Budget · Fes · Morocco
Fes on a budget
What a trip to Fes really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Casual Builder, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Fes is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $35–$60 per person per day on a tight budget, $90–$170 mid-range and $250–$600 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $35–$60 a day
- Mid-range
- $90–$170 a day
- Luxury
- $250–$600 a day
- Local currency
- MAD
- Free sights
- 11
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $35–$60 | $105–$180 | $175–$300 | $245–$420 |
| Mid-range | $90–$170 | $270–$510 | $450–$850 | $630–$1,190 |
| Luxury | $250–$600 | $750–$1,800 | $1,250–$3,000 | $1,750–$4,200 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Fes, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Mint tea in a café | about 10–15 MAD |
| Bowl of bissara | about 5–10 MAD |
| Tagine in a simple restaurant | about 50–90 MAD |
| Petit taxi ride in the city | about 10–25 MAD |
| Madrasa entry | about 20–30 MAD |
| Riad dinner, several courses | about 200–400 MAD per person |
| Official guide, half day | about 300–400 MAD |
Money-saving tips
- Walking the medina, the Blue Gate, the tannery terraces, Jnan Sbil and the Marinid Tombs view cost nothing.
- Eat breakfast and lunch at medina stalls; bissara, sfenj and msemen cost a few dirhams.
- Compare prices in several shops before buying leather or ceramics, and bargain politely.
- Hire an official guide through your riad or the tourist office rather than accepting offers in the street.
- Carry small notes and coins; many stalls and taxis cannot change large notes.
Free things to do
- Fes el-Bali medina — Founded in the 9th century and listed by UNESCO in 1981, Fes el-Bali is a dense walled city of souqs, fountains, mosques, funduqs and workshops, threaded by two main streets, Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira, that run downhill from Bab Bou Jeloud towards the Qarawiyyin.
- Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) — Built in 1913 in traditional style, the main western gate to the medina is faced with blue zellij tiles on the outside and green on the inside, framing views of the Bou Inania minaret beyond.
- Chouara Tannery — The largest of the medina's tanneries is a honeycomb of stone vats where hides are soaked and dyed by hand, a process that has changed little in centuries.
- Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University — Founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, Al-Qarawiyyin is often described as the oldest continuously operating educational institution in the world.
- Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen) — The Royal Palace is not open to the public, but its main facade on Place des Alaouites, with seven huge brass doors framed by zellij and carved cedar, is one of the most photographed sights in Fes.
- Place Seffarine — A small triangular square shaded by a fig tree where coppersmiths hammer pots, cauldrons and trays by hand, the sound echoing off the walls.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and food lovers
Fes el-Bali
Riads deep in the medieval medina, among souqs and workshops
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, families and solo travellers
Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
The medina's western edge, with taxi access and cafés by the Blue Gate
$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Andalusian Quarter
The quieter east bank of the medina around the Andalusian Mosque
Eating well for less
- Bissara — Small bissara stalls in the medina lanes, mainly in the morning and in winter.
- Khlii — Butchers and breakfast cafés in the medina; ask your riad for a khlii and eggs breakfast.
- Msemen and baghrir — Breakfast stalls and bakeries in the medina, and on riad breakfast tables.
- Sfenj — Morning stalls in the medina and Fes el-Jdid.
Getting around for less
Fes el-Bali is entirely on foot: no cars can enter, and lanes are too steep and narrow even for bikes. Petit taxis link the medina gates with Fes el-Jdid, the Ville Nouvelle and the train station.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Fes cost?
About $450–$850 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $175–$300 on a tight budget.
+Is Fes expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Walking the medina, the Blue Gate, the tannery terraces, Jnan Sbil and the Marinid Tombs view cost nothing.
+How much money do I need per day in Fes?
Roughly $35–$60 on a budget and $90–$170 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Fes?
Usually in January–February.