Fes blog — The fullest (Fez) Fes travel guide for first-timers

This is a small square where traditional bronze casting artisans have existed for centuries. Here you can see firsthand how to make copper products such as trays, buckets, teapots, pans, couscous pots, etc.

Chouara Tannery

Address: 21 Rue chouara, Fès, Morocco
Hours: 9 AM–7 PM

This is one of the most amazing places that you definitely cannot miss. One of three tanneries in Fès, Chouara is the city’s largest and most iconic.

In operation since about the 16th century, this is where the cleaning and dyeing operations are carried out for leather panels taken from sheep, goats, donkeys or camels. Although it has been renovated a lot, the old scene here still feels like being in the middle ages.

The working conditions of the workers here are also extremely limited. No gloves, no protective gear, they always have to soak for hours in pools of detergent and dyes under the intense North African sun.

Because it is a place to process animal skins, the environment here is quite polluted. The stench of piled-up hides and tanks filled with detergents rose up day and night, making the surrounding areas always smelly.

To come here, you can find leather shops just outside the tannery, these places have balconies so that visitors can stand from above to have a panoramic view of the activities in this workshop. For each visitor, when going to the balcony, they will give each person a mint leaf to smell to help mask the bad smell coming from the workshop.

A few notes when coming to Chouara:

• There is no fixed price to go to the balcony, when you go to this area there will be many people inviting you to see Chouara workshop from their shop, take a look and choose a store you think is suitable suitable, and don’t forget to bargain.
• Before you reach the balcony of the shops, they will take you through the floors where the handmade leather goods they say are made in this Chouara workshop. If you want to buy something, look carefully at the quality of the item.

In addition to Chouara, in the medina there is a smaller tannery called Sidi Moussa that you can also visit.

Bou Inania Madrasa

Address: 3268+VW6, Rue Talaa Sghira, Fès, Morocco
Hours: 9 AM–6 PM

Built by sultan Bou Inania Faris during the Merinid dynasty around the 1350s, Bou Inania Medersa is as beautiful as the famous Karaouine synagogue. Bou Inania Madrasa is one of the few “religious sites” in Morocco that non-Muslim visitors can enter.

History tells that, the religious leaders of the Karaouine Mosque advised Abu Inan Faris to build this madrasa. It was the last time Madrasa was built during the Merinid dynasty. Madrasa has become one of the most important religious institutions of Fes and Morocco, and has been co-located with the Grand Mosque.

Bou Inania Madrasa is an Islamic university built during the Marinid dynasty. This is one of the typical architecture of the Marinid style in Morocco, this school allows people of all religions to attend. Although this architectural layout seems simple, the decorations on the walls are not. Beautiful carvings and intricate wood carvings were everywhere, and luxurious marbles glittered in the school grounds.

Located near the Blue Gate of Bab Bou Jeloud, it is one of the largest and most important Madrasa in Fès. Built in the years 1351-1357, this Koran school is a masterpiece of Moroccan Islamic architecture with exquisite sculptural details on large wooden doors and superb carvings and mosaics.

Unlike many other Islamic schools, Bou Inania is the only medersa in Morocco with a mosque and adjacent minara (a type of tower built in to or adjacent to the mosque). The top of this tower is tiled with beautiful Islamic color (green) tiles that you can see as soon as you enter the medina. These are also a few places that allow non-Muslims to visit in Morocco.

The entrance fee here is 20Dh (2€). Opening hours: 9am-12pm and 1pm-18pm

A few notes:

• The entrance to the mosque is forbidden to non-believers. Visitors are only allowed to enter the back door at “rue Talaa Fès” street.
• If you arrive at prayer time, the entrance to the medersa is also closed. You will have to wait until the people have finished praying to enter.

Al Attarine Madrasa

Address: 328G+2GJ, Rue Talaa Kebira, Fes, Morocco
Hours: 8 AM–6 PM
Ticket price: 20Dh

Medersa el-Attarine was built in 1325, this is a very meticulous and beautiful architecture, built from brick and wood sculpture with unique and top-notch features. This place used to be a place for students to study and today Al Attarine Madrasa has become one of the favorite places for tourists.

There is also another Koran school in the center of the medina with impressive architectural marvels that you cannot ignore.

Royal Palace of Fès (Dar al-Makhzen)

Address: n1 boulakhsissat, Fès 33110, Morocco

This palace is not open to visitors, however, it is also a must visit place to admire the grand gates cast in bronze and intricately carved by local craftsmen in the early days of the year. 1970s.

If possible, you should come here in the late afternoon when the rays of the sun shine directly on the bronze doors giving you the opportunity to take amazing photos.

This palace is located outside the medina. Therefore, to come here I recommend taking a taxi. The price for one way is about 30Dh – 40Dh going from the “Blue Gate” of the medina and it only takes about 5 minutes to drive.

Fondouks

The fondouks were once inns where merchants used to rest when they came to Fès to trading. In Fès el-Bali, there are many fondouks: Nejjarine, Talaa el Kibira, Ras Cherratine, Talaa Sghira… these fondouks are often concentrated along the main axes of the medina. Among these fondouk, Nejjarine fondouk is best known for the outstanding beauty of the Moroccan riad architecture. Therefore, this place has also been classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Fondouk Nejjarine also does not charge when visitors enter.

Besides fondouk, the Nejjarine Fountain is also notable for its beautiful art deco.

Mosque and University Kairaouine (Qaraouiyine)

Address: 327G+XMC, Fes, Morocco
Hours: 8:15 AM–9:55 PM

Deep in the heart of Medina, Kairaouine Mosque is the second largest mosque in the country. The library at Kairaouine Mosque is one of the oldest ones and most important in the world. However, non-Muslims can only admire the outside architecture because they are not allowed inside the mosque.

With a very long history, built by immigrants from Tunisia in the years 857, the Kairaouine Mosque is also one of the most famous universities of the Middle Ages. There is also a huge prayer room that can hold 20,000 people. The church’s library is also one of the oldest in the world with over 30,000 books.

In addition to those historical values, the beauty of Qaraouiyine is also highly appreciated by visitors with impressive architecture even though it was built a long time ago through the years of the ups and downs of Morocco’s history. To see the complete beauty of the church, visitors can go to the nearby restaurants and admire the view of Qaraouiyine from above, this beauty should not be missed when traveling to Fes.

Few people known about the world’s oldest university, Al Quaraouiyine University, founded in Fes in 859 by a wealthy Tunisian woman named Fatima Al-Fihri, before old universities like Oxford in England or Bologna in Italy to more than 150 years.

Jewish Quarter Mellah

Once inhabited by Jews in the past, today the neighborhood is a prominent tourist attraction of Fes. Walking in the long narrow streets but also quite fun, visitors will admire the ancient houses built in the early 20th century, the people will always greet you and smile.

In the old quarter, there are high walls blocking the small streets, visitors also easily encounter roadside eateries. Stop and enjoy some street food, drink a cup of traditional Moroccan tea, will be a very interesting experience.

Some places offer a panoramic view of the beauty of the medina Fès el-Bali

Borj Nord

This is a fortress located on a hill to the north of the medina. It was built in 1582 during the Saadi dynasty. On this fortress there is also an arms museum open to visitors.

The place with the most beautiful view of Fes is the hill in the Borj Nord area, there is also a fortress built in the 16th century with many vestiges of ancient weapons. Visitors can visit the weapons museum then move straight up the hill where the famous Merenid tomb is located, but this work is showing signs of heavy destruction by time.

From the top of the hill, visitors can observe the whole city scene, all the roofs, the top of the mosque appear as a colorful picture. The view is extremely beautiful and this hill is one of the famous attractions visitors should visit when traveling to Fes.

Opening hours: all week except Tuesday: 9am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. Ticket price: 20Dh

Tomb of Merinid

Not far from Borj Nord, also on the highest al-Qula hill north of the medina, this is the burial tomb of the Merinid kings. But now this place is only a remnant of history.

The Merinid Tomb is of very limited interest and is rarely visited by tourists. However, it’s definitely a spot for you to admire one of the best views of the Fès el-Bali medina.

In addition, from this hill, you can also zoom out into the vast hills and fields to cover the natural beauty of the city of Fès.

The ideal time that I recommend coming here is at dawn or dusk, when the sun’s gentle rays give this place its most beautiful shade.

With that said, this place is a ruin of very little interest. Therefore, everyone is free to enter.

There is no direct road access here.

However, the Merinid tomb site is easily visible from the medina to help you determine the direction. Next, you have to go out of the medina and walk for a bit until you reach a national road, cross that road and you will reach the foot of the hill. From here you can see more clearly the fortress and tomb area. The next thing is just to find the easiest way to climb. The distance from the center of the medina to these two places is about 1km.

Borj Sud

Similar to Borj Nord, this was a military fortress built under the sultan Ahmed El Mansour of the Saadi dynasty to observe and protect the southern part of the city. This fortress also has a terrace that offers panoramic views of the old medina. To get here you should take a taxi.

In addition, Fès el-Bali also has many places that you should visit:

• R’cif Square: Newly built in the 20th century, next to the R’cif Mosque with the tallest tower in the city, this square is always crowded with people.
• Zaouia Moulay Idriss II: Is the place where the tomb of Idris II – who is considered the founder of the city of Fès. Non-islamic visitors can’t go inside, but you can see it from the outside.
• Al Quaraouiyine University: Is the oldest university in the world still in operation and recognized by UNESCO. This place also does not welcome outsiders. So you can only see from the outside through the door slits.
• Le mellah: Is also an old town but is Jewish, the walls surrounding here are to separate the area of Jews and Muslims. If you have time, do not miss this place as mentioned above.

Tazekka National Park

Address: 2PMG+R7R, Taza, Morocco

If you have seen enough of the ancient architecture, visitors can choose the next destination as Tazekka National Park to change the atmosphere.

Going to Tazekka National Park is a fascinating nature exploration experience, it is a sense of adventure in the large forest with oak trees and tall cedars. The natural beauty with rich vegetation makes visitors extremely excited, the fresh and relaxed air will dispel the fatigue of the city’s dust, bringing you lost in the majestic nature.

After the trek in the forest you can go to Taza town to discover the life of the local people. Taza is an interesting destination in the itinerary traveling to the city of Fes, where there is a famous and quite strange market for many tourists. In addition, the grain market, the antique market also sells many Moroccan specialties that visitors can be assured of their quality. Not only in this market, but in many other places in the city, there are many items for sale such as souvenirs, antiques, leather goods of the country of a thousand and one nights in large and small markets, you can consider choosing to buy the best products.

What to eat?

Fez is full of fascinating restaurants and eateries with culinary treasures that will make your trip incredibly memorable. If you want a 5-star dining experience, start with L’Amandier (Address: Derb Bensouda, N°16/18 Quartier Ziat, Fès 30000, Morocco/Hours: 12:30–10:30 PM), a much-loved restaurant, located on the terrace of the Palais Faraj hotel. Here, Moroccan specialties are served with flair, against the backdrop of the Medina from above. Chez Rachid restaurant has very delicious food at a much more affordable price.

Where to stay in Fez?

For the ultimate Moroccan experience, book a room at the Riads. Riads are traditional houses converted into boutique hotels. We recommend Riad Mabrouka (Agoda, Booking) and Riad Damia (Agoda, Booking). Riad Mabrouka has 8 rooms, a small swimming pool with a beautiful garden, from the terrace you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view. Both of these Riads are located in the old town Medina.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace (Agoda, Booking)
• Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa (Agoda, Booking)
• Hotel Volubilis Meknes (Agoda, Booking)
• Riad Laaroussa Hotel and Spa (Agoda, Booking)
• MIA HOTELS Fes (Agoda, Booking)
• Hotel & Spa Riad Dar Bensouda (Agoda, Booking)
• Ibis Fes (Agoda, Booking)
• Riad El Yacout (Agoda, Booking)
• Riad Layalina Fes (Agoda, Booking)

Check out more top & best hotels in Fes on Agoda.com or Booking.com

“Fes doesn’t need to rely on old architecture to make itself important. Its interestingness lies not in the relics of the past but in the very life of the people here, that life itself is the past, still existing and active. It is hard to find another city anywhere where the vicissitudes of everyday life in ancient streets can be observed in such detail as in Fes… Changes in the 53 years since I saw Fes for the first time almost on the surface, with no changes so large that it changed its image.” Paul Bowles, the writer with many books on American life in Morocco like House of Spiders and the Protective Sky (later made into a film by the famous director Bertolucci of the same name), wrote in his 1984 travel essay Fes, more than half a century since he first arrived in Fes in 1931.

Once the capital of Morocco, so Fes city has many special and outstanding places, visitors will have a lot of options when coming here to explore. Friendly people, delicious food with many ancient architectural works will surely make visitors satisfied about a hospitable, ancient city but still has well-rated tourist services. No matter what the future trends in Morocco may be, the people of Fes can be sure that in the traditional market, the old, slow way of life will continue to be maintained.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Fes you can refer to here.