Exploring the city of Fes, especially the medina and its many souks, is an assault on the senses. A variety of sights, smells and sounds awaits you around every corner. From carpet shops, to spices and the stench of leather processing at the tanneries; Fes is a city not to be missed. We spent a few days exploring Fes and everything it has to offer. This is our guide for the 7 best things to do in Fes!
7 best things to do in Fes
You can see everything on this list in a day, but we recommend 2-3 days to experience the city properly. Exploring a city like this can be physically and mentally exhausting, so taking the extra time to explore at a more leisurely pace will allow you to soak it all in without being overwhelmed.
1. Get lost in the Medina and its many Souks
Fes is one of the largest and oldest imperial cities in Morocco. The medina alone is home to over 100,000 people, all living in an area of just 500 acres. This part of the city is steeped in culture and history, and navigating its winding narrow streets is a skill in itself. Off the main touristy streets you can find locals going about their daily lives, living and working in this elaborate maze. It really feels like you are on the set of a movie at times!
You can easily spend a full day exploring the many souks and markets within the medina, constantly finding new shops and places around each corner. The souks are home to many artisanal professionals, crafting carpets, metalwork and ceramics. If you want something really one of a kind for back home, the souk is the place to shop for it.
There is no shortage of places to eat in the medina too. We ate at some very “hole-in-the-walls” restaurants, and reccomend trying some of the places less geared towards tourists. You can sit and observe the hustle and bustle as you enjoy your food!
2. Observe the UNESCO Protected Tanneries
Fes is famous for its leather working tanneries in the medina. UNESCO designated the tanneries as a place of importance, and helped to restore this area to full working order. Now, everyday, people work the tanneries, turning animal skins into usable leather which can then be made into artisan leather products for sale.
There are 3 main terraces that overlook the tanneries where you can view the people working. These terraces also function as shops, selling goods made out of of the locally processed leather, but you don’t have to make a purchase to go inside and use the terraces.
The smell of the tanneries is sure to turn your stomach initially, so prepare for the shock! The terraces offer pieces of mint to hold to your nose to mask it but it really is quite pungent. The smell is a mixture of the animal skins and the acid they use to bleach them (they use pigeon poop mixed with water!).
Note: These leather products can be quite expensive, so you can shop around the medina away from the tanneries to get the same products for a lower price. You can also haggle with these guys. Don’t settle for the first price they give you, in Morocco they love to haggle!
3. Marvel at the Bou Inania Mosque
The Bou Inania Mosque is a 14th century mosque located in the heart of the medina, not far from the Blue Gate. This ornate mosque is very well preserved and features beautifully carved marble and woodwork. It’s not very big to explore, but it’s well worth the price of admission (20 MAD / 2 euros). You can see the towering, ornate minaret across the medina.
Note: This is one of the few mosques and religious buildings in Fes that can be entered by non muslims, so it’s worth taking the time to go and see it. It is centrally located in the medina, so not out of the way to visit. Entry is prohibited at most other mosuqes and the university for tourists.
4. Watch sunset from the Marinid Tombs
Situated about a 20 minute walk from the blue gate, just outside the medina, are the Marinid Tombs. Once home to a palace, all that remains are some ruins and a vast cemetery. From above you can see the size and scale of the medina, with its many minarets popping up from the narrow streets. This is a great place to watch the sunset over Fes, and you will likely be surrounded by other people doing the same if you choose to go there.
Note: All over morocco you will see these small vans with coffee shops set up in the back. There are a few of these around the tomb so you can enjoy the sunset with a nice moroccan coffee or tea!
5. Take a walk around the Jnan Sbil gardens
A 10 minute walk out of the medina, through the blue gate, will take you to the Jnan Sbil gardens. This is free to visit, and offers a slice of green in an otherwise desert like landscape. During the peak of summer it is a great place to escape the heat of the city, and the noise and sounds of the medina. Find a spot by the water, relax and recharge before heading back into the medina for more madness!
6. See the world’s oldest degree giving university
Kairaouine, is the world’s oldest degree giving university, and the second largest mosque in Morocco. This site is a very important religious building for Muslims, and is such closed for tourists. But you can visit the museum and take a peek through its ornate gates at the elabore mosaic marble work within. It really is an impressive sight!
Founded in the 9th century, and recognised by UNESCO as the oldest university in the world. Founded by Fatima Al Fihria, a woman from Tunisia that used her families considerable fortune to open this school and mosque after migrating to Morocco. Even today it is still used as an active university and attracts students from all over Africa and the wider Muslim world.
7. Go shopping for an authentic Fes carpet
Fes is world famous for its hand woven carpets. There are many working factories and looms within the medina where you can see people crafting these carpets in person. You will likely be offered a cup of tea by the store owner as they walk you around the store and explain the process. They say each carpet tells and story and the person that created it weaves their own story into each rug, making them truly unique! An authentic Fes carpet can be expensive, but as they are handmade this is entirely justified. Just make sure you haggle for the best price if you intend to purchase one!
Getting to Fes
Because of the scarcity of direct flights, it can be harder to get to Fes than other Moroccan tourist destinations. There are a number of buses from different parts of the country, but depending on your point of origin you may need to change a few times. In our opinion the easiest way to visit is with your own car or a rental. You can check car rental prices in Morocco here.
Note: Travel insurance is a must for any travel abroad, especially when renting a car. Although problems rarely occur, it is better to be covered in case they do. We use SafetyWing and recommend it to anyone travelling the world.
If you don’t have your own car, or can’t rent one, we recommend booking an organised tour. There are many tour operators in cities around Morocco offering all inclusive tour packages to visit Fes. Booking a tour takes all the stress out of using the slow and often unreliable public transport options. You can book these in advance online before you arrive. See below for some tour recommendations from different parts of Morocco.
From Marrakech
We recommend: This 3 day tour of the imperial cities of Morocco, including Fes, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Casablanca!
By bus: Marrakech has direct buses to Fes a few times a day, but journeys can take up to 11 hours. Prices start from 150 MAD and can go as high as 300 MAD depending on the bus you choose.
From Rabat
We recommend: This 4 days 3 nights tour from Rabat, including Fes and overnight camping in the Sahara Desert!
By bus: Rabat is only 2-3 hours away by bus and as such has plenty of buses departing each day. You can book a ticket for this route for as little as 35 MAD, with prices topping out around 120 MAD.
From Casablanca
We recommend: This private tour of the city with lunch and a personal guide!
By bus: Casablanca is around 5 hours away by bus and tickets cost between 90-140 MAD.
From Tangier
We recommend: This 3 day tour to Fes and Chefchaouen with private guided tour of the Fes medina!
By bus: Tangier is quite far away from Fes by bus, and travel times are in the region of 7 hours. You can expect to pay 140-230 MAD for the journey.
Where to stay in Fes
There are no shortage of great places to stay in Fes, with prices to suit all budgets. All of our recommendations below are properties within the medina rated 9+/10 and with breakfast included!
Hotels in Fes View all
Best time to visit Fes
The best time to visit Fes is between March and May, in spring, and September to November, in autumn. The weather is fairly mild during these periods (20 to 27 degrees celsius), especially compared to most of Morocco.
We visited in December, in winter, and whilst the nights can get cold with temperatures dropping around 10 degrees celsius, it was very pleasant and warm in the day in the light of the sun, with temperatures between 15-20 degrees celsius during the day. We also benefited from having way fewer tourists than other periods, and also much more competitive accommodation pricing (make sure to book a hotel/riad with heating if you go during winter).
In the peak of summer (June to August) you can expect temperatures of 30+ degrees celsius. So in our opinion, it might be too hot!
Where to go after Fes?
If you are heading south the next place to visit is the desert city of Merzouga. You can organise overnight trekking and camping in the dunes of the Sahara desert; a real unique experience! You can read all about our experience camping in the desert here on the blog. Our guide includes how to get the best price, what to expect and how to book.
If you are heading to the north of the country, you can visit Chefchaouen. This city is famous for being painted almost entirely blue! Nicknamed the “Blue Pearl” of Morocco, this destination really should be on your list of places to visit. You can read all about Chefchaouen in our article here on the blog.
If you have any suggestions or comments, don’t hesitate to let us know by leaving a comment!
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