15 Best Things to Do in Fes: A Local’s Guide to the Medina and Beyond

If you want the polished, curated version of Morocco, go to Marrakech. If you want the raw, unfiltered, and deeply authentic version, you come to Fes.

Fes el-Bali (the ancient medina) is the largest car-free urban area in the world. It is a labyrinth of 9,000 alleyways where donkeys are the only transport, tanneries operate exactly as they did a millennium ago, and the architecture reflects centuries of Islamic scholarship and artistry. Figuring out what is actually worth your time in this sensory overload of a city is the first challenge.

This guide categorizes the absolute best things to do in Fes — from essential monuments and immersive experiences to the best viewpoints and day trips.

Quick Overview: The Absolute Must-Dos

If you only have one day in Fes, prioritize these three experiences:

Explore the Bou Inania Madrasa: The finest example of Islamic architecture accessible to non-Muslims in the city.
View the Chouara Tannery: A vibrant, pungent, and utterly unforgettable medieval leather factory.
Get Lost in Fes el-Bali: Navigating the medina without a map is an essential rite of passage.

(Need help planning? Read our complete Fes Travel Guide for itineraries and practical advice).

Top Historical Sites & Monuments

1. Admire the Bou Inania Madrasa

The ornate interior of the Bou Inania Madrasa in Fes, Morocco

What it is & Why visit: Built in 1355, this is one of the few religious buildings in Fes open to non-Muslims. It is an architectural masterpiece of carved cedar wood, intricate stucco, and precise zellij tilework.
Price: 70 MAD (~$7 USD)
Opening hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed during Friday prayer)
How long to spend: 30–45 minutes
Insider Tip: Arrive right at 9:00 AM to photograph the central courtyard before the tour groups fill the space.

2. Visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa

What it is & Why visit: A smaller but arguably more delicately ornamented madrasa located next to the Karaouine Mosque. Built in 1325, it historically housed students from the adjacent university.
Price: 20 MAD (~$2 USD)
Opening hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
How long to spend: 20–30 minutes
Insider Tip: Look for the small wooden door leading to the upper floor, where you can see the tiny, unadorned student cells—a sharp contrast to the magnificent courtyard below.

3. Marvel at the Royal Palace Gates (Dar el-Makhzen)

What it is & Why visit: The King of Morocco has a palace in every major city, and the one in Fes is spectacular. The main attraction is the seven massive, intricately crafted brass gates set against vibrant mosaic tilework.
Price: Free
Opening hours: 24/7 (exterior only)
How long to spend: 15 minutes
Insider Tip: You cannot go inside. This is purely a photo stop from the Place des Alaouites. Go in the late afternoon when the setting sun hits the brass gates, making them glow warmly.

4. See the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts

What it is & Why visit: Housed in a stunningly restored 18th-century fondouk (a traditional inn for traveling merchants), this museum showcases Morocco’s rich woodworking heritage, from musical instruments to intricately carved doors.
Price: 20 MAD (~$2 USD)
Opening hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How long to spend: 45–60 minutes
Insider Tip: The rooftop café offers a fantastic, relatively quiet view over the medina rooftops. Stop for a mint tea even if you rush through the exhibits.

5. Discover the Ruins of the Merenid Tombs

What it is & Why visit: The skeletal ruins of a 14th-century royal necropolis sitting on a hill overlooking the city. The ruins themselves are crumbling, but the panoramic view of the entire Fes medina is unparalleled.
Price: Free
Opening hours: 24/7 (best during daylight)
How long to spend: 30 minutes
Insider Tip: Walk up for sunset. The view as the city lights turn on and the call to prayer echoes from hundreds of minarets simultaneously is magical.

Immersive Fes Experiences

6. Brave the Chouara Tannery

What it is & Why visit: The most iconic sight in Fes. Hundreds of circular stone pits filled with natural dyes (saffron, poppy, indigo) where workers process leather using medieval techniques.
Price: Free (via leather shop terraces), but a tip of 10–20 MAD is customary if you don’t buy anything.
Opening hours: Daylight hours (avoid Friday afternoons)
How long to spend: 30–40 minutes
Insider Tip: The smell from the ammonia pits is very strong. Accept the fresh mint sprig offered at the entrance to hold under your nose. Read our complete Chouara Tannery guide for advice on how to navigate the intense shop pressure.

7. Get Lost in Fes el-Bali

The famous blue-tiled Bab Boujeloud gate, the main entrance to Fes el-Bali medina

What it is & Why visit: With over 9,000 alleys, Google Maps simply does not work here. Wandering aimlessly through the artisan quarters—the copper beaters, the weavers, the spice merchants—is the best way to experience the city’s pulse.
Price: Free
Opening hours: Best between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
How long to spend: A few hours
Insider Tip: When you want to get out, simply ask any shopkeeper for “Bab Boujeloud” (the main Blue Gate). Everyone knows it, and they will point you in the right direction. See our Fes Medina Navigation Guide for more survival tips.

8. Shop for Authentic Fassi Ceramics

What it is & Why visit: Fes is the center of traditional Moroccan pottery, famous for its distinct blue-and-white geometric patterns.
Price: Varies widely (negotiation required)
Opening hours: Standard shop hours (roughly 10 AM - 7 PM)
How long to spend: 1–2 hours
Insider Tip: Take a petit taxi to the Ain Nokbi district (the potters’ quarter) outside the medina. You can watch the artisans at work and buy ceramics at significantly lower prices than the tourist shops inside the medina.

9. Experience a Traditional Hammam

What it is & Why visit: A public bathhouse where Moroccans go for a deep scrub and relaxation. You can choose a local neighborhood hammam (raw, authentic, very cheap) or a luxury spa hammam in a high-end riad.
Price: 15–30 MAD for local; 400–800+ MAD for luxury spas
Opening hours: Varies (often split by gender if it’s a local facility)
How long to spend: 1.5–2 hours
Insider Tip: Bring your own black soap (savon noir) and scrubbing mitt (kessa) if going to a local hammam; you can buy these cheaply in the souks beforehand.

10. Take a Moroccan Cooking Class

What it is & Why visit: Learn to make a proper chicken tagine with preserved lemons, or a complex pastilla (a savory-sweet meat pie that is a Fes specialty).
Price: 400–700 MAD (~$40–70 USD)
How long to spend: 3–4 hours (often includes a market tour)
Insider Tip: Book a class that starts with shopping in the medina. Learning how locals buy produce, spices, and meat is as interesting as the cooking itself.

Best Viewpoints & Rooftops

11. Watch the Sunset from Borj Nord

What it is & Why visit: A 16th-century Saadian fortress on a hill north of the medina. It houses an arms museum, but the real draw is the sweeping aerial view of Fes el-Bali.
Price: 10 MAD
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays)
How long to spend: 45 minutes
Insider Tip: Go an hour before sunset. The changing light over the thousands of flat rooftops is spectacular.

12. Sip Mint Tea on a Medina Rooftop Café

What it is & Why visit: The medina alleys are dark and enclosed. Finding a rooftop café near Bab Boujeloud (like Café Clock or similar spots) allows you to escape the chaos, catch a breeze, and process what you’ve just seen.
Price: ~15–20 MAD for a pot of mint tea
How long to spend: 1 hour
Insider Tip: This is the perfect midday activity when the medina heat and crowds are at their peak.

Best Day Trips from Fes

13. Step Back in Time at Volubilis & Meknes

What it is & Why visit: Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco, famous for its intact floor mosaics. Combine it with Meknes, a quieter Imperial City known for its massive historical gates and granaries.
Price: Entry to Volubilis is ~70 MAD. A private taxi for the day runs ~500–700 MAD.
How long to spend: Full day trip (7–8 hours)
Insider Tip: Go in spring when the ruins of Volubilis are surrounded by blooming wildflowers.

14. Escape to the Cedar Forests of Ifrane & Azrou

What it is & Why visit: Located in the Middle Atlas mountains, Ifrane looks like a Swiss alpine village, complete with pitched red roofs. Nearby Azrou is famous for its cedar forests and the wild Barbary macaques that live there.
Price: Grand taxi or CTM bus tickets run roughly 40–60 MAD each way.
How long to spend: Half or full day
Insider Tip: This is a fantastic escape in the summer months (July/August) when Fes becomes oppressively hot, as the mountain air is significantly cooler.

15. Plan Your Trip to the Blue City

The view of Chefchaouen, a popular onward destination from Fes

What it is & Why visit: Chefchaouen is famously painted entirely in shades of blue. While it is possible to visit as a very long day trip from Fes, it is much better experienced as your next overnight destination.
Price: CTM bus is ~100 MAD; shared grand taxi is ~150 MAD.
How long to spend: 1-2 nights
Insider Tip: The bus takes about 4 hours. See our complete Fes to Chefchaouen transport guide for exact schedules and booking advice.

Practical Tips for Your Fes Itinerary

Do You Need a Guide?

For your very first day in Fes: Yes. The medina is overwhelming, and a licensed guide (bookable through your riad for ~300–500 MAD for a half-day) provides crucial historical context and helps you get your bearings. For days two and three, independent exploration is highly recommended.

How Many Days Do You Need?

Two full days is the absolute minimum to see the main sights within the medina without feeling completely rushed. Three days is optimal, allowing you to take a day trip to Volubilis and Meknes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fes better than Marrakech?

They are completely different. Marrakech is more polished, tourist-friendly, and has better nightlife and high-end dining. Fes is older, more traditional, less commercialized, and feels much more authentic. If you love deep history and raw culture, Fes is superior.

Is it safe to walk around Fes at night?

The main arteries (Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira) and the areas around Bab Boujeloud are safe and well-lit in the early evening. However, the deep residential alleys get very dark and desolate after 9:00 PM. It is best to stick to main paths or have your riad arrange a walking escort if returning late.

Can non-Muslims enter the mosques in Fes?

With very few exceptions, no. The spectacular Karaouine Mosque is closed to non-Muslims, though you can peek through the open doors. The Bou Inania Madrasa is one of the rare religious sites in Fes that non-Muslims can fully enter and explore.

Conclusion

Fes is a city that requires energy. You will likely get lost, you will have to negotiate firmly, and you will be overwhelmed by the sights and smells of the medina. But if you embrace the chaos, Fes offers an unbroken link to the medieval Islamic world that simply does not exist anywhere else.

Use this list to prioritize your days, but leave plenty of time for the most important activity of all: sitting at a café near Bab Boujeloud with a mint tea, watching the city go by.