Guided walk through the medina
A half or full day with a licensed local guide, through the old gates, quiet lanes and hidden courtyards.
About Fes
Fes at a glance.
Fes was founded in the late 8th century and is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities. Its old medina, Fes el-Bali, is listed by UNESCO and is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, a maze of thousands of lanes where goods are still carried by hand and by mule.
The city has long been a centre of learning and craft. It is home to the Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in the 9th century, to Marinid madrasas with carved cedar and zellige tilework, and to workshops of leather, ceramics, brass and weaving that still work in traditional ways. Fassi cuisine is among the most refined in the country.
Fes rewards a slow visit with a good guide. Our team arranges the transfers, the guides and the riads, and can combine Fes with Chefchaouen, Meknes and Volubilis, or with the desert at Merzouga.
- Best time
- March to May and September to November
- Climate
- Hot and dry in summer, cool and rainy in winter
- Getting there
- About 7 hours by road from Marrakech
- Nearby
- Meknes, Volubilis, Ifrane, Chefchaouen
Inside the walls of Fes el-Bali, the old city still moves at the pace of footsteps and mules.
What to see
Main places in and around Fes.
Fes el-Bali
The old medina, a UNESCO-listed maze of lanes, souks, fountains and workshops that is best explored on foot.
Bab Boujloud
The blue gate at the western entrance of the medina, a common starting point for a walk into the old city.
Bou Inania Madrasa
A 14th-century Marinid religious school with carved cedar, plasterwork and zellige tiles, open to visitors.
Chouara tannery
One of the oldest tanneries in the world, where hides are still dyed in stone vats, seen from the terraces above.
Al-Qarawiyyin
The historic mosque and university founded in the 9th century. Visitors can admire its doors and courtyards from the outside.
Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah
The 13th-century royal quarter, with the gates of the Royal Palace and the old Jewish quarter next to it.
Experiences
Experiences we can arrange.
These are examples. Each programme is adapted to the group, the season and the budget.
Cooking class in a riad
A visit to the market for fresh produce and spices, then a hands-on class in Fassi cooking and lunch with what you prepared.
Chouara tannery visit
A look at the stone dye vats from the terraces above, with a guide to explain how leather is still made by hand.
Souks and craft workshops
Time in the souks with a guide, and visits to workshops of weaving, brass, ceramics and leather.