Comparison · Fes vs Marrakech · Morocco
Fes vs Marrakech
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please ment, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Fes for Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara tannery and free sights; choose Marrakech for Jemaa el-Fnaa, Souks and nightlife. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 384 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 384 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Fes
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Marrakech
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Fes | Marrakech | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Morocco | Morocco |
| Known for | Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara tannery and Madrasas and zellij | Jemaa el-Fnaa, Souks and Riads |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $90–$180 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | July, 37°C (99°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 16°C (61°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | FEZ | RAK |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Fes for…
Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara tannery and free sights. Fes el-Bali, the old walled medina founded in the 9th century, is a UNESCO-listed maze of thousands of lanes where donkeys and handcarts still deliver goods, and where craftsmen work leather, copper, wood and tiles much as they have for centuries. Its…
Choose Marrakech for…
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Souks and nightlife. Marrakech is a walled medina city at the foot of the High Atlas, built around the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the Koutoubia minaret. Visitors stay in riads — courtyard houses inside the medina — or in the hotels of Gueliz, Hivernage and the Palmeraie, and spend…
Top sights compared
| # | Fes | Marrakech |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fes el-Bali medina | Jemaa el-Fnaa |
| 2 | Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) | Koutoubia Mosque |
| 3 | Chouara Tannery | Bahia Palace |
| 4 | Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University | Jardin Majorelle |
| 5 | Bou Inania Madrasa | Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech |
Food compared
| Fes | Marrakech |
|---|---|
| Pastilla | Tagine |
| Bissara | Tanjia marrakchia |
| Khlii | Couscous |
| Harira | Harira |
Which is cheaper?
Fes and Marrakech cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $90–$170 in Fes and $90–$180 in Marrakech (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Fes on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Fes and Marrakech are about 384 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Fes and 4 in Marrakech.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Fes or Marrakech cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 in Fes and $90–$180 in Marrakech (estimates).
+Is Fes or Marrakech better for a first trip?
Pick Fes for Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara tannery and free sights, or Marrakech for Jemaa el-Fnaa, Souks and nightlife.
+How far is Fes from Marrakech?
About 384 km in a straight line.