Fes, Morocco

Morocco's oldest medina — the northern bookend of the great Ouarzazate-to-Fes desert loop.

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Best time

April–May and September–October

Recommended

2–3 days

Airport

Fès-Saïs (FEZ)

Region

Imperial city · Northern Morocco

Why Fes

Founded in 789 AD, Fes is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and home to Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina of more than 9,000 alleys with no cars and barely any motorbikes. For the classic grand circuit it is the far northern terminus: the desert route that begins in Ouarzazate, threads the Dadès and Todra gorges and crosses Merzouga emerges over the Middle Atlas and finishes here. Where Ouarzazate is earthen, low and cinematic, Fes is dense, vertical and living-medieval — tanneries, brass-beating, weaving and the bookbinders of the Karaouine. Best done slowly, with a historian, from a restored riad inside the walls.

What to see

Highlights of Fes.

Fes el-Bali medina

Walk the Talaa Kebira from Bab Boujloud down through the souks to the Karaouine — the world's oldest continuously operating university (859 AD).

Chouara tanneries

The famous pigment vats viewed from a leather shop terrace. Best in the morning when the light hits the pits.

Medersa Bou Inania & el-Attarine

Two 14th-century Marinid madrasas with carved cedar, stucco and zellige at its finest.

Volubilis & Meknes

A perfect day trip: Roman mosaics at Volubilis, then lunch and the imperial gates of Meknes — a northern complement to the kasbah architecture of the south.

Pottery quarter & blue gates

Watch the cobalt-and-white Fassi ceramics thrown, glazed and fired across the river — a craft world apart from the rammed-earth builders of the Ouarzazate kasbahs.

Itineraries

Our Fes tours.

Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Fes. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.

3 days

Fes, slowly

Three nights inside the medina with a private medieval-history guide — tannery, kissaria textiles and dinner with a Fassi family. A natural finish to the desert loop up from Ouarzazate.

from $980Enquire →

8 days

Grand loop: Ouarzazate kasbahs to Fes

Eight nights from the south up: Aït Ben Haddou and the Ouarzazate kasbahs, the gorges, Merzouga, then over the Middle Atlas to Fes and the imperial north.

from $2,450Enquire →

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Before you go

Practical notes.

Getting there: Fly into FEZ, or 4h drive from Tangier, 7h from Marrakech
Where to stay: Inside the medina in a restored dar or riad
Dress code: Respectful — shoulders and knees covered near religious sites

Concierge

Have your Fes trip designed by a local

Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.

Request a proposal

FAQ

Fes — common questions.

Is Fes worth visiting if I've already seen the south?+

Yes — it is the opposite of the kasbah country. Where Ouarzazate and the Drâa are open, ochre and cinematic, Fes is dense, vertical and living-medieval. Together they show the two ends of Morocco, which is why the grand loop runs from the southern desert up to Fes.

Do I need a guide for the Fes medina?+

Strongly recommended for at least the first day. Without one you will get lost — part of its charm, but it costs you the context.

How does Fes connect to the Ouarzazate desert route?+

It is the northern end of the classic loop. From Fes you cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Midelt, descend to Merzouga, then run the gorges back to Ouarzazate and over the Tichka to Marrakech — or do it in reverse, finishing in Fes.