Your Last BordersBEST THINGS TO DO IN FES, MOROCCO
Fes is a beautiful Moroccan city packed with palaces, mosques, museums, and tiny alleys. It was once the country’s capital and is now home to over 1 million inhabitants. Therefore, Fes is one of Morocco’s imperial cities and features the world’s largest pedestrian area. This list of the 20 best things to do in Fes will help you make the most of the city. Keep it handy when preparing your Fes itinerary.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know to pick the best things to do within and outside of Fes Medina. Plus some additional activities that will turn your vacation into an unforgettable experience.
If you have more time to explore, consider visiting nearby cities such as Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. And check out this post on the best things to do in Morocco along with my Instagram and Tiktok pages for additional travel tips.
Best things to do in Fes Medina
Medina means the old and walled part of a Northern Africa town. This area is home to the oldest and most beautiful palaces, mosques, museums, souks, streets and squares in town. Consequently, Fes Medina is the most famous and ultimate must-visit area in Fes.
1. Access Fes Medina through the Blue Gate
Bab Bou Jeloud, known as the Blue Gate, is one of the main historical entrances to the old Fes Medina. If wandering the narrow streets of Fes Medina is the ultimate thing to do in Fes, accessing the medina through this gate can only enhance the experience.
The French built Gate Bab Bou Jeloud around 1913. It’s blue from the outside to honour the traditional decorations of Fes city. And green in the inside to honour the city’s traditional religion, as green is the colour of Islam.
2. Walk around the old Medina Fes el Bali
Fes el Bali is the official name of Fes Medina. It dates back from the 8th century and with its 90,000 inhabitants it’s the largest pedestrian area on the planet. A proper labyrinth of streets and alleys that gets really busy during market hours. Rumour has it only locals can navigate it without getting lost.
Don’t be scared though, getting lost in the Medina is the best thing to do in Fes. Therefore, if you only have a couple hours in the city, use them to explore Fes el Bali. This famous urban labyrinth turned a UNESCO World Heritage Site will not disappoint.
If you are struggling finding your way out of the Medina, always look for the Mosque’s minarets. You can also ask for directions inside any shop or restaurant. Or hire a local guide to take you around on the first day.
3. Visit the (in)famous Fes Tanneries
Fes is famous for its high-quality leather goods, which are tanned at one of the city’s three tanneries. Fes largest tannery, and thus the most appealing to visitors, is Choura Tannery. A visit to this (in)famous tannery is a must among the best things to do in Fes.
It dates back to the 11th century and the way tanners work here hasn’t changed much since. Everything is as natural as it was centuries ago. Tanners use poppys to obatin red pigment, indigo to make blue, henna for orange and a nasty mix of pigeon’s feces, cow’s urine, quicklime, salt and water to make white dye.
The tannery consists of several stone cubes filled with colored dyes. The best and almost only way to see the tannery is from inside one of the shops surrounding it. They all have balconies overlooking the wells and let tourists in. For free in theory, in exchange of a tip or a small fee in most cases.
Vendors also tend to offer/sell some mint leaves to put under your nose while visiting, as the tannery’s smell is quite intense. If you’d rather visit with a guide, these are the best guided tours to Fes tanneries.
4. Sample the local cuisine
Moroccan cuisine is a delicious mix of Arab, Bereber, Andalusian, and Mediterranean dishes. Moroccan flavours have more in common with those of the Middle Eastern cuisine than with those in the rest of Africa. Therefore, expect a deliciously fresh variety of dishes packed with vegetables, meat, and grains.
The must try dishes are couscous, tagine, and pastilla. And so are local soups, salads, and sweet pastries. Make sure to also indulge in some fresh orange juice and mint tea. Both are amazingly delicious and affordable throughout Morocco.
If trying new dishes and enjoying the local cuisine is one of your reasons for traveling you have made it to the right place. Sampling local cuisine is by far one of the best things to do in Fes. Mostvrestaurants in the city have nice terraces and beautiful rooftops with a view. Some of my favourites are the Ruined Garden, Fez Café, Café Clock and Chez Rachid.
5. Go shopping at the souks
The Medina is in fact a market city. It’s packed with stalls selling everything from souvenirs to spices, fruits, arts and crafts, rugs, silver works, ceramics, and pottery. Bargaining over them is one of the top things to do in Fes.
One of the must-see alleys in the souk is the rainbow street. In between two main roads, it’s brightly packed with piles of rugs, paintings, and mosaics. Given its small size, shopkeepers here can’t really push buyers so it’s one of the best and most calm places to shop in Fes. Another unmissable spot is Souk El Henna, the area of the market dedicated to the trading of henna.
6. Admire Al-Qarawiyyin University and Mosque
The Al-Qarawiyyin University and Mosque might well be the most famous landmark in Fes. It’s the world’s oldest continually operating university and one of the biggest places of worship in Africa. Visiting Al-Qarawiyyin is certainly one of the best things to do in Fes.
If you are indeed a Muslim and can speak Arabic or French fluently enough to prove it to guards, make sure to visit in depth this sight. Alternatively, if you have to stay outside, pay a visit to the library. You can also try to get a table at the rooftops of one of the nearby restaurant. These offer decent side views over the mosque’s courtyard.
7. Explore Madrasa Bou Inania
Madrasas are islamic schools dedicated to the teaching and learning of the Quran. There are lots of them in Fes yet Madrasa You Inania makes one of the finest examples of Morocco’s traditional architecture.
The Madrasa was built in the 14th century and is the only one in Fes with a minaret. This is the one visible through the Blue Gate. Here you’ll find incredible mosaics, stonework, and craved woods.
As it is one of the very few religious buildings in the country open to non-muslims it can get really packed. I recommend visiting in the early hours to avoid the crowds. Entrance fee is below $2.
8. Admire the Funduq Al-Najjariyyin Museum
Fes wood craving museum, known as Funduq Al-Najjariyyin, might be the most stylish museum one can ever visit. That is because it wasn’t built to serve as a museum, it used to be a fancy caravansary for merchants and traders visiting Fes on business.
Funduq Al-Najjariyyin was built in a symmetrical rectangular plan. It’s accessible trough a monumental entrance framed with old inscriptions and rich floral and geometrical decorations. There’s also an astonishing fountain in the middle of the courtyard. Therefore, in this museum the highlight are not the items on exposition but the building itself.
The museum is located right at the centre of Fes Medina, on Place Nejjarine. It’s open daily from 10am to 5pm.
9. Go back in time at Place Seffarine
Place Seffarine is one of the most famous squares within Fes Medina. What attracts most visitors and makes Place Seffarine so special is nothing but its sound. The unstoppable sound of the clang clang copper craftsmen make when shaping and polishing their wares.
Copperware crafting goes back to many centuries in Fes. And like many other of the city’s traditional works it has barely evolved. Old men continue to make their copper goods in the same way their grandparents did them. And these are then sold in the nearby stalls. Thus, Palace Seffarine is special among the places to visit in Fes.
10. Visit one of the world’s oldest Mosque, the Andalusian Mosque
Fes Andalusian mosque dates back from the mid 9th century, barely 200 years after the beginning of Islam. Therefore, it’s among the oldest mosques in Africa and the entire world.
The Andalusian Mosque gets its name from its builders, Muslim Andalusian refugees fleeing from Cordoba. Construction took place between 859 and 880 and although it was originally very modest, the mosque has been enlarged and refined over the years. To the point that its minaret, built int he 10th century, resembles the one at Mosque Al-Qarawiyyin.
Please be reminded that only muslims are allowed inside the mosque. Nevertheless, looking at the Andalusian mosque from the outside is already one of the best things to do in Fes.
Best things to do in Fes outside the Medina
Fes has grown lots since the Medieval times so no trip to Fes is complet without spending sometime away from the hustle and bustle of Fes Medina. The following are the best things to do in Fes outside the Medina.
11. Take a break at the Jnan Sbil Gardens
These free-to-visit gardens sitting right outside the walls of Fes Medina, between the Blue Gate and the Royal Palace, are a must visit spot in Fes. Jnan Sbil are among the oldest gardens in Fes and make the ultimate contrast to the busy and confined streets of Fes Medina.
In Jnan Sbil gardens you’ll find beautiful palm alleys, elegant water fountains, a lake, and plenty of aromatic eucalyptus and citrus trees. Make sure to walk around the formal tree beds, relax, and perhaps enjoy a fresh drink or even an ice cream while recovering from the hustle of Fes El Bali.
12. Have a photo shooting at the Royal Palace Dar Al-Makhzen
Dar Al-Makhzen is Fes’ Royal Palace. The place where Morocco’s King and his Royal Family stay when visiting the city. Consequently, the palace is not open to the public. Visitors can only enjoy its famous seven doors from the outside.
Dar Al-Malzhen has the prettiest doors in the entire country. Admiring these seven gates is actually one of the best things to do in Fes. They are incredibly beautiful and super stylish. All doors are made from gold and bronze and carefully decorated with ornate details.
13. Explore Fes Mellah
A Mellah is a Jewish quarter of a Moroccan city. Consequently, Fes Mellah is the old Jewish quarter in Fes. And wondering around its streets is one of the best things to do in Fes Morocco. Fes Mellah dates back from the 14th century and stands near the King’s Palace for protection.
At its best times it was home of over 250,000 Jews. Including all those who had been expelled from Spain and fleet to Morocco. Most fo them, though, left Morocco following the formation of the State of Israel. Thus, nowadays there are barely 100 Jew families still living in Fes Mellah.
14. Visit the Ibn Danan Synagogue
One of the most interesting spots to visit within Fes Mellah, threfore deserving its particular spot among the best things to do in Fes, is Ibn Danan Synagogue. Do not miss this area on your trip to Fes, it certainly has its charm.
Also known as Aben or Ben Danan Synagogue, this Jewish religious building was built in the 17th century precisely by the city’s Jewish community previously expelled from Spain.
Despite not being an impressive building but a quite modest place of worship, the synagogue has a beautiful Torah Ark. It also hosts an exhibition of old photos from the area that will instantly take you back in time.
15. Walk up to Ford Borj Nord
Ford Borj Nord is an old ford on Fes hills established in 1582 by the Saadi dynasty. The ford was built modeling the Portuguese forts from the 16th century. And it was long used as a defence structure, serving as a prison for a while.
In 2016 ford Borj Nord was opened to the public as a museum of arms. The museum features Moroccan weapons from across the ages and explains the country’s military history. Additionally, it offers superb views over the city of Fes from it’s rooftop.
16. Enjoy the sunset from the Marinid Tombs
The Marinind Tombs are a set of ruined monumental tombs on a hill accessible within a thirty minute walk from the Blue Gate.
The Marinind Tombs were a necropolis for the Marinid dynasty who ruled Morocco between the 13th and 15th centuries. Nowadays, despite there is not much left of the tombs, the ruins are a very popular lookout point above Fes city. Especially at sunset.
The tomb’s location at the North of Fes El Bali allow an unobstructed view of the sea of rooftops Fes Medina is from the above. An image that has changed very little over the last few centuries. Thus, no day of exploring Fes is completed without a sunset from the Marinid Tombs.
Additional best things to do in Fes
Although exploring the must-see palaces, mosques and museums tops every list of the best things to do in Fes, there’s a few less architectural experiences that will make your trip to Fes a memorable one. Make sure to make some time for these additional best things to do in Fes when visiting this beautiful Moroccan city.
17. Sleep in a traditional Moroccan Riad
Morocco is a beautiful touristic country and as such offers a great and diverse range of accommodation options. Nevertheless, one of the best things to do in Fes is forgetting about major hotel chains and booking a stay in a traditional local Riad.
You’ll find Riads adequate to every taste and budget. From renovated family homes to fancy venues featuring deluxe bedrooms and patios with fresh swimming pools. They’re all available at the major accommodation booking websites.
Riads tend to have a beautiful central patio facing the different bedrooms. Some have terraces where guests can eat, drink mint tea, and enjoy some fresh air. They feel like a real oasis where to rest from the hustle and bustle of Fes Medina. Thus, staying in one (or more) Riads will certainly enhance your time in Fes. And in Marrakech and any other Moroccan city.
18. Experience a Moroccan Hammam
Hammams are traditional Moroccan baths, communal steam rooms where people clean themselves. There are separate areas for men and women, as bathers are naked. Before attending the hammam, people tend to go to the nearby souk to buy soaps and creams to use in the bathing area.
Back in the day hammams were lively social centers. There, locals would discuss business and seal all types of deals, including arranged marriages. Nowadays hammams are just a local type of spa.
When visiting a public hammam in Morocco, you’ll be handed a bucket, a mat, soap and an exfoliating glove. Once undressed, you’ll head to a common room to clean and exfoliate your body among all other bathers.
Much differently, when visiting a private hammam, you’ll have a bathing room for yourself. Here you’ll first soak in water, then sit in a steam room for a while, and finally get washed, rinsed, exfoliated and massaged by a professional.
Either way, experiencing a Moroccan hammam is such a unique experience. And definitely one of the best things to do in Fes.
19. Take a traditional cooking class
Taking a cooking class and learning how to cook some traditional dishes is a great way of learning from a country. Plus you usually get to eat them in the end and that’s dinner sorted for the day. I’ve done this in Tanzania and loved the experience.
Learning how to combine seasonal vegetables, fresh fish, local meet, and typical spices when cooking the major Moroccan dishes is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Fes. Couscous, tajine, soups, salads, pastillas, pastries… possibilities are limitless, just find you own and enjoy the experience.
You can arrange your own class by talking to locals at the souk, or join an official one as offered by most major hotels and tour operators. Classes are usually held at a local’s home anyways, using products sources from the city’s market.
20. Watch a belly dancing show
Belly dancing is one of the oldest forms of dance and the most typical in Arabic countries and Northern Africa, including the city of Fes. Belly dancing is a popular performance in social gatherings around Morocco since the old times. Nowadays, it has also become a tourist attraction, with many restaurants in Fes offering dinner and belly dancing shows to visitors.
Experiencing a belly dancing show is one of the best things to do in Fes, as it is a fun insight into local culture. If you are interested in witnessing one, ask around at your hotel, major restaurants and tour operators in Fes and choose the one that best fits your expectations.
If you would like to go one step further, consider attending a belly dancing class once in Fes. A once in a lifetime experience that you won’t forget.
Recap on the 20 best things to do in Fes, Morocco
Fes is one of the most interesting places to visit in Morocco and as such there are plenty of wonderful things to do in Fes. And you’ll find them all on this post. Including palaces, mosques, squares, markets, tanneries, dishes, restaurants, and sunset viewpoints.
When planning your trip to Fes, make sure to craft an itinerary that contains the best things to do in Fes Medina but also some of the top places to visit outside of Fes Medina. Looking for some life lasting memories? Add to your planning at least one of the additional experiences to do in Fes. At the end of the day, it’s not the palaces, the mosques or the food what we remember but the feelings we had when sitting in front of them.
Enjoy your time in Fes and feel free to reach out with any questions. I am always available at the comments section below and via my Instagram and Tiktok pages. There, you’re also find additional insights of my trips and plenty of travel tips.
