Where to stay · Fes · Morocco
Where to stay in Fes
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium, Public domain
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Fes el-Bali. Riads deep in the medieval medina, among souqs and workshops. Best alternatives — families: Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud; budget: Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud; nightlife: Ville Nouvelle.
Key facts
- First visit
- Fes el-Bali
- Families
- Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
- Budget
- Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
- Nightlife
- Ville Nouvelle
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Fes el-Bali | Riads deep in the medieval medina, among souqs and workshops |
| Families | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | The medina's western edge, with taxi access and cafés by the Blue Gate |
| Couples | Fes el-Bali | Riads deep in the medieval medina, among souqs and workshops |
| Budget | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | The medina's western edge, with taxi access and cafés by the Blue Gate |
| Luxury | Bab Guissa and the northern hillside | Hillside hotels with panoramic views over the medina |
| Nightlife | Ville Nouvelle | Boulevards, modern hotels, cafés and bars near the train station |
| Food lovers | Fes el-Bali | Riads deep in the medieval medina, among souqs and workshops |
| Solo travellers | Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | The medina's western edge, with taxi access and cafés by the Blue Gate |
| Quiet stays | Andalusian Quarter | The quieter east bank of the medina around the Andalusian Mosque |
Fes neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and food lovers
Fes el-Bali
Staying inside Fes el-Bali, around Talaa Kebira and the Qarawiyyin, puts the souqs, madrasas and tannery a short walk away and lets you see the medina waking up and closing down. Accommodation is almost all in riads and dars, from simple guesthouses to restored palaces with plunge pools. Cars cannot enter, so arrange for your riad to meet you at the nearest gate.
- Good
- Immersive medina experience; Walk to every main sight; Wide range of riads
- Watch out
- Easy to get lost at first; Luggage carried by porter or handcart; Little nightlife
- Nearby
- Talaa Kebira, Al-Qarawiyyin, Chouara Tannery, Bou Inania Madrasa
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, families and solo travellers
Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud
The area around Bab Bou Jeloud and Place Batha sits at the top of the medina's two main streets, Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira, with cafés, food stalls and many riads. Taxis can reach Place Batha, which makes arrivals easier, and Jnan Sbil gardens are a few minutes away.
- Good
- Taxi access nearby; Easy orientation from the main gate; Plenty of cafés and budget riads
- Watch out
- Touts and unofficial guides gather at the gate; Busier and noisier
- Nearby
- Bab Bou Jeloud, Jnan Sbil, Bou Inania Madrasa, Place Batha
$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Andalusian Quarter
Across the old riverbed from the Qarawiyyin, the Andalusian Quarter was settled by refugees from Córdoba in the 9th century. It is more residential and far less touristy, with a handful of riads, the Andalusian Mosque's carved gate and neighbourhood bakeries.
- Good
- Very few tourists; Authentic neighbourhood life; Walk to Place Seffarine
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; Further from the Blue Gate and taxis
- Nearby
- Andalusian Mosque, Place Seffarine, Bab Ftouh
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and families
Bab Guissa and the northern hillside
On the northern edge of the medina near Bab Guissa and the Marinid Tombs, a few larger hotels and riads have terraces and pools looking across the whole medina. It is a calmer base with road access, while the souqs are a short downhill walk away.
- Good
- Panoramic views; Road access and parking; Hotels with pools
- Watch out
- Steep walk back up from the souqs; Fewer independent restaurants
- Nearby
- Marinid Tombs, Borj Nord, Bab Guissa
$ · Best for budget, culture and solo travellers
Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah
Fes el-Jdid, the 'new' city founded by the Marinids in the 13th century, has the Royal Palace with its brass gates, the Mellah with its balconied houses, synagogue and cemetery, and the Grand Rue market street. It is more local than Fes el-Bali, with simple hotels and easy taxi access.
- Good
- Low prices; Fewer touts; Taxi access
- Watch out
- Fewer quality riads; A 20-minute walk to the old medina's highlights
- Nearby
- Royal Palace of Fez, Mellah, Ibn Danan Synagogue, Jnan Sbil
$$ · Best for first-timers, families and nightlife
Ville Nouvelle
The French-built new town around Avenue Hassan II and Avenue Mohammed V has modern chain hotels, supermarkets, pavement cafés and some of the few bars in Fes. It is close to the train station and about 10 minutes by petit taxi from the medina.
- Good
- Modern hotels with parking and lifts; Close to the station; Restaurants serving alcohol
- Watch out
- No medina atmosphere; Taxi needed for sightseeing
- Nearby
- Fes train station, Avenue Hassan II
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Fes el-Bali | $$ | Talaa Kebira, Al-Qarawiyyin, Chouara Tannery, Bou Inania Madrasa |
| Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud | $$ | Bab Bou Jeloud, Jnan Sbil, Bou Inania Madrasa, Place Batha |
| Andalusian Quarter | $$ | Andalusian Mosque, Place Seffarine, Bab Ftouh |
| Bab Guissa and the northern hillside | $$$$ | Marinid Tombs, Borj Nord, Bab Guissa |
| Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah | $ | Royal Palace of Fez, Mellah, Ibn Danan Synagogue, Jnan Sbil |
| Ville Nouvelle | $$ | Fes train station, Avenue Hassan II |
Getting to your hotel
Fes–Saïss Airport is about 15 km south of the city. Taxis from the rank outside arrivals take about 20–30 minutes to the medina gates, and many riads arrange pickups that include a porter for the final walk.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Fes for first-time visitors?
Fes el-Bali. Staying inside Fes el-Bali, around Talaa Kebira and the Qarawiyyin, puts the souqs, madrasas and tannery a short walk away and lets you see the medina waking up and closing down.
+Where should families stay in Fes?
Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud: Taxi access nearby.
+Which area of Fes is best for a budget stay?
Batha and Bab Bou Jeloud ($$): The medina's western edge, with taxi access and cafés by the Blue Gate.