour)
Restored palace restaurant with garden. Traditional Fassi cuisine. MAD 120-200
Final sunset from Merenid Tombs(1 hour)
Last golden light over the medina. Free
Farewell Fes
Last full day. Revisit favorites and say goodbye properly.
Morning medina farewell walk(2 hours)
No map needed anymore. Buy last spices, slippers, ceramics
Lunch at Dar Roumana(2 hours)
5-course tasting menu MAD 650. Your farewell feast
Afternoon tea on the riad roof(2 hours)
One last mint tea overlooking the medina
Evening stroll through Bab Bou Jeloud(1 hour)
Full circle — end where you began
Departure Day
Last riad breakfast and airport transfer.
Riad breakfast(1 hour)
Msemen, eggs, olives, mint tea. Linger
Final shopping(45 minutes)
Ras el hanout, argan oil, leather goods
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Taxi MAD 150 to FEZ. 2 hours before international flights
Travel Tips
Visa & Entry
90-Day Visa-Free for Most
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens get 90 days visa-free. Indian citizens need a visa — apply at the Moroccan embassy (takes 7-15 days). Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond entry date.
Safety
Unofficial Guides Will Find You
The moment you look lost in the medina, self-appointed 'guides' will offer help — then demand payment. Firmly say 'la shukran' (no thank you) and keep walking. If you want a guide, hire an official one with a brass badge from the tourist office at Bab Bou Jeloud (MAD 300-500).
Watch for Mules and Donkeys
The medina's narrow alleys are shared with mule trains carrying goods — you'll hear 'balak!' (watch out!) before they come barreling through. Press flat against a wall to let them pass. They have absolute right of way.
transport
Petit Taxis Only Within the City
Red petit taxis are metered and cheap — most rides within Fes cost MAD 10-25 ($1-2.50). Insist on the meter (compteur). From the airport, a grand taxi costs MAD 150 (fixed rate, 20 minutes). The CTM bus to Marrakech takes 7 hours and costs MAD 200.
Local Customs
Bargaining Is Expected in the Souqs
Start at 30-40% of the asking price and work up. Leather goods, ceramics, and carpets are the main buys. Walk away if the price isn't right — they'll often call you back. Fixed-price cooperatives exist for those who dislike haggling.
Budget
Stay in a Riad for the Full Experience
Riads (traditional courtyard houses) converted to guesthouses are the heart of Fes accommodation. Budget riads start at MAD 400/night ($40), mid-range MAD 800-1500, luxury MAD 2000+. They include breakfast and often have rooftop terraces with medina views.
Eat at Food Stalls Near Bab Bou Jeloud
The cheapest and often best food is at the street stalls just inside the Blue Gate. A bowl of harira soup costs MAD 5 ($0.50), a lamb sandwich MAD 15, and a full tagine MAD 30-50. Café Clock's famous camel burger is MAD 85 and worth trying once.
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