Things to do · Fes · Morocco
17 best things to do in Fes
17 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Fes are Fes el-Bali medina, Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) and Chouara Tannery. Of the 17 picks below, 11 are free, 3 work on a rainy day and 4 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Fes el-Bali medina
- Free sights
- 11
- Good on a rainy day
- Al-Attarine Madrasa
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fes el-Bali medina | Fes el-Bali | A full day | Free |
| Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | 20 minutes | Free |
| Chouara Tannery | Fes el-Bali | 45 minutes | Free |
| Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University | Fes el-Bali | 20 minutes | Free |
| Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen) | Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah | 20 minutes | Free |
| Bou Inania Madrasa | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Al-Attarine Madrasa | Fes el-Bali | 30–45 minutes | Low cost |
| Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts | Fes el-Bali | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Place Seffarine | Fes el-Bali | 20 minutes | Free |
| Zawiya of Moulay Idriss II | Fes el-Bali | 15 minutes | Free |
| Mellah and Ibn Danan Synagogue | Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Marinid Tombs viewpoint | Bab Guissa and the northern hillside | 1 hour | Free |
| Borj Nord | Bab Guissa and the northern hillside | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Jnan Sbil Gardens | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | 1 hour | Free |
| Andalusian Mosque | Andalusian Quarter | 20 minutes | Free |
| Traditional hammam | Fes el-Bali | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Ain Nokbi potters' quarter | Outside Bab Ftouh | 1–2 hours | Free |
The 17 best things to do
Historic site · Fes el-Bali
1.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. Each trade has its own quarter, from dyers and coppersmiths to leatherworkers and carpenters.
Hire an official licensed guide for the first morning to get your bearings, then explore on your own using the main streets as reference lines.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Landmark · Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
2.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. Cafés and food stalls cluster just inside.
Photograph it early in the morning before the crowds, and ignore anyone offering to guide you here unless they show an official badge.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- Kids
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Historic site · Fes el-Bali
3.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. Visitors watch from the terraces of the surrounding leather shops, which give access in exchange for a look at their goods.
Come in the morning when the most work is happening and the colours are brightest; accept the sprig of mint offered against the smell.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Shopping
Religious site · Fes el-Bali
4.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. The mosque is open to Muslims only, but non-Muslims can glimpse its tiled courtyard and fountains through the open doorways.
Look through the main doors from the lane outside without stepping in, and avoid prayer times.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
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Palace · Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah
5.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.
Visit in the morning light and combine it with the Mellah next door.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Religious site · Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
6.Bou Inania Madrasa
Built in the 1350s by the Marinid sultan Abu Inan Faris, this theological college is one of the few religious buildings in Fes open to non-Muslims, with a courtyard of zellij, carved stucco and cedar. Opposite, the remains of a 14th-century water clock hang on the facade of Dar al-Magana.
Visit in the morning when the courtyard is in sunlight; it closes to visitors at prayer times.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Art
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Fes el-Bali
7.Al-Attarine Madrasa
Completed in the 1320s next to the spice market, from which it takes its name, this small Marinid madrasa has some of the most intricate decoration in Fes: bronze doors, zellij panels and cedar and stucco carving around a marble courtyard. Upper floors held student rooms.
Combine it with the Qarawiyyin doorways next door and Place Seffarine a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Fes el-Bali
8.Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
An 18th-century funduq, a merchants' inn, restored as a museum of carved and painted wood, from doors and ceilings to tools and musical instruments. The tiled Nejjarine fountain stands in the square outside, and the rooftop café looks over the medina.
Finish on the rooftop terrace for mint tea and one of the best views in the centre of the medina.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Views
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Street · Fes el-Bali
1.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. The Qarawiyyin library opens onto the square.
Ask before photographing the craftsmen; buying a small item is a good way to say thanks.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Religious site · Fes el-Bali
2.Zawiya of Moulay Idriss II
The shrine of Moulay Idriss II, who founded Fes in the early 9th century, is one of the city's holiest places, surrounded by stalls selling candles, incense and nougat to pilgrims. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but can look through the gateway at the decorated interior.
Note the wooden bar across the lane, which historically marked the sanctuary limit for animals and non-Muslims.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
Neighbourhood · Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah
3.Mellah and Ibn Danan Synagogue
Created in the 15th century beside the Royal Palace, the Mellah was the Jewish quarter of Fes, recognisable by its houses with outward-facing wooden balconies. The restored 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and the whitewashed Jewish cemetery can be visited.
Visit the cemetery and synagogue together; a small tip to the caretaker is customary.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Bab Guissa and the northern hillside
4.Marinid Tombs viewpoint
The crumbling remains of 14th-century Marinid royal tombs stand on the hill north of the medina, the classic viewpoint over Fes el-Bali's rooftops, minarets and green-tiled roofs.
Go about an hour before sunset to hear the calls to prayer rise from the medina below; go with others or a guide and take a taxi back after dark.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Kids
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Castle · Bab Guissa and the northern hillside
5.Borj Nord
A 16th-century Saadian fortress on the hillside above the medina, built to watch over the city, with views across the rooftops that rival the nearby Marinid Tombs.
Combine it with the Marinid Tombs on the same walk; access to the interior varies.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
Garden · Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
6.Jnan Sbil Gardens
A historic royal garden between Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid, restored in the 2010s, with palm and bamboo avenues, fountains, a lake and benches in the shade. It is a calm, free break from the medina lanes.
Walk through it between the Blue Gate and the Royal Palace, and let children run on the open paths.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Couples
Religious site · Andalusian Quarter
7.Andalusian Mosque
Founded in the 9th century by Fatima al-Fihri's sister Mariam, the mosque of the Andalusian Quarter is closed to non-Muslims, but its monumental carved and tiled gateway at the top of a flight of steps is one of the finest in the city.
Cross the old riverbed from Place Seffarine to explore the quiet lanes of the Andalusian Quarter afterwards.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Fes el-Bali
8.Traditional hammam
A visit to a hammam, the steam bath at the heart of Moroccan neighbourhood life, involves steam, black olive-oil soap and a vigorous scrub with a kessa glove. Neighbourhood hammams have separate hours or sections for men and women, while riad and hotel spas offer private versions.
For a first visit, a riad or spa hammam explains the process; bring flip-flops and a change of underwear for a public one.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Outside Bab Ftouh
9.Ain Nokbi potters' quarter
East of the medina, the potteries of Ain Nokbi produce the blue-and-white Fes ceramics and zellij tiles seen all over Morocco; workshops show the whole process, from throwing and glazing to hand-cutting tiles.
Take a petit taxi there and watch the tile cutters, then compare prices with the medina before buying.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Free
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Bou Inania Madrasa, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and Ain Nokbi potters' quarter |
| History | Fes el-Bali medina, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, Bou Inania Madrasa and Al-Attarine Madrasa |
| Views | Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts, Marinid Tombs viewpoint and Borj Nord |
| Outdoors and nature | Jnan Sbil Gardens |
| With children | Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate), Chouara Tannery, Marinid Tombs viewpoint and Jnan Sbil Gardens |
| On a rainy day | Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and Traditional hammam |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Fes?
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.
+What can you do for free in Fes?
Fes el-Bali medina, Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate), Chouara Tannery, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University and Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen). More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Fes when it rains?
Head indoors to Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and Traditional hammam.