Fes, Morocco

Morocco's oldest imperial capital and craft heartland — the labyrinthine medieval medina that completes a longer Marrakech trip.

Plan a Fes trip See all tours

Best time

April–May and September–October

Recommended

2–3 days

Airport

Fès-Saïs (FEZ)

Region

Imperial city · Northern Morocco

Why Fes

Where Marrakech is the showman of the south, Fes is its elder: tighter, more layered, more devout — and the two cities together form the classic Moroccan pairing we build most long trips around. Founded in 789 AD, Fes guards Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO medina of roughly 9,000 car-free lanes where the crafts have scarcely shifted in a thousand years — the dye pits of the tanneries, the ring of the brass-beaters, the weavers and the bookbinders gathered around the ancient Karaouine. Out of Marrakech it sits a full day away, so we never rush it: most travellers fly through Casablanca in about three hours or take a scenic private transfer, and we treat Fes as a second base to be walked slowly with a historian and slept in within the walls, in a restored dar.

What to see

Highlights of Fes.

Fes el-Bali medina

Enter at Bab Boujloud and let the Talaa Kebira carry you downhill through the souks to the Karaouine — a university running since 859 AD — in what is the densest, most intact medieval cityscape anywhere in Morocco.

Chouara tanneries

Look down on the pigment pits from a leather-shop terrace, a sprig of mint pressed to your nose against the reek; come in the morning, when soft light gathers in the vats.

Bou Inania & el-Attarine madrasas

A pair of 14th-century Marinid colleges where carved cedar, sculpted stucco and zellige reach the absolute summit of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Volubilis & Meknes day

A straightforward day out of Fes: the Roman mosaics of Volubilis, a lunch up in the Zerhoun hills, and the towering gates of the quiet imperial city of Meknes.

The blue pottery quarter

Over the river, Fassi potters throw, glaze and hand-fire the cobalt-and-white ceramics that gave the city its trademark shade of blue.

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, unhurried

Three nights within the walls and a private history guide alongside you — the tanneries, the kissaria textile halls, the great madrasas and a home dinner with a Fassi family.

from $980Enquire →

8 days

Marrakech to Fes, the imperial route

Eight nights threading Marrakech, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes and Chefchaouen by private car, with a historian to meet you in each medina.

from $2,450Enquire →

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Before you go

Practical notes.

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

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 done Marrakech?+

Absolutely — they are opposites, and together they complete the picture. Marrakech is open, sociable and modern at the seams; Fes is older, denser and more devout, a medieval city still fully alive. Doing both is how travellers come to understand Morocco rather than just one of its moods.

Do I need a guide for the Fes medina?+

On the first day, yes. Fes el-Bali is far trickier to read than the Marrakech souks, and a historian turns nine thousand baffling lanes into a coherent story. Give it a day and you'll wander confidently on your own afterwards.

How do I get from Marrakech to Fes?+

Two solid choices: a roughly seven-hour private transfer broken up with stops at Beni Mellal or Ifrane, or a Marrakech–Fes flight via Casablanca that runs about three hours door to door. We often fly one direction and drive the other, so you take in the country in between.

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