Top places to visit in Fez

• Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque & University

  Mosque · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h

  Founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, the world's oldest continuously operating university and a vast mosque at the heart of Fes el-Bali. Non-Muslims can glimpse the courtyard from the gates.

• Chouara Tannery

  Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 0.7 h

  The largest and oldest of Fez's medieval tanneries, its honeycomb of stone dye-pits best viewed from surrounding leather-shop terraces (a sprig of mint helps with the smell).

• Bou Inania Madrasa

  Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry MAD 50

  The finest Marinid madrasa in Fez (1350s), famed for carved cedar, stucco and zellige and a rare water-clock across the lane — one of the few religious buildings non-Muslims may enter.

• Al-Attarine Madrasa

  Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h · entry MAD 50

  A jewel-box Marinid college (1320s) beside the spice-and-perfume souk, celebrated for its intricate zellige and cedar carving around a marble courtyard.

• Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate)

  Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.3 h

  The ornamental blue-and-green tiled gateway (1913) that is the grand western entrance to Fes el-Bali, opening onto the Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira lanes.

• Merenid Tombs

  Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h

  The ruined Marinid royal tombs on the northern hillside — little remains but the sweeping panorama over the medina's sea of rooftops is the finest in Fez, especially at sunset.

• Jnan Sbil Gardens

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h

  The oldest public garden in Fez, an elegant restored 18th-century royal garden of water features, palms and a lake between the old and new medinas.

• Mellah & Ibn Danan Synagogue

  Synagogue · 4.1 rating · about 0.7 h · entry MAD 20

  The historic Jewish quarter of Fes el-Jdid, with balconied houses and the restored 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue, one of the oldest in North Africa.

• Borj Nord (Arms Museum)

  Museum · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · entry MAD 20

  A 16th-century Saadian bastion above the medina housing the national arms museum, with terraces sharing the Merenid Tombs' rooftop panorama.

• Royal Palace of Fez (Dar al-Makhzen)

  Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.3 h

  The vast working royal palace of Fes el-Jdid — closed to the public, but its seven monumental brass gates on Place des Alaouites are a dazzling photo stop.

• Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h · entry MAD 20

  A restored 18th-century fondouk (caravanserai) beside the beautiful Nejjarine fountain, displaying Moroccan woodcraft over three floors with a rooftop cafe.

Things to do

• Fes el-Bali Medina Guided Tour Tour · 4 h · from MAD 300 per person
• Fez Cooking Class in a Riad Culinary · 4 h · from MAD 400 per person
• Day Trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes Day Trip · 9 h · from MAD 500 per person
• Fez Artisan Crafts Workshop Tour Cultural · 2 h · from MAD 150 per person
• Traditional Hammam Experience Wellness · 1.5 h · from MAD 250 per person

Day trips and tours

• Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes Day Tour 9 h · from MAD 500

Where to stay in Fez

• Fes el-Bali about MAD 750 per night

  The walled medieval medina — sleep in a restored riad amid the maze of souks; unbeatable atmosphere, luggage-porter arrival.

• Ville Nouvelle about MAD 650 per night

  The French-built new town with modern hotels, the train station and broad cafes — practical and calm.

Hotels

• Riad Fes 5-star · MAD 2,800 to MAD 4,500 per night
• Palais Amani 4-star · MAD 1,900 to MAD 3,200 per night
• Riad Laaroussa 4-star · MAD 1,700 to MAD 2,600 per night
• Hotel Batha 3-star · MAD 700 to MAD 1,100 per night
• Funky Fes Hostel MAD 130 to MAD 500 per night

Where to eat

• Cafe Clock Cafe, Moroccan, Fusion · about MAD 110 per person
• The Ruined Garden Moroccan · about MAD 180 per person
• Nur Moroccan, Contemporary · about MAD 600 per person
• Dar Roumana Moroccan, Mediterranean · about MAD 250 per person
• Restaurant Numero 7 International, Moroccan · about MAD 200 per person
• Fez Cafe (Jardin des Biehn) Moroccan, French · about MAD 200 per person
• Thami's Moroccan · about MAD 60 per person

Getting around

• Shared Taxi main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Taxi main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Faux guides in the medina

  Fes el-Bali, near Bab Bou Jeloud

  Men attach themselves to you offering directions to the tanneries or a "workshop", then demand payment and lead you through shops.

  How to avoid it: Hire an official guide via your riad; a firm "la, shukran" (no, thanks) and walking on usually works.

• Tannery viewing "donation"

  Chouara Tannery terraces

  You are ushered onto a leather-shop terrace for the tannery view, then asked for a hefty "entrance" or pushed hard to buy leather.

  How to avoid it: The view is free; a 10-20 MAD tip is plenty if someone genuinely helped, and buying is optional.

More in Morocco

• Marrakech
• Chefchaouen
• Casablanca
• Essaouira
• Tangier
• Merzouga