Welcome to the historical and cultural city of Fes, Morocco! This city is one of the best places to visit in Morocco due to its deep connection to Moroccan history and Islam. It’s hard to express the wonder I felt walking through the ancient streets, knowing that the walls of the city have stood for thousands of years.
Fes is often called the “cultural capital” of Morocco and is actually one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its historical roots span over a millennium! Founded in the 9th century by Idris I, the city quickly became a center of Islamic learning and culture before becoming a center of prosperity and influence in the 12th to 14th centuries and the medieval age.
Today, Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Its narrow winding streets, bustling souks, and ancient monuments are truly a sight to behold and explore!
Other resources that might be helpful for your trip to Morocco:
- The Best Places to Visit in Morocco: 10 Day Itinerary
- Riads, Souks, and Spices: A Guide to Marrakech, Morocco
- The 16 Most Instagrammable Spots in Chefchaouen
How Long to Stay in Fes, Morocco
Take two days to explore Fes and you won’t regret it. Fes is not as popular of a city as Marrakech, and while it has extremely unique sights and interesting things to do, there are only a few standouts that you can’t get anywhere else. I recommend spending at least one night and two days ****in Fes. Ideally, you’d spend two nights here—that’s what we did—but we were taking it slowly and had lots of extra time. Whatever pace you prefer!
🕌 It’s easy to incorporate a trip to Fes between a trip to Marrakech and Chefchaouen! Want to visit the most popular city in Morocco or the photogenic Blue Pearl? Check out my 10 Day Morocco Itinerary here.
How to Get Around Fes, Morocco
My favorite thing about Fes was how walkable it is—even compared to a city like Marrakech. Most of the sights and attractions in Fes are in the medina, or old town, which is mostly only accessible on foot. The winding alleys and tiny corridors bunched throughout the medina are easy to walk through. Most sights are less than ten minutes apart from each other by walking.
To get to and from the airport or train station, you can take a taxi. I noticed the taxis in Fes were better than in Marrakech—they often give you better deals, and you might even convince one to turn on the elusive taxi meter.
The Best Riads in Fes
To make the most of your time, stay in a riad in the medina of Fes. The city of Fes is decently large, but the medina itself is relatively compact. If you ever step outside of the medina, you’ll realize quickly that the rest of Fes seems like a totally different city!
A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard, often featuring a fountain or pool as a centerpiece—and it’s not just accommodation, but a cultural experience. The riads in Fes are known for their intricate black-and-white tiles, plus breathtakingly detailed hand carvings. I was constantly wowed by the design and thrilled to discover new and beautiful riads here, especially because they look so different from the blue and green designs popular in Marrakech. Here are some of riads in Fes.
Riad Fes
True to its name, Riad Fes is one of the most luxurious and beautiful riads in Fes. The expansive and large riad features traditional Moroccan architecture and beautiful gardens and tiles. The central courtyard, dimly lit to set the upscale mood, features a stunning tiled fountain, a piano, and striking scarlet flowers. Riad Fes is also popular for its incredible rooftop, which is glassed in and offers amazing sweeping views of the city.
Click here to book your stay at Riad Fes.
Riad Fes Maya
Not to be confused with Riad Fes, Riad Fes Maya is a charming riad in the heart of the medina and conveniently located to major attractions. The boutique riad is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, great rooftop terrace, and traditional hammam.
Click here to book your stay at Riad Fes Maya.
Le Grand Alcazar
Tucked away in a quiet part of the Fes medina, Le Grand Alcazar has the vibe of an old, grand riad that has stood the test of time. The traditional black and white tiles of Fes and intricate carvings in the doorways make every corner of this riad a stunning treat. Have tea by the beautiful pool or breakfast on the terrace that overlooks the entire city.
Click here to book your stay at Le Grand Alcazar.
Palais Amani
Palais Amani is one of the most extravagant, luxurious riads in the ancient city of Fes. True to its name, Palais Amani resembles a true palace, boasting a mix of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern amenities. The rooms and suites are polished and beautiful, and the enormous rooftop offers great views and even on-site cooking classes (I was really tempted to book one!)
Click here to book your stay at Palais Amani.
Dar Seffarine
Dar Seffarine is an affordable and charming guesthouse in the historic Seffarine Square. The riad is housed within a beautifully restored 14th-century building and embraces its historical roots in Fes, offering cultural activities such as cooking classes and guided tours of the city. The open rooftop is a secret still unbeknownst to most tourists, but offers some of the best views in the entire city—and that’s saying a lot in Fes!
Click here to book your stay at Dar Seffarine.
Riad Moulay Driss & Giacomo
Riad Moulay Driss & Giacomo is a unique little luxury riad in the medina. Unlike most of the riads in Fes, Moulaydriss—named after the patron saint of Morocco—features striking red and orange tones and stained glass in their stunning courtyard. The riad is also run by a family who used to live in the building before converting it into a riad, and they are some of the sweetest people we met in all of Fes. Even the meals at the riad restaurant are all cooked by the mother of the family!
Click here to book your stay at Riad Moulay Driss & Giacomo.
⛲ Can’t get enough of riads? Me neither! Check out the 10 Best Riads in Marrakech—they’re truly stunning beyond belief.
What to See and Do in Fes
While I could personally spend all day just visiting and having tea at riads, there’s much to do and see in the city of Fes. When it comes to culture and tradition, Fes can’t be beat.
Chouara Tannery
The main sight to see in Fes that you absolutely can’t miss is Chouara Tannery. While there are actually three tanneries in Fes, Chouara is the most iconic and dates back over a thousand years. The tannery is renowned for maintaining its traditional leather-making process, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
From the leather goods shops surrounding the tannery, you can see the artisans hard at work, dyeing and tanning animal hides using natural materials such as pigeon feces, lime, and vegetable dyes. Some people say that the smell is too pungent, but we didn’t think it was too bad. If the scent gets too strong for you, most shops will give you a bunch of fresh mint to help with the smell.
I highly recommend going to Chouara Tannery with a guide. While it is free to visit most of the shops surrounding the tannery, this area is famous for scams and a local guide will know where to go and where to avoid. Additionally, if you want to walk among the dye pits like I did, you’ll definitely need a local guide who can bargain with the workers to let you in for a small price. We paid just 50 dirhams per person to walk around the dye pots for as long as we wanted!
Fes Medina
The Fes medina is one of the most fascinating parts of Fes, dating back thousands of years. You can wander for hours among the narrow walled alleyways, discovering shops and mosques along the way. The medina is also known for its intricately carved wooden doors.
Highlights of the medina include the famous Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate), the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, the artfully decorated Rainbow Street, and the lively Djemaa el-Fna square.
I enjoyed exploring the Rainbow Street the best—you can’t miss it, it’s a literal explosion of color! However, the street gets very crowded during the day and also it can get pretty grimy with dirt, animal feces, and flies, so wear good shoes.
🕌 If you loved the medina in Fes, you’ll definitely love the lively medina of Marrakech! Read my comprehensive Marrakech travel guide here.
Al Attarine Madrasa
A madrasa is an old Islamic school, and Al Attarine is one of the most exquisite examples Fes has to offer. The madrasa served as a center of learning for Islamic scholars all the way back in the 14th century! The madrasa’s name, “Attarine,” is derived from the nearby Souk el-Attarine, a spice and perfume market.
Al Attarine is known for its beautiful decorations and carvings, colorful mosaic tiles, and ornate wooden ceilings. The courtyard itself is very small and gets crowded easily, but you can escape into the beautifully preserved halls and upper-floor rooms to learn more about the madrasa’s history and cultural significance.
Ruined Garden Restaurant
I debated whether or not I should put the Ruined Garden on this list, but in the end I couldn’t pass it up! The Ruined Garden is a restaurant attached to Riad Idrissy but is completely open to non-resident guests. It has a bit of a reputation as a tourist restaurant, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t try local eats in Fes—you absolutely should, we had some of the most incredible food at tiny little shops tucked in random streets!
However, the Ruined Garden is just such a beautiful restaurant that I believe it deserves a spot on this list. Covered in climbing plants, orange flowers, and crumbling tiles, the Ruined Garden lives up to its name. I was especially charmed by the cats and turtles that live within the garden, casually lounging with visitors and being altogether too adorable.
The food is also excellent, especially considering its reputation—you can’t go wrong with Moroccan fresh-pressed orange juice, but I recommend the orange blossom and date milk if you’re feeling adventurous. The chicken daghmira (similar to tajine, but with a sweet sauce made of reduced onions) was also one of my favorite meals that we had in all of Morocco!
Royal Palace of Fes Doors
The Royal Palace of Fes, also known as Dar al-Makhzen, is a massive complex located slightly out of the way of the other stops on this list. It’s very important to note that the palace itself is not open to the public. However, that hasn’t stopped visitors and tourists from admiring the impressive entrance adorned with intricately decorated doors.
Carved from cedar wood, which is a hallmark of doors in Fes, the Royal Palace of Fes’s doors are painstakingly decorated in geometric patterns, floral motifs, and Arabic calligraphy. They also serve as a representation of the prestige of the Moroccan monarchy, even though the king no longer resides there.
Bou Inania Madrasa
The gorgeous Bou Inania madrasa is a must city in the city of Fes. The madrasa, like many others, opened as an ancient college in the 14th century and is beautifully preserved today. While you can only access the central courtyard, Bou Inania madrasa was one of my favorite stops in Fes.
The madrasa gets busy with tour groups during the day, so I recommend either visiting at opening time (9 AM) or after 4 PM to dodge the worst of the crowds. Entry is 30 dirhams per person.
Best Rooftops in Fes
Fes is known for its great rooftops, many of which have great views of the entire city. The city of Fes doesn’t have that many tall buildings, so the rooftops have expansive and unblocked views that allow you to catch great sunrise or sunset moments.
Pretty much every riad and restaurant in Fes will have a rooftop terrace, but for the best views I recommend either Riad Fes (pictured below) or Dar Seffarine. The golden hour lighting can be a bit harsh, but once the sky starts turning pink the view is just fantastic!
