Fes

About Fes

Founded at the end of the 8th century and developed under the Idrisids and later the Marinids, Fes was for long periods Morocco’s capital and intellectual centre. Fes el-Bali, the old walled medina, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.

Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859, is often described as one of the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in the world. Around it, craftsmen still work in specialised quarters — tanners, coppersmiths, weavers and tile-makers.

Fes is the natural gateway to the north (Chefchaouen, Tangier) and the Middle Atlas, and the usual end point for tours from Merzouga, which are around 7–8 hours away by road via Midelt and Ifrane.

Top things to do

• Fes el-Bali with a local guide. A licensed guide makes the labyrinth far easier to enjoy and explains what lies behind closed doors.
• Chouara Tannery. Watch hides being dyed in stone vats from the terraces of surrounding leather shops.
• Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas. Masterpieces of Marinid architecture with intricate carved wood, plaster and zellige.
• Al-Qarawiyyin. Glimpse the courtyard of this historic mosque and university from its doorways (interior for Muslims only).
• Bab Boujloud. The ‘Blue Gate’ is the classic entrance to the medina, lively at any time of day.
• Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah. The Marinid royal town, the Royal Palace gates and the former Jewish quarter.
• Panoramic viewpoints. The Merinid Tombs and Borj Nord give sweeping views over the medina, especially at sunset.

Outdoor activities

• Cedar forest walks around Azrou and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas (Barbary macaques can often be seen)
• Hiking near Chefchaouen and in the Rif (via an overnight or long day)
• Rooftop and viewpoint photography over the medina

Getting there & best time

Getting there

• Fes–Saïss Airport has domestic and international connections.
• From Casablanca: approx. 3.5–4 h by train or road.
• From Rabat: approx. 2.5–3 h by road; trains are frequent.
• From Meknes: approx. 1 h.
• From Chefchaouen: approx. 3.5–4 h by road.
• From Merzouga: approx. 7–8 h by road via Midelt and Ifrane.
• From Marrakech: approx. 7–8 h by train or road, or 3 days via the Sahara.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn are ideal. Summers can be very hot inside the medina, and winters are cool and sometimes rainy, with snow possible in the nearby Middle Atlas.