Fes Travel Guide
Fes Travel Guide This is your easy and friendly guide to exploring the city’s culture, food, and history.
Fes Travel Guide: This guide helps you explore the city with confidence, from flights and hotels to food, history, and the Medina.
Why Visit Fes ?
Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco and the oldest imperial city in the country. In this Fes Travel Guide, I’ll show you why travelers love Fes for its authentic culture, ancient medina, traditional craftsmanship, and calm atmosphere compared to Marrakech.
Travelers love Fes for:
its authentic Moroccan culture
its ancient history
its traditional craftsmanship
its calm atmosphere compared to Marrakech
its beautiful architecture and hidden gems
If you want a deeper, more traditional Morocco experience, Fes is perfect.
Best Things to Do in Fes – Fes Travel Guide 2026
This Fes Travel Guide highlights some of the must-see places in the city, from the old medina to historic mosques and colorful markets.
Explore Fes el Bali
Walk through the world’s largest car-free Medina filled with narrow alleys, markets, artisans, and traditional Moroccan life.
Chouara Tannery
A famous open-air tannery with colorful dye pits where leather has been made for centuries.
Al Quaraouiyine
See one of the oldest universities in the world, known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful
Bab Boujloud
The iconic blue-and-green gate that marks the entrance to the Medina perfect for photos.
Where to Stay in Fes
Choosing the right area to stay can change your whole experience. In this Fes Travel Guide, I recommend staying close to the Medina if it is your first visit, so you can easily explore the main sights on foot.
Best Areas to Stay
Fes el Bali – historic, authentic, beautiful riads
Fes el Jdid – close to gardens and Royal Palace
Ville Nouvelle – modern hotels, quiet, easy access
Top Categories
Luxury: Riad Fes, Palais Faraj
Boutique: Riad Toyour, Riad Laaroussa
Budget: Dar El Ghalia, Riad Hicham
You can explore the best hotels in Fes in my complete Best Hotels in Morocco guide
How to Get Around Fes
This Fes Travel Guide also helps you understand local customs, safety tips, and how to get around the city easily.
Fes is very walkable especially inside the Medina.
Best ways to move around:
Walking inside medina
Small taxis (cheap & easy)
Guides for medina navigation
Cars ONLY outside medina
Fes is one of those cities that surprises every traveler. It’s a place where life in the Medina still follows old rhythms, where artisans shape metal by hand, and where the smell of fresh bread fills the streets every morning. Walking through Fes feels like stepping back into history, but don’t worry it’s also easy to navigate with a few local tips.
If it’s your first time visiting, this Fes Travel Guide will help you understand how to move around the Medina, where to eat, the best neighborhoods to stay in, and how to enjoy your trip like a local. Whether you’re exploring the narrow alleys of Fes el Bali, visiting the famous tanneries, or discovering hidden museums, Fes always has something new to show you.
One thing I always tell travelers: take your time. Fes is not a city to rush. Sit in a café, chat with locals, try Moroccan mint tea, and enjoy the slow, authentic rhythm of daily life. This is the real magic of Fes.
Another important tip is to remember that the Medina can feel like a maze, especially on your first day. That’s why many travelers choose to hire a local guide it saves time and helps you see places you might miss on your own. And don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, ask before taking photos of people, and bring some cash for small shops. These simple things will make your trip much easier.
Fes is also well-connected to many other amazing Moroccan destinations. Whether you want to visit Chefchaouen, Meknes, Volubilis, Rabat, or go deeper into the desert, Fes is a perfect base. This Fes Travel Guide is here to help you plan all of that with confidence.
Important tip:
Google Maps does NOT work well inside the Medina.
🍽️ Best Food in Fes – What to Eat & Where to Try It
If you love food, this Fes Travel Guide will point you to some of the best traditional dishes and local restaurants in the city.
Traditional Moroccan Tagine
No visit to Fes is complete without tasting a real Moroccan tagine. Slow-cooked with vegetables, olives, prunes, almonds, or preserved lemon, tagines in Fes have a special homemade flavor.
Best places to try it:
Dar Hatim family run, warm hospitality
The Ruined Garden cozy garden setting, great lamb tagine
Pastilla (Bastilla) Fes Specialty
Pastilla is originally from Fes, and it’s one of Morocco’s most famous dishes. A crispy pie made with layers of thin dough, filled with chicken or pigeon, almonds, and sweet spices, then dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sweet and savory at the same time amazing!
Best places:
Restaurant Darori Resto
Riad Rcif Restaurant
Harira Soup
This comforting soup is made with tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, herbs, and spices. It’s usually served with dates and chebakia during Ramadan, but you can find it any time of year.
Best place:
Local street stalls inside the Medina (fresh and authentic)
Brochettes (Grilled Meat Skewers)
If you love grilled meat, the brochettes in Fes are unmatched. They’re cooked over charcoal and served with bread, onions, and Moroccan salad.
Best places:
R’cif Square food stalls
Local BBQ shops in the Medina
Moroccan Couscous
In Fes, couscous is traditionally served on Fridays. It comes with vegetables, meats, and a flavorful broth poured on top. Simple but delicious.
Best places:
Nagham Café beautiful rooftop
Made in M local, good portions
Street Food in Fes
If you like tasting local snacks, Fes is heaven. Try:
Fresh msemen (Moroccan pancakes)
Sfenj (Moroccan donuts)
Babbouche (snail soup only if you’re curious!)
Fresh orange juice in the market
Street food in Fes is safe, cheap, and very tasty.
Moroccan Sweets & Pastries
Indulge in:
Chebakia (sesame-honey cookie) Kaab el Ghazal (almond cookie) Ghriba (coconut or almond cookie)
Best places:
Pâtisserie Amira
The Medina’s artisan pastry shops
Local Tip: If you want the most authentic food experience in Fes, eat where locals eat. Small, family-owned restaurants often serve the best Moroccan meals full of flavor, low price, and big portions.
Fes Travel Guide: In this guide, I help you explore the city with confidence, from flights and hotels to food, culture, and the Medina
✈️ Flights to Fes
To make this Fes Travel Guide complete, here are the main ways to fly into the city and where travelers usually come from.
Flights from Europe
Travelers can reach Fes directly from major European cities, especially from:
France: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse
Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville
Italy: Milan, Rome, Bologna
Belgium: Brussels, Charleroi
United Kingdom: London, Manchester
Low-cost airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia operate regular flights, making Fes one of the cheapest Moroccan destinations to fly into.
Local Fes Travel Guide Tips for Exploring
Here are some simple local tips to help you enjoy Fes with confidence:
Book a local guide for your first day Fes has the world’s largest car-free Medina, and a guide will help you understand the culture, history, and hidden streets.
Wear comfortable shoes The Medina has many slopes, stairs, and uneven pathways.
Ask before taking photos of people It’s a sign of respect and helps avoid uncomfortable situations.
Visit the tannery in the morning The colors are brighter, the light is better, and it’s less crowded.
Bring cash for small shops Many artisans and local stalls don’t accept credit cards.
Stay near a main street inside the Medina It makes navigation much easier and avoids getting lost at night.
Hire a guide for any deep Medina tour The alleys are complex, and a guide makes your visit smoother and more enjoyable.
Fes is a city that stays with you long after you leave. With this Fes Travel Guide, my goal is to help you travel with confidence, understand the culture, and enjoy the city like a friend is showing you around. Whether you’re visiting for one day or a full week, Fes will give you stories to tell for a lifetime.