The experience invites you to observe daily life through a creative lens capturing moments that reveal the city’s rhythm, history and authentic Fassi spirit. Join photographer and cultural entrepreneur Omar Chennafi on a curated photography tour blending visual exploration with cultural insight. Culture Vultures also offers guided textile, pottery and craft quests lasting from three to 15 days, that take you deep into the heart of Morocco’s ancestral traditions. You’ll learn a few Arabic phrases, common gestures and local etiquette, and get the chance to ask about everything from henna rituals to faux guides, politics and religion helping you move through the city with confidence and respect. Café Clock has long been a cultural hub in Fez, known for its camel burger, live music and storytelling nights.
#MarocVuDuCiel, Extraits: Ifrane, Fès, Meknès, Moulay Idriss, Volubilis
The tanning industry, for example, still embodied by tanneries of Fes el-Bali today, was a major source of exports and economic sustenance since the city’s early history. It was in this period that Fez reached its cultural peak, becoming a capital and giving rise fez bet to madrasas, mosques and some of the city defences that stand today. Not far northeast of the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin is the largest of the city’s three tanneries going about its business in almost the same way for more than 800 years. But it’s the sounds, as much as the sights, that make Place Seffarine special, as the rest of square is given over to copperware, a craft that goes back many centuries in Fez. The university was first founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 which subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world. Multiple moussems (Sufi religious festivals) have traditionally taken place every year in honour of local Muslim saints and are typically sponsored by one or more of the city’s guilds.
In 1981, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Medina of Fez a World Heritage Site, describing it as “one of the most extensive and best conserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world.” It was the first site in Morocco to be granted this status. Fes el-Bali is the oldest continuously inhabited walled city in the Arab world, and one of the largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas) in the whole world. Established in 1992, it is only 1.6 square kilometres (0.62 sq mi) in extent, and recorded a population of 20,560 in the 2014 census. The municipality of Fez has an area of 94 square kilometres (36 sq mi) and recorded a population of 1,091,512 in the 2014 Moroccan census. Like the inhabitants of other historical urban centers in Morocco, Ahl Fes (أهل فاس “the people of Fes,” referring especially to old elite families) speak their own distinct dialect of Darija. Northwest of the Middle Atlas mountains, Fez has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa) with a strong continental influence, shifting from relatively cool and wet in the winter to dry and hot days in the summer months between June and September.
- Relax, cool down, and watch the Fes locals enjoying the park too.
- Online reviews were somewhat vague, but we found a great, guarded lot near Al Oud café for 40 MAD per 24 hours—slept fine, car parked fine.
- Set in a relaxed, authentic atmosphere, it’s an immersion into the flavors and rhythms of Moroccan home cooking.
- There are three tanneries in the city, largest among them is Chouara Tannery near the Saffarin Madrasa along the river.
- Discover Al Quaraouiyine University and its mosque, a world heritage site and center of knowledge
- In the same vein as other Marinid religious schools in Fez, the Al-Attarine Madrasa has sophisticated decoration on its rectangular courtyard.
Discover Al Quaraouiyine University and its mosque, a world heritage site and center of knowledge
Perched on the Zerhoun hill, this white village is a major pilgrimage site and home to the tomb of Moulay Idriss I, founder of the Idrissid dynasty. This ancient Roman capital bears witness to the region’s rich history, and is a not-to-be-missed excursion for understanding Morocco’s ancient roots. Less than an hour’s drive away, this archaeological site impressed us with its perfectly preserved mosaics and vestiges of the Mauritanian Tingitanian period.
Beautiful viewpoints for free
Discover the roots of Fes by wandering the thousands of alleys here and enjoy the largest car-free urban area in the world! The medina of Fes (Fes el Bali) is the oldest and largest in North Africa and dates back to the 9th century! The past is alive here, so take one or two days to enjoy all the best things to do in Fes! The city was once the capital of Morocco and is still widely viewed as the cultural epicenter of the country. Afterwards you’ll see Meknes, founded as an Almoravid military settlement in the 11th century, and feted for its medina and Museum of Moroccan Art. For a glimpse of the city’s Jewish history in the Mellah there’s a non-functioning but preserved synagogue dating back to the 17th century.
The historic city of Fez consists of Fes el-Bali, the original city on both shores of the Oued Fes (River of Fez), and the smaller Fez Jdid, founded on higher ground to the west in the 13th century. Religious tourism is also present due to the old city’s many major zawiyas (Islamic shrines), such as the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II and the Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani, which attract both Moroccan and international (especially West African) pilgrims. Instead, the French administration built new modern cities (the Villes Nouvelles) just outside the old cities, where European settlers largely resided with modern Western-style amenities. The walls dividing them were destroyed, bridges connecting them were built or renovated, and a new circuit of walls was constructed that encompassed both cities. In 1276 the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub also founded the royal administrative district of Fes Jdid (lit. ‘New Fez’), where the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) is still located today, to which extensive gardens were later added. Numerous new madrasas and mosques were constructed, many of which survive today, while other structures were restored.
Experience the peace of a riad courtyard
The availability of green spaces in Fez is limited and significantly deviates from the international standard, which calls for a minimum of ten square meters of green space per resident. Fez is one of the cities expected to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup and there are plans to upgrade its sports stadium before this date. The festival occurs in May or June and concerts take place at multiple venues across the city, including at historic sites such as Bab Makina (the New Mechouar) in Fes Jdid. Fez hosts the annual World Sacred Music Festival, which started in 1994 and showcases religious music from around the world.
You’ll enjoy a unique cultural experience that testifies to the rich blend of Arab-Muslim traditions and Andalusian heritage. These experiences sometimes include food tours of the souks to discover local ingredients and understand how they are used. These workshops introduce you to the techniques of preparing tajines, couscous and oriental pastries in historic riads. It’s a major place of pilgrimage in the heart of the medina, as is the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I in the village of the same name, a few kilometers from Fès.
- Note the cedar wood doors, which have been smoothed by pilgrims kissing and stroking their surface over the centuries.
- Every day, we commit to providing our customers with peace of mind, and this commitment extends to our pricing strategy.
- This is also the only religious school in Fez to have its own minaret, also a work of art and hailed as the finest in the city.
- Religious tourism is also present due to the old city’s many major zawiyas (Islamic shrines), such as the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II and the Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani, which attract both Moroccan and international (especially West African) pilgrims.
- Inside, you’ll discover the small rooms where students from all over the kingdom were housed for religious instruction.
Hudson Williams’ friends explain missing context as ‘disturbing’ pictures from school surface
As the medina is car-free, we recommend parking in the official parking lots near the main gates, or choosing accommodation with a parking option. Take a day trip to the Middle Atlas and explore the monkey forest! Opt for a half-day excursion to the thermal village of Moulay Yacoub, where you’ll be fully catered for. Looking to relax in the thermal waters of northern Maroc? Known for centuries for the virtues of its hot sulfurous waters, it attracts curists and travelers alike in search of relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere of this spiritual place makes it an excellent starting point for sampling local produce such as olive oil and Saïs wines.
The Palais El Glaoui, the second largest palace in the Fès medina, fascinated us with its history and its many rooms adorned with exceptional architectural details. This palatial complex includes the royal palace, a mosque, a medersa and a parade ground, testifying to the grandeur of the Moroccan monarchy. More than just a park, Jnan Sbil is a green haven where history and nature meet in the heart of the city. A real “coup de cœur” of our stay, we were captivated by this city with its 137 mosques in the medina and its ancestral tanneries perpetuating a unique know-how. Fès, the former imperial capital, fascinated us with its thousand-year-old medina, historic mosques and fine cuisine.
There are three tanneries in the city, largest among them is Chouara Tannery near the Saffarin Madrasa along the river. The old city contains several major historic cemeteries which stand outside the walls of Fes el-Bali, namely the cemeteries of Bab Ftouh (the most significant), Bab Mahrouk, and Bab Guissa. The Bab Guissa Mosque was also founded in the reign of Abu al-Hasan (1331–1351), but modified in later centuries. A number of mosques from the important Marinid era, when Fes Jdid was created to be the capital of Morocco, include the Great Mosque of Fez el-Jdid from 1276, the Abu al-Hasan Mosque from 1341, the Chrabliyine Mosque from 1342, and the al-Hamra Mosque from around the same period. There are numerous historic mosques in the medina, some of which are part of a madrasa or zawiya. These two historic cities are linked together and are usually referred to together as the “medina” of Fez, though this term is sometimes applied more restrictively to Fes el-Bali only.e
During this period the Jewish population of the city grew and the Mellah (Jewish quarter) was formed on the south side of this new district. Fez reached its zenith in the Marinid era (13th–15th centuries), regaining its status as political capital. Under Almoravid rule, the city gained a reputation for religious scholarship and mercantile activity. After the downfall of the Idrisid dynasty, other empires came and went until the 11th century when the Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin united the two settlements into what is today’s Fes el-Bali (lit. ‘Old Fes’) quarter, a.k.a. Medina of Fez. Located to the northwest of the Atlas Mountains, it is surrounded by hills and the old city is centered around the Fez River (Oued Fes) flowing from west to east. Fez (/fɛz/) or Fesa (/fɛs/) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region.
Apart from that, Fez has a lot more to offer, and you can concentrate on some of the best highlights in one day if you’re rushing out. The visit to the tanneries is brief if you’re sensitive to the smell, so keep this in mind. The tanneries are undoubtedly our highlight from Fez.
An alternative way to see the tanneries is to find a roof terrace nearby. Visit the Fes tanneries on this multi stop tour of the medina Because of this, it’s best to remember to take a bit of mint or a scarf with you instead. The tanneries are a unique part of the Fes culture and are one of the best things to do on any trip to Morocco. Be sure to check out the world-famous tanneries of Fes!