Overview
Discover Fes
Fes is Morocco at its most historic. Its old medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world — a labyrinth where donkeys still carry goods through lanes barely wide enough for two people.
This is a city of scholars and craftspeople. Alongside the famous leather tanneries you will find coppersmiths, weavers, zellige cutters and bookbinders working much as their predecessors did. A good local guide is essential here, both to navigate and to open doors.
Things to do
Top things to do in Fes
- 01
Chouara Tannery
Watch leather being dyed in stone vats from the terraces of surrounding shops — best in the morning.
- 02
Al-Attarine & Bou Inania madrasas
Masterpieces of Marinid architecture with carved cedar, stucco and tilework.
- 03
Al-Qarawiyyin
Founded in the 9th century and often cited as one of the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in the world. Non-Muslims can glimpse the courtyard from the doorways.
- 04
Artisan quarters
Visit workshops of coppersmiths, weavers and ceramicists, including the zellige workshops on the edge of the city.
- 05
Panoramic viewpoints
The Marinid Tombs and Borj Nord offer sweeping views over the medina, especially at sunset.
Best experiences
Our favorite ways to enjoy it
- Full-day medina walk with a licensed guide
- Ceramic and zellige workshop visit
- Day trip to Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis
- Traditional Fassi dinner in a palace restaurant
Travel tips
- Hire a licensed guide for at least your first day — the medina is genuinely complex.
- Wear comfortable shoes: streets are steep, uneven and sometimes slippery.
- Fes is a natural stop between Chefchaouen and the Sahara, or between Casablanca/Rabat and the desert.
FAQ
Fes: your questions
Fes or Marrakech — which is better?
They are very different. Marrakech is livelier and more polished for visitors; Fes feels older and more traditional. If you have a week or more, we recommend both.
Can I visit the tanneries without being pressured to buy?
Viewing terraces are usually inside leather shops. Visiting with your guide keeps things relaxed; buying is never an obligation.
Tailor-made Morocco
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