12 Best Things to Do in Fes 2025 — Top Tours & Activities

Fes is Morocco's oldest imperial city and one of the most captivating destinations in North Africa. Founded in 789 AD, it holds the world's largest car-free urban area, a UNESCO-listed medina with over 9,400 winding alleyways, and a living tradition of artisan craftsmanship that has barely changed in a thousand years. Whether you are planning your first trip or returning for a deeper exploration, knowing the best things to do in Fes will help you make the most of every hour.

This guide covers the 12 top Fes activities for 2025, complete with honest pricing, booking tips, and insider advice gathered from months of research and real traveler feedback. From guided medina walks to cooking classes, tannery visits, and unforgettable day trips, each activity includes a direct booking link so you can lock in your spot with free cancellation.

If you are wondering what to do in Fes Morocco, you are in the right place. Let's dive into the experiences that make this city one of the most rewarding stops on any Morocco itinerary.

1. Guided Medina Walking Tour

★★★★★ 4.8/5 (2,400+ reviews) BEST SELLER

A guided walking tour of Fes el-Bali is the single most important activity you can book in the city. The Fes medina is the largest car-free urban zone in the world, and its 9,400 alleyways form a labyrinth that has confused travelers for centuries. A licensed local guide transforms what could be an overwhelming experience into a fascinating journey through living history.

The typical Fes medina tour covers the major landmarks in approximately 3 to 4 hours. You will walk through the blue-tiled gate of Bab Bou Jeloud, one of the most photographed spots in all of Morocco, before plunging into the narrow streets where donkeys still carry goods and the call to prayer echoes from dozens of mosques. Your guide will lead you past spice stalls bursting with saffron and cumin, workshops where coppersmiths hammer intricate designs by hand, and hidden courtyards that most visitors walk right past without noticing.

A highlight of any medina tour is the chance to enter historic religious schools called medersas. These masterpieces of Islamic architecture feature jaw-dropping zellige tilework, carved cedar wood, and stucco ornamentation that took craftsmen years to complete. Your guide provides the cultural context that brings these spaces to life, explaining the significance of geometric patterns and Koranic calligraphy that adorn every surface.

The best medina tours also include a stop at the famous Chouara tanneries (more on those below), where you can watch leather being processed using techniques unchanged since the 11th century. Most guides know the best terraces for viewing and photography, and they will negotiate with tannery workers to get you access without the hassle of dealing with aggressive touts.

What to Expect on the Tour

• Duration: 3 to 4 hours (half-day)
• Group size: Small groups (2-12 people) or private options
• Meeting point: Typically Bab Bou Jeloud or your riad
• Highlights: Bab Bou Jeloud, Al-Attarine Medersa, Chouara Tanneries, Nejjarine Fountain, Seffarine Square
• Price: From €25 per person (group) / €45 per person (private)
• Included: Licensed English-speaking guide, tannery terrace access, mint tea

2. Chouara Tanneries Visit

★★★★★ 4.7/5 — Iconic Fes Experience

The Chouara tanneries are the most iconic sight in Fes and one of the most photographed locations in Morocco. Dating back to the 11th century, this is the oldest leather tannery in the world still in operation. The scene from the surrounding terraces is unforgettable: dozens of stone vats filled with vivid dyes in shades of saffron yellow, poppy red, indigo blue, and mint green, with workers knee-deep in the pits processing hides using traditional methods.

The tanning process itself has remained virtually unchanged for nearly a thousand years. Animal hides are first soaked in a mixture of cow urine, quicklime, water, and salt to remove hair and soften the skin. They are then transferred to vats containing pigeon droppings, which act as a natural softening agent. Finally, the leather is dyed using plant-based colors: saffron for yellow, poppy for red, indigo for blue, cedar wood for brown, and mint for green.

Most visitors view the tanneries from the terraces of surrounding leather shops. These shops are free to enter, and a worker will typically hand you a sprig of fresh mint to hold under your nose against the potent smell. The shop owners expect you to browse their leather goods afterwards, but there is no obligation to buy. However, this is genuinely one of the best places in Morocco to purchase quality leather bags, jackets, belts, and slippers at reasonable prices.

The best time to visit the tanneries is mid-morning (around 10:00 to 11:30 AM), when the workers are most active and the dye vats are freshly filled. On Fridays and during Ramadan, activity may be reduced. For the best photography, visit on a clear day when the sunlight makes the colors in the vats truly pop.

Practical Details

• Entry: Free (access through leather shops on surrounding terraces)
• Tip for terrace access: 10-20 MAD is customary
• Best time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM on a sunny day
• Photography: Allowed and encouraged from terraces
• Smell warning: The odor is strong, especially in summer. Mint is provided.

3. Moroccan Cooking Class

★★★★★ 4.9/5 (1,800+ reviews) BEST SELLER

A Moroccan cooking class in Fes is hands-down one of the best activities in the city and the top-rated experience across all booking platforms. Fes is widely considered the culinary capital of Morocco, and learning to prepare authentic dishes here connects you to a tradition that stretches back centuries. This is the kind of activity that gives you a skill you can take home, recreating the flavors of Morocco in your own kitchen for years to come.

A typical Fes cooking class begins with a visit to a local market with your instructor. You will walk through stalls selecting fresh produce, spices, preserved lemons, and other ingredients while learning about Moroccan food culture. The instructor explains how to identify quality saffron from fake, how to choose the best olives, and which spice combinations define Fassi cuisine.

Back in the kitchen, which is usually set in a beautiful riad, you will learn to prepare three to four dishes. The menu commonly includes a traditional tagine (lamb with prunes and almonds is a Fassi specialty), couscous rolled by hand, Moroccan salads such as zaalouk (roasted eggplant and tomato) and taktouka (roasted pepper salad), and pastilla, the famous sweet-and-savory pigeon or chicken pie that originated in Fes.

Classes cater to all skill levels and dietary requirements. Vegetarian and vegan options are available on request. The experience lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours, including the market visit, cooking session, and the shared meal at the end where you sit down to enjoy everything you have prepared, usually accompanied by traditional mint tea and Moroccan pastries.

Why This Activity Stands Out

• Duration: 4 to 5 hours including market visit
• Group size: Small groups (2-8 people)
• What you cook: Tagine, couscous, Moroccan salads, pastilla, mint tea
• Price: From €30 per person
• Included: Market tour, all ingredients, recipe booklet, full meal
• Dietary needs: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available

4. Al-Qarawiyyin University & Mosque

★★★★☆ 4.6/5 — Historical Landmark

The University of Al-Qarawiyyin holds a Guinness World Record as the oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world, founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, a remarkable woman whose vision created an institution that predates both Oxford and Bologna by centuries. The attached mosque is one of the largest in Africa, capable of holding 20,000 worshippers.

While non-Muslims cannot enter the main prayer hall of the mosque, you can admire its stunning architecture through the ornate doorways that open onto the courtyard. The intricacy of the zellige tilework, carved plaster, and painted cedar ceilings visible from the entrance is breathtaking. In recent years, parts of the complex, including the historic library, have undergone careful restoration and limited sections have been opened to visitors.

The Al-Qarawiyyin library, restored by Canadian-Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni, houses some of the most important manuscripts in the Islamic world, including a 9th-century Quran written on camel skin. While access to the library itself is restricted, guided tours occasionally include a peek at the restored spaces. Your best bet for a comprehensive experience is to visit as part of a guided medina tour.

The area around Al-Qarawiyyin is one of the most historically dense zones in the medina. Within a five-minute walk, you will find the Al-Attarine Medersa (a 14th-century theological school with some of the finest decorative arts in Morocco), the Moulay Idriss II shrine (the most important religious site in Fes, containing the tomb of the city's founder), and dozens of traditional fondouks (caravanserais) that once hosted traders from across the Sahara.

Visitor Information

• Access: Exterior and doorway views free; non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque
• Library: Limited access, best visited on a guided tour
• Nearby highlights: Al-Attarine Medersa (50 MAD entry), Moulay Idriss II Shrine
• Best approach: Include in a guided medina walking tour

5. Full-Day Fes City Tour

★★★★★ 4.8/5 (1,200+ reviews) TOP PICK

If you have only one day in Fes, the full-day city tour is the activity to book. This comprehensive experience covers all three historic districts: Fes el-Bali (the oldest medina), Fes el-Jdid (the newer medina with the Royal Palace), and the Ville Nouvelle (the modern French-built district). In a single day, you will see more of Fes than most visitors manage in three.

The full-day tour typically begins at 9:00 AM with pickup from your accommodation. The morning focuses on the highlights of Fes el-Bali: the Bou Inania Medersa, Al-Attarine Medersa, the Chouara tanneries, the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts, and several artisan workshops where you can watch craftsmen at work. You will visit a traditional bakery where locals bring their bread dough to be baked in a communal wood-fired oven, a copper-working atelier, and a zellige tile workshop.

After a traditional Moroccan lunch (usually included in the tour price), the afternoon covers Fes el-Jdid and the Ville Nouvelle. Highlights include the golden doors of the Royal Palace (Dar el-Makhzen), the Mellah Jewish quarter with its distinctive balconied architecture, the Borj Nord fortress with panoramic views of the entire medina, and the colorful Jnan Sbil Gardens, a peaceful oasis of greenery in the heart of the city.

The full-day format gives you a complete understanding of Fes that simply is not possible in a half-day tour. You experience the city's layers: the medieval Islamic city, the 13th-century Marinid expansion, the historic Jewish community, the French colonial overlay, and the modern Moroccan metropolis. It is the ideal choice for travelers who want maximum value from a single day.

Full-Day Tour Details

• Duration: 7 to 8 hours
• Price: From €55 per person
• Included: Licensed guide, hotel pickup, lunch, monument entries, tannery visit
• Transport: Private vehicle for transfers between districts
• Best for: Travelers with limited time who want a comprehensive experience

6. Shopping in the Fes Souks

★★★★☆ 4.5/5 — Authentic Cultural Experience

Shopping in the Fes souks is unlike any retail experience on Earth. The medina contains dozens of specialized markets, each dedicated to a different craft or trade, arranged in a pattern that has remained essentially the same since the medieval period. The souks are not tourist traps; they are living, working markets where locals do their daily shopping alongside visitors.

The souk system in Fes is organized by trade. You will find entire streets dedicated to a single product: one alley might be filled with nothing but brass lamps, the next with leather babouche slippers, and another with silk embroidery. This specialization means that competition keeps prices fair, and you can compare quality and price across dozens of vendors within a few steps.

Fes is renowned for several specific crafts. The city's leather goods are considered the finest in Morocco, particularly items made from goat and camel leather tanned in the Chouara tanneries. Look for bags, belts, poufs, and jackets. Ceramics and pottery are another Fes specialty, with the distinctive blue-and-white Fassi style recognized worldwide. The best pieces use traditional cobalt blue pigment on a white glaze, hand-painted with geometric and floral motifs.

Zellige tilework, the mosaic art form using hand-cut geometric tiles, is a Fassi invention. You can visit workshops where artisans cut and assemble these tiny pieces entirely by hand, and purchase small zellige pieces, coasters, or tabletops to bring home. Other top purchases include brass and copperwork (trays, teapots, lamps), spices (saffron, ras el hanout, cumin), argan oil (culinary and cosmetic grades), and traditional textiles (wool blankets, silk scarves, embroidered caftans).

Bargaining Tips for the Fes Souks

• Start at 40-50% of the asking price and negotiate from there
• Always be friendly and respectful; haggling is a social interaction, not a confrontation
• Walk away if the price does not feel right; the vendor may call you back with a better offer
• Compare prices across multiple shops before committing to a big purchase
• For ceramics and pottery, visit the Poterie de Fes cooperative outside the medina for fixed (fair) prices
• Carry small bills (20 and 50 MAD notes) for easier transactions

7. Bou Inania Medersa

★★★★★ 4.9/5 — Architectural Masterpiece

The Bou Inania Medersa is the most spectacular monument in Fes that is fully open to non-Muslim visitors. Built between 1351 and 1357 by the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris, this theological school is considered one of the finest examples of Marinid architecture in existence. It is the only medersa in Morocco that also functions as a congregational mosque, a distinction that reflects the enormous ambition of its patron.

The moment you step through the entrance, the sheer density of decorative detail is overwhelming. Every surface is covered in intricate ornamentation: the lower walls feature zellige tilework in complex geometric patterns using pieces no larger than a fingernail; above the tiles, bands of carved stucco display flowing arabesques and Koranic inscriptions; and the upper levels are finished in elaborately carved cedarwood that retains its warm honey tone after nearly seven centuries.

The central courtyard contains a white marble floor, an ablution fountain, and a water channel that runs the length of the space. Look up to see the green-tiled roof and the carved cedar eaves, which are among the finest surviving examples of Marinid woodworking. The prayer hall at the far end, while closed to non-Muslims, can be partially seen through its carved wooden screens, revealing a mihrab (prayer niche) of extraordinary beauty.

The Bou Inania is also notable for its ingenious water clock, a hydro-mechanical device mounted on the exterior wall facing the street. Although no longer functional, the 13 windows and brass bowls of this medieval timekeeping device are visible from the alley below and testify to the advanced scientific knowledge of medieval Fes.

Visitor Information

• Entry fee: 30 MAD (approximately €3)
• Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (closed during Friday prayers)
• Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
• Location: Talaa Kebira, near Bab Bou Jeloud
• Photography: Allowed throughout

8. Day Trip to Chefchaouen (The Blue City)

★★★★★ 4.7/5 (3,100+ reviews) MOST POPULAR

The day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen is the most popular excursion from the city, and for very good reason. Chefchaouen, known as the Blue City or the Blue Pearl of Morocco, is a small mountain town nestled in the Rif Mountains where virtually every building is painted in shades of blue, from deep cobalt to powder blue to turquoise. The visual effect is extraordinary and unlike anywhere else in the world.

The drive from Fes to Chefchaouen takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours each way through beautiful scenery. The route passes through fertile farmland, olive groves, and increasingly dramatic mountain landscapes as you approach the Rif range. Organized day trips include comfortable transportation in an air-conditioned minivan or private car with an English-speaking driver, making the long drive stress-free.

Once in Chefchaouen, you typically have 4 to 5 hours to explore. The main attraction is wandering the photogenic streets of the old medina, where every alley and doorway is a photo opportunity. Key sights include the central Plaza Uta el-Hammam with its 15th-century kasbah, the Grand Mosque with its unique octagonal minaret, and the Ras el-Maa waterfall on the edge of the medina where locals do their laundry in the mountain stream.

Chefchaouen is also a great place for shopping. The town is known for its woven blankets, goat cheese, handmade soap, and locally produced olive oil and honey. Prices here are generally lower than in Fes or Marrakech, and the atmosphere is far more relaxed. Many visitors describe Chefchaouen as the most pleasant shopping experience in all of Morocco.

Day Trip Details

• Duration: Full day (approximately 12-13 hours total)
• Drive time: 3.5 to 4 hours each way
• Time in Chefchaouen: 4 to 5 hours
• Price: From €45 per person (group) / €120 per vehicle (private)
• Included: Transport, driver, often lunch or lunch stop
• Best day: Any day, but Wednesday has a local market

9. Explore the Jewish Quarter (Mellah)

★★★★☆ 4.5/5 — Hidden Gem

The Fes Mellah is the oldest Jewish quarter in Morocco, established in 1438 when the Marinid Sultan Abu Said Uthman III relocated the Jewish community to a protected area near the Royal Palace. The word "mellah" itself comes from the Arabic for salt, and Fes was the first Moroccan city to designate a specific Jewish neighborhood, a model later replicated in other cities.

Walking through the Mellah, you will immediately notice the architectural differences from the rest of the medina. The buildings here feature balconies and windows opening onto the street, a style unique to Jewish quarters in Morocco. In the Muslim medina, homes are inward-looking with windowless exterior walls. The Mellah's outward-facing architecture reflects the communal character of Jewish neighborhoods and makes the streets feel more open and European in comparison.

Key sights in the Mellah include the Ibn Danan Synagogue, one of the most beautiful restored synagogues in Morocco. Recently renovated, it features an atmospheric interior with carved plaster, painted wooden ceilings, and a ritual bath (mikveh) in the basement. The small Jewish Cemetery adjacent to the Mellah is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Morocco, with hundreds of whitewashed tombs arranged on a hillside overlooking the city.

The Mellah also houses the Spice Market (Souk el-Henna), historically the center of the Jewish commercial quarter and now one of the most atmospheric corners of Fes. Here you will find stalls selling henna, kohl, antimony, dried herbs, and traditional remedies alongside pottery and household goods. The market is much less crowded than the main medina souks and offers a quieter, more relaxed shopping experience.

Mellah Highlights

• Ibn Danan Synagogue: 10 MAD entry, beautifully restored
• Jewish Cemetery: Free entry, donation appreciated
• Spice Market (Souk el-Henna): Great for herbs, cosmetics, pottery
• Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Best combined with: A visit to the Royal Palace gates (5-minute walk)

10. Fes Pottery & Ceramics Workshop

★★★★★ 4.8/5 — Hands-On Experience

Fes has been Morocco's ceramic capital for centuries, and visiting a pottery workshop is one of the most rewarding Fes activities you can experience. The city's distinctive blue-and-white ceramics, inspired by the blue of the city's famous Bou Jeloud gate and the white of the surrounding mountains, are recognized and collected worldwide.

The largest and most accessible pottery complex is the Poterie de Fes, located on the hill above the medina near the Marinid Tombs. This cooperative-style operation allows visitors to watch the entire ceramic production process from start to finish. You will see artisans kneading raw clay, shaping vessels on kick-wheels using techniques unchanged for centuries, painting intricate designs freehand without any guidelines or stencils, and loading kilns that reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius.

The most impressive part of any pottery visit is watching the zellige tile cutters at work. These craftsmen take glazed ceramic squares and chip them into tiny geometric shapes, perfectly angled pieces no larger than a fingernail, using nothing but a small hammer and an extraordinary sense of spatial geometry. The pieces are then assembled face-down into complex mosaic patterns before being set in plaster. This is the same technique used to create the stunning geometric decorations in the medersas, mosques, and palaces throughout Fes.

Most pottery cooperatives offer hands-on experiences where you can try your hand at the potter's wheel or paint your own ceramic piece. These workshops typically cost 50 to 100 MAD and last about 30 minutes. The finished pieces can be shipped internationally if they are too heavy for your luggage. Visiting the cooperative also ensures you pay fair, fixed prices for any ceramics you purchase, without the negotiation required in the medina souks.

Workshop Details

• Location: Poterie de Fes, near Marinid Tombs (outside the medina)
• Entry: Free to visit and watch artisans at work
• Hands-on workshop: 50-100 MAD per person
• Products available: Plates, bowls, vases, zellige tiles, tagine pots, fountains
• Shipping: International shipping available from the cooperative
• Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

11. Stay in a Traditional Riad

★★★★★ 4.9/5 — Unmissable Experience

Staying in a traditional riad in Fes is not just accommodation; it is one of the essential things to do in the city. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard, typically featuring a fountain, fruit trees, and tiled floors. In Fes, many of these 17th to 19th-century homes have been lovingly restored into boutique guesthouses that offer an experience no hotel can match.

From the outside, a riad looks like any other building in the medina: a plain, windowless facade with an unremarkable wooden door. But step through that door and you enter a different world. The interior explodes with color and craftsmanship: zellige tilework in intricate geometric patterns, carved plaster walls, painted cedar ceilings, and a central courtyard open to the sky that fills the space with natural light. Many riads have rooftop terraces with stunning views over the medina rooftops to the hills beyond.

The riad experience in Fes typically includes a generous breakfast of Moroccan pancakes (msemen and baghrir), fresh-squeezed orange juice, bread with olive oil and honey, eggs, and Moroccan pastries. Many riads also offer dinner on request, prepared by the house cook using family recipes. The personal service is a hallmark of riad stays: your hosts can arrange tours, airport transfers, restaurant reservations, and cooking classes, often at better prices than booking independently.

Budget riads in the Fes medina start from around 300 to 500 MAD (27 to 45 EUR) per night for a double room. Mid-range options with more luxurious decor and amenities run 600 to 1,200 MAD (55 to 110 EUR). High-end riads with pools, hammams, and premium finishes range from 1,500 to 3,000+ MAD (135 to 275+ EUR). Even at the budget end, the experience of sleeping in a centuries-old courtyard house in the heart of the world's largest medieval city is genuinely extraordinary.

Best Areas to Stay in the Fes Medina

• Near Bab Bou Jeloud: Most accessible location, close to restaurants and the main tourist entrance. Best for first-time visitors.
• Talaa Kebira/Talaa Sghira: Central location on the two main arteries of the medina. Walking distance to everything.
• Near the Andalusian Quarter: Quieter and more residential. Better for repeat visitors seeking authenticity.
• Ziat district: Upscale area with many luxury riads and a slightly more uphill location with better views.

12. Day Trip to Meknes & Volubilis

★★★★★ 4.7/5 (800+ reviews)

The day trip from Fes to Meknes and Volubilis is the perfect complement to your Fes explorations, offering two completely different but equally fascinating sites within an hour's drive. This excursion combines a grand imperial city with Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins, creating a full day of historical discovery that spans two millennia.

Meknes, located just 60 kilometers west of Fes, is one of Morocco's four imperial cities but receives a fraction of the tourist traffic of Fes or Marrakech. This makes it a genuine pleasure to explore. The city was transformed in the late 17th century by Sultan Moulay Ismail, who envisioned it as the Versailles of Morocco. His ambitions resulted in some of the most impressive monuments in the country.

The centerpiece of Meknes is the monumental Bab el-Mansour, considered the finest gate in all of North Africa. This massive triumphal arch, decorated with zellige mosaics and marble columns recycled from Volubilis, opens onto Place el-Hedim, a grand square that serves as Meknes's answer to Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fna. Other highlights include the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (one of the few active religious sites in Morocco open to non-Muslims), the Heri es-Souani (vast royal granaries and stables designed to hold 12,000 horses), and the peaceful Agdal Basin, an artificial lake built to irrigate the sultan's gardens.

Volubilis (known locally as Walili) sits approximately 30 kilometers north of Meknes amid rolling agricultural hills. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the Roman Empire's most remote outpost in Africa, a prosperous city that at its peak in the 3rd century AD housed 20,000 inhabitants. The ruins are remarkably well preserved and include triumphal arches, a basilica, a forum, public baths, olive presses, and several private houses with stunning mosaic floors still intact after nearly two thousand years.

Day Trip Details

• Duration: Full day (8 to 9 hours)
• Drive time: Approximately 1 hour to Meknes, 30 minutes Meknes to Volubilis
• Price: From €50 per person (group) / €130 per vehicle (private)
• Included: Transport, English-speaking driver/guide, monument entries
• Key sites: Bab el-Mansour, Place el-Hedim, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, Volubilis mosaics

Activity Budget Planner: How Much Do Fes Activities Cost?

Planning your Fes activities budget is easy when you know what to expect. Here is a comprehensive pricing table for every activity covered in this guide, showing both local prices and organized tour costs. Prices are current as of 2025 and reflect typical rates for English-language tours booked through reputable platforms.

Practical Tips for Visiting Fes

Best Time to Visit Fes

The ideal months for Fes tours and outdoor activities are March to May and September to November. Spring brings comfortable temperatures of 18 to 28 degrees Celsius, wildflowers on the surrounding hills, and manageable tourist numbers. Autumn offers similar weather with the added bonus of harvest season, when the markets overflow with fresh figs, pomegranates, and dates.

Summer (June to August) brings extreme heat, with temperatures regularly surpassing 40 degrees Celsius. The narrow medina alleyways provide some shade, but walking tours become exhausting by midday. If you must visit in summer, book morning activities and spend afternoons in your riad or a shaded cafe. Winter (December to February) is mild during the day (10-18 degrees Celsius) but cold at night, and rain is common. Many riads in the medina can be chilly, so request a heated room.

Getting Around Fes

The medina of Fes is entirely pedestrian, and that is a large part of its charm. No cars, no motorcycles, no tuk-tuks: just people, donkeys, and the occasional pushcart. The only way to explore the medina is on foot. For travel between the medina and the Ville Nouvelle or train station, use petit taxis (small red taxis within the city) that should use a meter. A ride across town costs 10 to 20 MAD. Grand taxis (shared or private larger vehicles) handle intercity routes and airport transfers.

Safety in Fes

Fes is a safe city for tourists, but the medina can be disorienting. Key safety tips: hire a guide for your first day to learn the layout. Keep your phone in an inside pocket in crowded areas. Be wary of anyone claiming a sight is closed or insisting you need a guide when you have not asked for one. Avoid poorly lit alleyways after dark. Download an offline map (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) before entering the medina.

What to Wear in Fes

Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, and while Fes is accustomed to tourists, dressing modestly shows respect and also reduces unwanted attention. For both men and women, covering shoulders and knees is recommended when walking through the medina. Comfortable walking shoes with good grip are essential, as the medina streets are often uneven, steep, and slippery. Sandals and flip-flops are not suitable for a full day of exploring. Bring a light scarf that can double as a head covering for mosque visits and sun protection.

Money & Tipping

The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is the local currency. ATMs are plentiful in the Ville Nouvelle and at the main medina entrances. Credit cards are accepted at upscale restaurants and some shops, but the medina operates almost entirely on cash. Carry small denominations (20 and 50 MAD notes) for purchases and tips. Standard tipping: 10-20 MAD for restaurant service, 50-100 MAD for a half-day guide, 10-20 MAD for riad staff per day of your stay.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fes Activities