Imperial City · North
Fes
Fes is the oldest of Morocco's four imperial cities, and Fes el-Bali — its walled medina — is the largest car-free urban area on earth. 9,000 alleys, 350 mosques, and the Al-Qarawiyyin university founded by a woman in 859 AD still teaching today.
Things to do in Fes
Chouara tanneries
View the medieval vat system from a leather shop terrace — bring fresh mint for the smell.
Al-Qarawiyyin & Bou Inania Madrasa
Foundational Islamic architecture: zellige tilework, carved cedar, stucco calligraphy.
Fes el-Jdid mellah
The 14th-century Jewish quarter — wooden balconies, the Ibn Danan synagogue.
Hands-on cooking class
Learn pastilla and chicken tagine with preserved lemon from a local dada.
Mid-September to November and March to May. July–August is brutally hot inside medina walls.
Fes-Saïss airport (FEZ) connects to Paris, Madrid, Marseille, Brussels. ONCF high-speed trains link Fes to Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier.
Fes travel FAQ
Do I need a guide in Fes medina?
Strongly recommended on day one — the maze is genuinely disorienting. Book a licensed guide via your riad.
Is Fes better than Marrakech?
Fes is older, denser, more scholarly; Marrakech is faster, glossier, more touristic. Do both if you can.
How many days for Fes?
Three nights minimum — one for orientation, one for the medina, one for Volubilis and Meknes day trip.