How many days · Fes · Morocco
How many days do you need in Fes?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
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
3 days is the sweet spot for Fes, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the medina's main sights with a guide on the first morning and free wandering after. Three days adds Fes el-Jdid, the Mellah and the Marinid Tombs at sunset, plus a cooking class or hammam; a fourth day allows Volubilis and Meknes.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.9 h (Dec) to 14.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Fes el-Bali medina, Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate), Chouara Tannery and Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University |
| 2 days | Good | Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen) and Bou Inania Madrasa |
| 3 days | Ideal | Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and Place Seffarine |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Meknes |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Meknes and Volubilis |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Fes add up to roughly 13–15 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Fes el-Bali medina (A full day), Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts (1 hour) and Mellah and Ibn Danan Synagogue (1 hour).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Fes el-Bali medina | A full day | Fes el-Bali |
| Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) | 20 minutes | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud |
| Chouara Tannery | 45 minutes | Fes el-Bali |
| Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University | 20 minutes | Fes el-Bali |
| Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen) | 20 minutes | Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah |
| Bou Inania Madrasa | 45 minutes | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud |
| Al-Attarine Madrasa | 30–45 minutes | Fes el-Bali |
| Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts | 1 hour | Fes el-Bali |
| Place Seffarine | 20 minutes | Fes el-Bali |
| Zawiya of Moulay Idriss II | 15 minutes | Fes el-Bali |
| Mellah and Ibn Danan Synagogue | 1 hour | Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah |
| Marinid Tombs viewpoint | 1 hour | Bab Guissa and the northern hillside |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Fes el-Bali medina and Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Chouara Tannery |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Meknes and Volubilis |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Fes with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Casablanca | About 244 km | 2 days |
| Granada | About 374 km | 3 days |
| Marrakech | About 384 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Fes?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the medina's main sights with a guide on the first morning and free wandering after. Three days adds Fes el-Jdid, the Mellah and the Marinid Tombs at sunset, plus a cooking class or hammam; a fourth day allows Volubilis and Meknes.
+Is a week too long in Fes?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Meknes and Volubilis.