Last Updated on December 14, 2023
Spending 4 days in Fes is enough time to really delve into the amazing history, beauty, and culture of this old Moroccan city.
Fes el-Bali, where most visitors spend the bulk of their time in Fes, is the world’s largest surviving medieval city, and urban car-free zone.
Plus, with 4 days in Fes you’ll have time to see some of the surrounding region as part of a day trip.
This 4 days in Fes itinerary covers how to spend each day of your visit. Admire the Medersa Bou Inania, learn at the Dar Batha Museum, see the famous Blue Gate, and take a day trip to the famous town of Chefchaouen. Plus, learn the basics like how to get to Fes and Fes hotels.
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- A Brief History of Fes
- The Best Time to Visit Fes
- How to Get to Fes
- Where to Stay in Fes
- How to Get Around Fes
- 4 Days in Fes Itinerary
- Responsible Travel in Fes, Morocco
- Fes Itinerary FAQ
- Final Thoughts: 4 Day in Fes
A Brief History of Fes
Fes was originally built by the first Muslim Dynasty, the Idrissids, alongside the Fes river. It’s claimed that it was founded in 789 as a town, and it then eventually grew into a true medina with mosques, palaces, and markets.
Over the years, refugees from surrounding Moorish dynasties like Andalusia and Tunisia came to Fes, establishing districts within the city.
In Morocco, “medina” simply means “city.” Fes has two medinas, the Fes-el-Djedid, which was built in the 14th century, and Fez-el-Bali, which was built towards the end of the late eighth century. Visitors usually spend most of their time in the “old” medina, Fez-el-Bali.
The Great Mosque of Kairouan, built during the reign of Yahya ibn Muhammed, is one of the oldest in Africa. And in 859, the University of Karueein was officially founded, making it one of the oldest universities in the world.
Over the centuries, Fes faced instability and threats of invasion. This is why the old medina is such a complicated labyrinth of alleyways. A confusing layout made it harder for invaders to overtake Fes.
Today, the winding streets of the old Fes medina are inaccessible by cars. It’s only possible to get around the city on foot, by donkey, or the occasional motorbike.
The Best Time to Visit Fes
Fes is a great city to visit year-round. The best time to go to Fes really depends on what kind of trip you’d like to have. In the spring and fall months, temperatures are warm, and there’s little rain.
The summer months are quite hot (it can reach 37 degrees Celsius / 99 degrees Fahrenheit), but you’ll enjoy long daylight hours. In the winter, temperatures are cooler, but there’s less tourists around which can make for a nice experience.
Should you visit Morocco during Ramadan?
Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan is a unique experience. You’ll get the chance to observe this Islamic period of fasting that happens for a month, every spring. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual intimacy. This is considered the holiest month in Muslim religion and culture. Tourism activities aren’t usually impacted by Ramadan, and so visiting Morocco at this time shouldn’t affect your trip.
How to Get to Fes
There’s a few ways you can get yourself to Fes, Morocco. If you’re coming from another country, you’ll likely fly in. Otherwise, your main options are to travel to Fes by train, bus, or private transfer.
How to get to Fes by flight
Saïss International Airport serves Fes and the Meknes region of Morocco. It’s one of Morocco’s largest airports.
From Saïss Airport it’s about a 30 minute drive into the medina by taxi. You can catch a taxi outside the airport at the taxi stand (be sure to decide on a price before the trip begins). Or, have your hotel arrange a taxi for you.
How to get to Fes by train
You can reach Fes by train from many of Morocco’s other cities, including Tangier, Casablanca, and Marrakech.
Trains in Morocco are operated by ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc). They are reasonably priced and comfortable, and so they make for a great way to get around the country.
When you arrive at the Fes train station, grab a taxi at the taxi stand, or arrange a taxi through your hotel. The drive from the train station to the medina is about 10 minutes.
How to get to Fes by bus
The main bus terminal in Fes is at Gare Routière, in the north of the old city. This terminal has bus connections to many other cities in Morocco.
Morocco’s public bus system is called CTM. It’s safe and reliable, buses have air conditioning, and some offer wifi. You can buy CTM bus tickets at any of their offices or on the CTM website.
Where to Stay in Fes
For your stay in Fes, I recommend booking a room in a traditional Moroccan riad.
What is a riad?
A riad is a traditional Moroccan home that has multiple floors and rooms, which are centered around an open-air courtyard that often has a fountain. In the past, riads were the estates of Morocco’s wealthiest citizens, merchants, and courtiers. Today, many of them have been converted to hotels. A visit to Morocco is not complete without a stay in one of the beautiful buildings!
$$$ Riad Sidrat
For a higher-end stay, book Riad Sidrat. This boutique riad is well-located on the main street of the souk. It has a gorgeous courtyard and terrace area, and the rooms are large, beautifully decorated, and come with all the amenities you might need for a comfortable stay in Fes. Your stay includes breakfast!
$$$ Riad Layla
Another high-end place to stay, Riad Layla has a gorgeous rooftop terrace that overlooks the city. This traditional riad also has a restaurant, a hammam, and a lovely patio with a fountain. Rooms are aesthetically decorated, and come with all the amenities you’ll need for your 4 days in Fes. Your stay includes breakfast!
$$ Dar Hafsa
This guest house in Fes is mid-range in price, and great value! Dar Hafsa is a gorgeous traditional home that is known for its fantastic location, gorgeous terrace, welcoming staff, and comfortable rooms. They also serve a delicious breakfast every morning. I can confirm it’s delicious, because I’ve stayed at Dar Hafsa!
$ Dar Fes Huda
A little more budget friendly, this is a family-run guest house is a traditional, cozy Moroccan stay. Dar Fes Huda is known for its beautiful terrace, lovely rooms, and delicious breakfast. This guest house is well-located, too.
$ Dar El Yasmin
Another budget friendly traditional guest house, Dar El Yasmin is a perfect spot to stay during your 4 days in Fes. Dar El Yasmin is well-located, has comfortable rooms, a terrace with views over Fes, and includes breakfast.
How to Get Around Fes
Explore Fes on foot
The entire old Fes medina is a car-free zone. This means there is only one option for exploring: by foot. Luckily, most of the sites, museums, and souks you’ll want to see are within a 25 minute walk within the medina.
Get around Fes by taxi
When you need to get between the old Fes medina and the neighborhoods of Ville Nouvelle or Borj Nord, you’ll need to rely on some form of transport. There are public buses, but most tourists prefer the red petit taxis, which are affordable and typically use a meter.
4 Days in Fes Itinerary
Ready to spend 4 days in Fes? This itinerary covers suggested activities for each day of your stay.
Day 1 in Fes: Inside the Medina
It’s your first day in Fes! This first day of your trip is all about exploring the famous Fes el Bali medina.
Explore the Alleys and Souks of Fes el Bali
Fes el Bali is the oldest walled part of Fes. This medina was founded as the capital of the Idrisid dynasty between 789 and 808 AD. Today, Fes el Bali is known for being one of the oldest and best-preserved medinas in the Arab world.
Fes el Bali is a complicated maze of about 9,000 winding alleyways. The alleys are way too narrow for cars, and so the best way to get around is on foot. Because of this, Fes el Bali is thought to be one of the largest car-free zones in the world!
Wandering the alleyways of this medina is an experience in itself. On your first day in Fes, don’t be afraid to explore the streets, popping into shops, and watching local life.
Wandering around the souks is the perfect way to shop for some souvenirs or gifts to take home, or to just observe local life. Just be sure to download a good offline map app so you can find your way back to your accommodation!
Overwhelmed by navigating the Fes medina? Book this Half-Day City Private Walking Tour. You’ll have a private guide to bring you around the medina to key sites, and to teach you about the history of the city.
BOOK: Half-Day City Private Walking Tour in Fes
Admire the Medersa Bou Inania
This religious building in Fes started out as a theological college. Built by the Merinid sultan Bou Inan between 1351 and 1357, the site was home to classrooms and dorms where students lived.
Unlike many schools, the Bou Inania has a full mosque adjoining it. What makes this mosque special is that it is open to all people for visiting. You don’t need to be Muslim to enter.
Learn at the Dar Batha Museum
Just beyond the western wall of the old Fes medina is a former royal palace constructed in the late-19th century for Sultan Hassan I and his successor Abdelaziz. The palace was built to bea a place for their guests to stay.
Dar Batha was eventually converted into a museum. It’s now a repository for artifacts from the old city and its ruined buildings. You’ll see jewelry, old mosaics, carpets, ceramics, and other handicrafts.
The complex also has a beautiful garden. The garden is still used for cultural and religious events in summer.
Day 2 in Fes: The Medina and Beyond
On the second day of your 4 days in Fes itinerary, you’ll explore a bit beyond the old medina! On this day, you’ll see a tannery, the Blue Gate, a synagogue, and gardens.
Visit Chouara Tannery
Start your day with a visit to one of the most famous tanneries in Fes: Chouara Tannery. This tannery is one of three in the city. It’s the largest tannery in Fes, and one of the oldest.
You’ll want to visit this tannery to learn about the practice of manually processing animal hide. Chouara Tannery has been doing this for about 900 years!
Ahead of visiting Chouara Tannery, be prepared for the pressure to buy leather goods. While visiting the tannery is technically free, you are expected to buy goods, or pay a guide for a bit of a tour.
Most visitors will enter through a nearby leather shop. You’ll be given some background into how they make the leather, and then you’ll have the chance to go up to the roof to look down on the vats.
As you head up, you’ll be given sprigs of mint and told to hold them under your nose. This is to help you mask the smell of the soaking and drying leather below.
See the famous Fes Blue Gate
Next, you’ll head to the famous Blue Gate, also called the Grande Porte Bab Boujloud. This towering gate is known for its beautiful mosaic tiles. It’s an iconic portal to the old medina, Fes el-Bali.
Once you exit through the Bab Boujloud, you’ll learn that its other side is actually green! Why is this?
The blue on the side that greets people entering the medina represents the color of the city of Fes. The city is famous for its pottery, painted with elegant cobalt blue designs. The other side, which you’ll see as you exit the medina is green—the color of Islam.
Ibn Danan Synagogue
This restored 17th century synagogue is one of the few remaining structures in the ruined Jewish quarter of Fes.
Built by the wealthy Ibn Danan family in the 17th century, this synagogue features traditional Moroccan and Islamic design. In it, you’ll see beautiful tiles, stucco, and arched doorways.
You can visit the synagogue for a small fee. It’s a great way to learn a bit about Jewish history in the city while spending 4 days in Fes.
Relax in the Bou Jeloud Gardens
The Bou Jeloud Gardens are also known as the Jnan Sbil Gardens. These relaxing public gardens are located right in between the two old sections of the Fes medina, Fes el-Jdid and Fes el-Bali.
After two days of exploring the busy medina of Fes, these quiet gardens are a nice reprieve. You can sit on a bench, admiring the flowers, and watching people go by.
Watch sunset at the Merenid Tombs
The Merenid Tombs date back to the 14th century. These burial chambers are the final resting places of Merenid royalty. Although the tombs today are ruins, they’re lovely to visit for the views over the old Fes medina.
At dusk, locals and tourists come to this spot to watch the sun go down and hear the muezzin’s prayer calls echoing around the valley.
You can reach this lookout point via a paved path leading up from the main road west of the hill. Or, take a taxi from Bab Bou Jeloud, for just a few dollars. While this is a beautiful sunset spot, it’s not recommended to stick around after dark.
Day 3 in Fes: Hammam and Cooking Class
On day 3 in Fes, you’ll have a relaxing day of hammam and a cooking class. Each activity takes up about half a day, but I recommend doing your hammam visit in the morning, and cooking class in the late afternoon. This optimizes your day in the best way possible!
Relax in a Moroccan Hammam
“Hammam” is just another word for bath house. You can’t visit Morocco, or spend 4 days in Fes, without having a hammam experience!
Like in other bath houses around the world, in Morocco, you’ll be steamed, scrubbed, and soaked in a Moroccan hammam. It’s a relaxing experience, and you’ll come out of it cleaner than ever!
Depending on the kind of hammam package you choose, you’ll want to book about half a day for your hammam experience in Fes. Some notable hammams that you can consider booking are Les Bains Amani, Spa Laaroussa, and Hammam Mernissi.
Take a Moroccan cooking class
Taking cooking classes is a fantastic way to learn about a destination’s food culture and practices. In Fes, you can participate in this Authentic Cooking Class and Old Medina Visit to learn how to cook a selection of Moroccan delicacies.
With the help of local chefs, you’ll learn about traditional ingredients, skills, and recipes, then create delicious Moroccan dishes. This experience is 4 hours long, and can begin at either 11:00AM, or 5:00PM.
Day 4: Go on a Day Trip From Fes
On your final day in Fes, it’s time for a day trip! One of the wonderful things about 4 days in Fes is that it’s enough time to see some of the city’s surrounding areas.
Below are three recommended tours to choose from. You can choose between seeing an Imperial City and ancient Roman ruins, and visiting the famous “Blue City” of Chefchaouen.
Visit the Imperial City of Meknes
Morocco’s Imperial Cities are the old capitals of historic empires and dynasties that ruled over the kingdom for centuries.
Up in the Atlas Mountains, about an hour’s drive from Fes, is Meknes. This Imperial City is known for its authentic doors, Moorish architecture and medieval walls.
Not far from Meknes is a second site worth seeing: Volubilis. There you’ll find some of the best preserved ruins in Morocco, of an old Roman city. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On this Meknes and Volubilis Day Trip from Fes you’ll get to explore the Medina of Meknes, go to the historic remains of Volubilis, and see the holy town of Moulay Idriss.
Visit the Blue Town: Chefchaouen
This small Moroccan city is up in the Rif Mountains, about a 3.5 hour drive from Fes. Chefchaouen was originally built as a fortress in the 15th century. Today, it’s known for its blue buildings, creamy native goat cheese, octagonal mosque, and Spanish ruins.
Visiting Chefchaouen as a day trip from Fes is a packed day with lots of driving. If you have time to spend a night in Chefchaouen, I recommend doing so. But if your schedule is tight, visiting Chefchaouen as a day trip from Fes is worth it. This Day Tour to the Blue Town of Chefchaouen starts with a hotel pickup in Fes. You’ll do the drive in a small, air conditioned minivan.
What I appreciate about this day tour (I’ve done it myself!) is that you have some time to explore Chefchaouen on your own. It’s a nice balance of learning from your guide, and freedom to do your own thing. Plus, making the trip in one day makes it easy to add this to your itinerary for 4 days in Fes.
Responsible Travel in Fes, Morocco
Responsible tourism is all about traveling in a way that supports the communities you’re visiting. Below are some tips for how you can have a mindful, responsible approach to spending 4 days in Fes, and traveling throughout the rest of Morocco, too.
Learn about Morocco
Take some time to invest in learning while visiting Fes. There are tons of great museums that will give you insight into the city’s history, culture, traditions and more. Making your travels in Morocco educational will enrich your experience!
Visit Morocco in the low or off-season
As with many destinations, Morocco has experienced a surge in tourism in recent years which has led to some potentially harmful impacts, like overtourism. One way to help reduce your impact while spending 4 days in Fes is to visit in the off or shoulder season. This season runs from May to September, and during those months there are generally fewer tourists around.
Spend more time in Morocco
What not to do in Morocco? Don’t underestimate how much there is to see! The more time you can spend in Fes (and Morocco), the better! Traveling slowly and spending time gives you more opportunities to learn, observe, and engage with local Moroccan life. And, it means you’ll be able to spend more tourism dollars in the communities you visit, which benefits locals.
Stay in locally owned accommodations
While spending 4 days in Fes make an effort to support locally owned hotels, riads, and shops. There are lots of chain hotels and foreign-owned riads – skipping these and booking Moroccan-owned accommodations instead helps ensure you tourism dollars go to local people.
Fes Itinerary FAQ
How many days should I spend in Fes?
While it’s possible to see the highlights of Fes in 1 to 2 days, spending longer is recommended. With 3 days or more, you’ll be able to see the main sites of Fes, and get to know the city more in-depth. And, you’ll have time to visit some of the lesser-known attractions in and outside of the medina.
Is Fes Morocco worth visiting?
Fes is absolutely worth visiting. Founded in 789 AD, it’s the oldest city in Morocco, and was the first capital of Morocco. Today, it’s considered one of the best preserved cities in the Arab world. With a big, busy medina and fortified walls, there’s tons to see in historic Fes.
What is Fes, Morocco known for?
Fes is known for its historic medina, beautiful palaces, museums, mosques, fountains, winding alleyways, and tanneries. There are three main tanneries in the city of Fes, but the largest and most famous of these is Chouara Tannery.
Is Fes, Morocco worth visiting?
Yes, Fes is worth visiting because it’s a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 789 AD, it’s the oldest city in Morocco. There, you’ll find incredible palaces, tanneries, museums, mosques, and an old medina.
Final Thoughts: 4 Day in Fes
With a 4 day stay in Fes you’ll have enough time to really delve into this Moroccan city’s beauty and ancient history. From admiring the Great Mosque of Kairouan, to visiting the Chouara Tannery, every day in Fes will be exciting!
More from Pina Travels on Morocco:
- How to Train From Fes to MarrakechHow to Visit Bhalil, Morocco 3 Best Sahara Desert Tours From Marrakech (+ What to Expect)
Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.
