Spring and autumn provide the best conditions for exploring Fes, with pleasant temperatures ideal for walking the medina's steep, narrow streets. Summer heat makes extended medina walks uncomfortable, while winter can bring cold and rain.

Morocco's best-preserved Roman archaeological site features remarkable floor mosaics, a triumphal arch, and the remains of a prosperous city that thrived from the 3rd century BC to the 11th century AD. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is easily combined with a visit to the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun nearby.

Volubilis Roman Ruins

The fourth imperial city makes an excellent day trip or stopover. See the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the vast granaries and stables of Sultan Moulay Ismail, the mausoleum of this powerful ruler, and the relaxed medina — all with far fewer tourists than Fes.

Meknes

Known as the Switzerland of Morocco, Ifrane is a tidy town at 1,650 meters with Alpine-style architecture and cedar forests. The nearby Azrou cedar forest is home to Barbary macaque monkeys. In winter, the Middle Atlas receives snow, and the Michlifen ski resort operates nearby.

Ifrane & Middle Atlas

A small town with its own authentic medina, waterfalls, and an annual Cherry Festival in June. Sefrou's Jewish heritage quarter and relaxed atmosphere make it a peaceful half-day excursion from Fes.

Sefrou

Fes is widely regarded as Morocco's gastronomic capital, where recipes have been refined over centuries in the kitchens of royal palaces and family homes. Fassi cuisine is known for its sophistication, subtlety, and complex spice combinations that distinguish it from the simpler cooking of other regions.

The world's largest car-free urban area is a sensory labyrinth of over 9,000 alleys. Hiring an official guide for your first visit is strongly recommended (300-400 MAD for a half-day). The main artery Talaa Kebira runs downhill from Bab Bou Jeloud toward the Kairaouine Mosque, passing most major sights. Allow at least a full day.

Navigate the medina of Fes el-Bali

The oldest of Fes's three tanneries dates to the 11th century. Workers dye leather in stone vats filled with natural pigments including saffron, poppy, and indigo, using methods virtually unchanged for centuries. View from the terraces of surrounding leather shops (you will be offered a sprig of mint to counter the strong smell). The morning light is best for photos.

Visit the Chouara Tanneries

This 14th-century Marinid-era madrasa is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Morocco, with intricate zellige tilework, carved stucco, and cedar wood muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting). It is one of the few religious buildings in Fes that non-Muslims can enter. Entry costs 20 MAD.

Explore Bou Inania Madrasa

Walk or take a taxi to the hilltop north of the medina for a panoramic view over Fes el-Bali. At sunset, the golden light illuminates thousands of white buildings and green-tiled minarets spread across the valley below. The ruins of the 14th-century Marinid royal tombs frame the scene.

Watch sunset from the Merinid Tombs

Fes is considered the culinary capital of Morocco. Many riads and dedicated cooking schools offer half-day classes that begin with a market tour to select ingredients, followed by hands-on preparation of classic dishes like pastilla, tagine, and Moroccan salads. Classes typically cost 300-600 MAD ($30-60) per person including the meal.

Take a traditional cooking class

Housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century fondouk (caravanserai) in the heart of the medina, this museum showcases traditional Moroccan woodworking. The building itself is as impressive as the collection, with a central courtyard and rooftop terrace with views over the medina rooftops.

Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts

The UNESCO-listed ancient medina is a sprawling labyrinth of over 9,000 narrow alleys, dead ends, and covered passages. It contains 300 mosques, numerous madrasas, fondouks (caravanserais), and thousands of traditional workshops. Navigation is genuinely challenging — even longtime residents can get turned around. The medina is roughly divided by the Fes River into the Andalous Quarter (east bank) and the Kairaouine Quarter (west bank). Major landmarks like the Bou Inania Madrasa and Chouara Tanneries serve as orientation points.

Fes el-Bali (Ancient Medina)

Built in 1276 by the Marinid dynasty as a new administrative capital, Fes el-Jdid houses the Royal Palace (Dar el-Makhzen), the Jewish quarter (Mellah), and the Grand Mechouar square. The Mellah, established in the 15th century, contains the beautifully restored Ibn Danan Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery. The area is less chaotic than Fes el-Bali and offers a gentler introduction to the medina experience.

Fes el-Jdid (New Medina)

The modern city built during the French Protectorate features wide boulevards, cafes, restaurants, and shops. Avenue Hassan II and Boulevard Mohammed V are the main arteries. This is where most banks, pharmacies, and modern amenities are located, along with the train station. While less atmospheric than the medinas, the Ville Nouvelle provides a practical base with easier navigation.

Ville Nouvelle

The hillside north of Fes el-Bali holds the ruins of the 14th-century Marinid tombs and the Borj Nord fortress, now housing a weapons museum. The main draw is the panoramic viewpoint offering the best overview of the entire medina, particularly stunning at sunset when the golden light illuminates the sea of white buildings and green-tiled minarets below.

Fes

Highlights