Fez

Traditional Riad Near Bab Bou Jeloud

A restored courtyard riad steps from the Blue Gate, with rooftop terrace views over the medina rooftops.

Modern Hotel in Ville Nouvelle

Wide boulevards, easy parking, and quick taxi access to the medina — a comfortable base for families who prefer modern amenities.

Luxury Riad with Pool Near Fes el-Jdid

An elegant riad with a small plunge pool, zellige-tiled courtyard, and proximity to the Royal Palace gates.

Budget Guesthouse on Talaa Kebira

A simple, family-run guesthouse on the medina's main artery, ideal for travelers who want an authentic stay without the splurge.

Family Apartment Near the Merenid Tombs Viewpoint

A quiet residential base on the hillside above the medina, with sweeping sunset views and easy taxi rides down to the gates.

Boutique Dar in the Andalusian Quarter

A smaller, quieter riad-style house on the medina's eastern bank across the river from the main tourist bustle.

ONCF Train from Casablanca

Direct trains from Casablanca take about 3.5-4 hours, with comfortable first-class cars and frequent daily departures.

ONCF Train from Rabat

The most comfortable option from the capital, at roughly 2.5 hours with scenic countryside views.

Quick Train from Meknes

Just 40 minutes away, making Meknes an easy day-trip pairing with Fez on the same rail line.

Fès–Saïss Airport (FEZ)

About 15 minutes from the city center by taxi, with regional and some European connections.

Walking Is the Only Way Inside the Medina

Fes el-Bali has no cars — its 9,000 alleys are navigated on foot, with donkeys and handcarts still used to move goods.

Petit Taxis for the New Town

Red petit taxis are the easiest way to move between Ville Nouvelle, Fes el-Jdid gates, and the medina entrances.

Cafe Clock

Cafe Clock is a Moroccan restaurant, highly rated at 4.4 stars from 4134 reviews.

📍7 Derb, el Magana, Rue Talaa Kebira, Fes 30000, Morocco · View on map

Restaurant rooftop Palais Fes Yahya

Restaurant rooftop Palais Fes Yahya is a highly-rated Halal restaurant, boasting 4.8 stars from 1608 reviews.

📍N 74 Rass Jnan, Derb Majmaa Doula, Fes 30000, Morocco · View on map

Fondouk Bazaar

Fondouk Bazaar is a highly-rated restaurant, boasting an impressive 4.7 stars from 1483 reviews.

📍16 Talaa el Kebira, Fès 30110, Morocco · View on map

Maison celeste

Maison celeste is a highly-rated coffee shop, boasting an impressive 4.7 stars from 1450 reviews.

📍90 Ave Allal Ben Abdellah, Fes 30000, Morocco · View on map

Veggie pause

Veggie pause is a vegetarian restaurant, highly rated at 4.9 stars from 1036 reviews.

📍9 Rue de la poste, Fès, Morocco · View on map

Poissons Ahl Fes

Poissons Ahl Fes is a seafood restaurant, rated 4.3 from 1115 reviews.

📍Fes, Morocco · View on map

Watch the Tannery from a Leather Terrace

Kids love spotting the colorful dye pits from the viewing terraces of surrounding leather shops — a memorable, photogenic stop.

Try a Ceramics & Zellige Workshop

Family-friendly workshops let kids paint their own tile or bowl, learning the craft behind Fez's famous blue pottery.

The Blue Gate — Bab Bou Jeloud

An easy, iconic photo stop — blue tiles facing out to the new town, green tiles facing into the medina.

Barbary Macaques in the Cedar Forest

A day trip toward Ifrane brings the family face-to-face with wild Barbary macaques among towering cedar trees.

The Copper Souk's Hammering Sounds

Kids are fascinated watching coppersmiths hand-hammer trays and lanterns in the Seffarine Square workshops.

Nejjarine Museum of Woodcraft

A restored historic funduq with a calm courtyard and rooftop cafe — a good rest stop with a small museum for older kids.

Wander Fes el-Bali, the Ancient Medina

A UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's largest car-free urban area, with roughly 9,000 winding alleys.

Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque & University

Founded in 859 CE, it's the oldest continuously operating university in the world; non-Muslim visitors can view the courtyard from the gates.

Bou Inania Madrasa

An exquisitely decorated 14th-century Marinid madrasa with carved cedar, stucco, and zellige — open to visitors.

Al-Attarine Madrasa

Near the spice market, this small madrasa dazzles with some of the finest zellige mosaic and stucco carving in the medina.

Sunset at the Merenid Tombs

Ruined 14th-century royal tombs on the hillside offer the single best panoramic view over the entire medina.

Dar el-Makhzen — The Royal Palace Gates

The palace itself is closed to visitors, but its immense brass-studded golden gates in Fes el-Jdid are a striking photo stop.

View the Al-Qarawiyyin Courtyard

Non-Muslim visitors may glimpse the mosque's tiled courtyard from the open gates, though the prayer hall itself remains closed to them.

Mellah — the Historic Jewish Quarter

One of Morocco's oldest Jewish quarters, with distinctive balconied houses unlike the medina's blank-walled architecture.

Ibn Danan Synagogue

A restored 17th-century synagogue in the Mellah, one of the few remaining active Jewish heritage sites in the medina.

The Jewish Cemetery of Fez

Rows of whitewashed tombs on a hillside in the Mellah tell the story of a once-large Jewish community in the city.

Zaouia Shrines — Respectful Distance

Several sufi shrines (zaouias) dot the medina; non-Muslims should admire the ornate exterior doors without entering.

Experience the Call to Prayer

With hundreds of mosques in the medina, the layered call to prayer five times a day is an atmospheric moment worth pausing for.

Chouara Tannery — A Living Industry

One of the oldest working tanneries in the world, still using centuries-old methods of pigeon guano and natural dyes.

Fez Blue Ceramics Workshops

Family-run potteries on the city's edge produce the cobalt-blue ceramics and hand-cut zellige tiles Fez is famous for.

Seffarine Square Coppersmiths

A working square where artisans hand-hammer copper and brass into trays, lanterns and cookware, much of it sold for export.

Textile & Carpet Souks

Berber carpets, silk-like sabra fiber scarves and woven textiles are a major traditional export from the medina's souks.

Ville Nouvelle Business District

The modern new town holds banks, offices and conference hotels for travelers combining business with a medina visit.

Fez Trade & Craft Fairs

Periodic trade fairs showcase Moroccan crafts and regional agriculture, drawing buyers from across the country.

Wear Sturdy, Comfortable Shoes

The medina is entirely stone, uneven, and steep in places — comfortable closed shoes prevent slips and sore feet.

Private Clinics in Ville Nouvelle

Modern private clinics with English or French-speaking staff are concentrated in the new town, a short taxi ride from the medina.

Pharmacie de Garde (Night Pharmacies)

A rotating duty pharmacy stays open overnight in most neighborhoods — hotel staff can point you to the current one.

Stick to Bottled Water

Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available — a safer choice for young children and sensitive stomachs.

Avoid Unofficial Guides

Politely decline unsolicited offers to guide you through the medina — hire only licensed guides through your riad or the tourist office.

Know the Emergency Numbers

Save 19 for police and 15 for ambulance/fire services before heading into the medina where street signage is limited.

Hiking in the Middle Atlas Foothills

Day trips toward Ifrane and Azrou offer cedar forest trails with cooler mountain air, a refreshing contrast to the medina.

Horseback Riding Outside the City

Stables on the outskirts offer guided rides through olive groves and countryside for a change of pace from walking.

Fez Royal Golf Club

An 18-hole course set among olive trees near the Merenid Tombs, popular with visiting business travelers.

Cycling the New Town Boulevards

Wide, flat avenues in Ville Nouvelle make for easy cycling, unlike the stepped alleys of the old medina.

Traditional Hammam & Spa

A steam bath, black soap scrub and massage at a traditional or upscale hammam is a beloved local ritual worth trying.

Guided Photography Walks

Local photographers lead early-morning walks through the medina's best light and least crowded alleys.

Hire a Licensed Half-Day Guide

An official guide (book through your riad or the tourist office) makes navigating the medina's 9,000 alleys far easier and safer.

Currency Exchange & ATMs

ATMs cluster near Fes el-Jdid gates and in Ville Nouvelle; cash (dirhams) is essential for souk purchases.

Riad Luggage Porters

Since cars can't enter the medina, riads arrange porters with handcarts to carry luggage from the nearest gate to your door.

Local SIM Cards

Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi kiosks near the airport and Ville Nouvelle offer affordable tourist data SIMs.

Shipping Carpets & Ceramics Home

Reputable carpet and ceramics shops offer international shipping, so bulky purchases don't need to fit in your suitcase.

Moroccan Cooking Classes

Riad-hosted classes teach tagine and pastilla preparation, often starting with a guided visit to the spice souk.

Best Months: Spring & Autumn

March-May and September-November bring mild, comfortable temperatures ideal for hours of medina walking.

Summer Heat Warning

July and August bring intense heat, often above 35°C — plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and evening.

Mild, Rainy Winters

December through February stay cool with occasional rain — pack a warm layer since riads can feel chilly indoors.

Ramadan Changes Opening Hours

During Ramadan, many shops and restaurants close in the afternoon and reopen after sunset (iftar) — plan meals accordingly.

Shoulder Season Advantage

April, May, October and November offer thinner crowds in the medina and better riad rates.

Public Holiday Awareness

National holidays such as Throne Day (July 30) can affect shop and office hours — check the calendar before finalizing plans.

Day Trip to Meknes

An imperial city and UNESCO site just 40 minutes away by train, with monumental gates and a vast underground granary.

Volubilis Roman Ruins

Well-preserved mosaic floors and standing columns from a Roman city, about an hour away and often paired with Meknes.

Moulay Idriss — the Holy Town

A hillside pilgrimage town named after Morocco's founder, with sweeping views and a relaxed, authentic atmosphere.

Chefchaouen — The Blue City

A longer day trip (3.5-4 hours each way) to the famous blue-washed mountain town — better as an overnight if time allows.

Ifrane — 'Switzerland of Morocco'

Alpine-style architecture, cool mountain air and nearby cedar forests with Barbary macaques make for a refreshing contrast.

Haggle Politely — It's Part of the Culture

Bargaining in the souks is expected and friendly — start at roughly half the asking price and settle with a smile.