Things to do in Fes: 10 places worth your time
Fes is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. Its old city, Fes el-Bali, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and is often described as the largest car-free urban area on earth. You could lose a week in it. If you have two or three days, these ten places repay the time.
Bab Boujloud, the Blue Gate
For most visitors this is the way into the medina. The gate is tiled in blue on the outside and green on the inside. Start here and walk down into the old city: going downhill is much easier than climbing back up at the end of the day.
Bou Inania Madrasa
A religious school built in the mid-14th century under the Marinid dynasty, and one of the finest examples of Marinid architecture. Look for the carved cedar wood, the stucco and the zellige tilework in the courtyard. It is close to the Blue Gate, so it is an easy first stop.
Al-Attarine Madrasa
Smaller and quieter, built in 1325 beside the spice and perfume market and a short walk from the Al-Qarawiyyin. The courtyard, with its marble columns and carved wooden screens, is worth a few minutes of silence.
Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university
Founded in the ninth century, it is often described as the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Non-Muslim visitors usually cannot enter the mosque itself, but you can see inside from the doorways, and the streets around it are some of the most atmospheric in the medina.
Place Seffarine, the metalworkers’ square
You hear it before you see it: the sound of hammers on copper and brass. Craftsmen here make trays, lanterns and kitchenware by hand, and you can watch them work. It is one of the oldest squares in the medina.
Chouara Tannery
The famous dye pits and rooftop view. It is free to look, but there are a few things worth knowing before you go. Read our guide to visiting the Chouara Tannery.
Nejjarine Square and the Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
A calm square with a beautiful fountain, and a museum in a restored funduq, the kind of inn merchants once used. It is a good place to see the cedar woodwork that Fes is known for, and a welcome pause between busy streets.
The Marinid Tombs at sunset
The ruined 14th-century tombs on the hill above the medina are free to visit, and they give you the widest view of the old city. Go about an hour before sunset and take a taxi up, because the walk is steep.
Borj Nord
A fortress built in 1582 under Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour, now home to an arms museum, with views over the medina. Opening hours can change, so check on the day.
The potters’ and zellige workshops of Ain Nokbi
Fes is known for its cobalt-blue pottery and for zellige, the hand-cut glazed tile mosaic used across Morocco. The potters’ quarter sits just outside the medina, where workshops moved in 2013 to make room for kilns. You can watch pottery thrown and tiles cut. Our guide to Fes crafts explains what to look for.
How long do you need?
Two full days covers the highlights above at a comfortable pace. Three lets you slow down and add a day trip to Meknes or Volubilis. If it is your first visit, read our first-timer’s guide to the medina, and our note on where to stay in Fes.
Staying with us? Call or text +212 611 681 608 (WhatsApp or SMS) and we will explain the easiest way to get where you want to go. See our apartments.
