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The old walled Fes medina is a labyrinth of narrow streets and dead ends like nowhere else. The former capital of modern Morocco, Fes is the country’s second-largest city. As one of the world’s largest pedestrian zones, the Fes medina is one of those places that people either love or hate. Its a place to wander, to get lost, and to discover. It’s an overload of colours, patterns, sounds, and unknown aromas creating endless things to do in Fes.

Then there is modern Fes, outside the old medina offering a completely different feel and list of things to do in Fes. We liked Fes so much, we went back for a second visit.

Things to Do in Fes: Explore the Old Medina

Let me take you on a photo exploration of the 1300-year-old Fes Medina, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Bab Boujeloud, the Blue Gate at the entrance to the Fes Medina in Morocco
Bab Boujeloud, the French-made Blue Gate, is the largest and most famous entrance to the Fes Medina. The cars in the photo indicate that I am standing outside the medina. The other side of the gate is green.

• Chouara Tannery

Chouara Tannery was built in the 11th century and is the largest of three tanneries in Fes. Here, the leather processing techniques are unchanged for a thousand years and utilise pigeon droppings, limestone, and other natural materials. It is best seen from above, as at ground level the stench is overwhelming. If you hold a mint leaf under your nose, it will help dissipate the smell.

Chouara Tannery in Morocco
One of the more interesting places we visited was Chouara Tannery.
Fes Tannery in Morocco
A closer look at this Fes tannery, and we can see the skill that has been passed down since the 11th century.

• Looking Closely at the Detail in Craft and Architecture is one of the Fascinating Things to Do in Fes

intricate carvings
My best advice is to look up. Some of the intricate carvings are incredible.
Craftsmanship in Fes Morocco
The Souk of the Carpenters is a cultural exploration filled with fascinating and talented artisans, whose skills have been passed down through the ages.
Visting Medersa al-Attarine is one of the many things to do in Fes
Medersa al-Attarine is nearly 1000 years old and open to non-Muslims. In contrast, the Andalusia Mosque, the Karaouine Mosque, and the entrance to the tomb of Moulay Idris are each intricately detailed, however, each of these is open only to Muslims.
Old buildings in the Fes Medina
Wandering the maze of alleyways, we found this building being held up by its neighbour.

• Shopping or just looking is one of the main things to do in Fes Medina

Plenty of shopping opportunities in the Fes Medina
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in the medina. Remember to barter for the price. It’s a way of life, not an insult to your craftsman.

• Trying New Flavours

The aromas attracted us, but it was trying the new flavours that is one of my favourite things to do in Fes. Whether it be barbeque or sweets, we bravely tried most of it. We even had a camel burger in Marrakech.

Our favourite place for dinner was Chez Rashid’s (not pictured here), a restaurant near the blue gate that was recommended to us. Learn from our mistake, even though the tables are out, if their metal shutters are down, the restaurant is not open, regardless of what a server tells you. I am not sure who served us our dinner that night, but it wasn’t up to standard.

Street vendors in Fes Morocco
The aroma of barbeque lured us to this street vendor on one of the narrow streets of the old medina.
Food in the Fes Medina
More often than not we saw foods for sale that we couldn’t identify. This is smen, a salted and fermented butter.
Chickens for sale in the Fes Medina, Morocco
When they say fresh chicken for dinner, they are not kidding.

• Gather with Friends

Every evening at dusk 100s of birds took flight from this section of the Fes Medina in Morocco.
Every evening at dusk 100s of birds took flight from this section of the medina.
Crowd in Fes Morocco
We are not sure what this crowd of men was doing, but we think it was a storyteller like we saw in Marrakesh.
Inside a home in Morocco
A new friend invited into this home for a cup of mint tea. It wasn’t until after a month in Morocco that we learned there is up to six teaspoons of sugar in a cup of mint tea – no wonder it was so good!

• Animals work too

Animals in the Fes Medina
We quickly got used to sharing our walking space with the working animals in the medina.

More Things to Do in Fes Medina

  • Visit the Palace Nejjarine, its beautiful fountain, and the Nejjarine Museum of Wood.
  • Take a local’s hammam bath. We opted to do this rather than the tourist hammam, and it was quite the experience.
  • Also in the medina is the University of Al Quaraouiyine. Founded in 859AD, it is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.
  • We were lucky enough to arrive for the huge Moussem Moulay Idriss festival.
  • If you don’t want to miss anything, take a tour.

Things to Do in Fes Outside of the Old Medina

The Royal Palace of Fes Morocco
The Royal Palace Fes. There is a palace in each of the Imperial cities.
Jardin Jnan Sbil - a peaceful break, a favourite amongst the things to do in Fes Morocco
Jardin Jnan Sbil is a quiet and peaceful retreat, an escape from the chaos, crowds, and vendors that fill the old medina.
Man carrying 100s of empty water bottles.
Outside the medina, we saw this man carrying empty water bottles.
Rooftop view of Fes Morocco
A rooftop lunch offered us this view of the city.

More Things to Do in Fes Outside the Medina:

  • Visit the district of the potters, Ain Nokbi.
  • Take a walk through the narrow streets of the Mellah, the old Jewish Quarter.
  • Stroll through the 14th-century Merenid Tombs (we didn’t go here).

Things to do in Fes: Day Trips

Three popular day trips from Fes are Meknes, Volubilis, and Moulay Idriss Each has their own distinctive personality. We opted to stay in Meknes for a couple of nights and visit the other two destinations from there.

Where to Stay in Fes

We stayed at  Riad Al Atik in the old medina both time we visited Fes. The attention to every detail, exotic and delicious food (be sure to try the homemade ice cream), and a friendly atmosphere make this traditional riad the ideal place to stay on any visit to Fes. And in traditional style, it’s not much until you enter. Then it opens with a beautiful courtyard, Moroccan doors, and Moorish archways.

⇒ Click here to check availability at Riad Al Atik

 

Alleyway leading to Riad Al Atik in the Fes Medina
This dead end is the alleyway that leads to where we were staying. Like many old homes here, Riad al Atik is magnificent inside despite the plain exterior.
Henna in Fes Morooco
One of the women who works at the riad also does wedding henna. Our girls were very lucky to have her do theirs.

General Tips and Practical Information on Visiting Fes

  • Many visitors get lost in the old medina. Before you hire a guide to find the exit, try walking uphill. Most of the medina alleyways head downhill to the centre.
  • Take caution when drinking water. Always ask if it is safe for you to drink (the Moroccan’s grew up on it, and they can drink it without a problem). Also, if you buy bottled water, be sure you receive unopened bottles, rather than refilled.
  • Carry toilet paper with you.
  • If you are outside of the medina, ask at your hotel or Riad how much the taxi should cost and don’t pay more – negotiate before you get in. 

Have you been to Fes? Does the contrast between the old Fes Medina, and the new sections surprise you?

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The 1300 year old walled Fes Medina is a place to wander, to get lost, and to discover. It is one of the world's largest pedestrian zones. Read the article for more photos.

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Comments

  2. I love Morocco! So beautiful country, great food and interesting people. I enjoyed my time in Rabat and Marrakech. I think the next destination will be Fes 🙂

    Reply

  3. Rhonda, we always enjoy your photos, but never more than when you’re someplace we’ve been dreaming of visiting. These are fantastic pictures, and makes us want to speed up our timeline to Morocco!

    Reply

  4. I love love checking out your photo stories. It’s a visual treat every time, and this is no different! Fes looks amazing. I love markets and would want to head there for sure.

    Reply

  5. Some friends of mine visited Fes and they really loved it, so I’ve been wanting to visit it since then. I think I’d spend the whole time staring at the walls and carvings. The detail is so amazing!

    Reply

  6. I would love to visit Fes – it seems like it’s one of the last really authentic, exotic places left in the world – your girls look so great with their Henna! I’ve seen photos of Chouara Tannery and it looks really interesting, though thanks for the tip on looking down from above! And for the tip to look up as you’re wandering around the medina’s – some of those buildings are so beautiful and intricate!

    Reply

  9. What a beautiful place I have never been to Morocco but it sure is on my list of places I want to go! I love the pictures and the tannery looks like a really
    great place to see in person.

    Reply

  11. Wonderful wonderful photos! I really love the one of the barbeque with the light filtering though the smoke. I’ve saved this post because I am dying to go to Morocco and need lots of tips!

    Reply

  13. How exciting. I would like to visit Fes. The blue house of your new friend looks gorgeous. My favourite photo is of the birds swarming at night in the medina.

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  16. Very close to how Egypt is. Funny story about why the roosters sit on the tops of the cages, basically free to fly away. Their hens are kept inside the cages and the roosters won’t leave them. It’s their harem and they stay close to protect them from other roosters. They aren’t very successful at protecting them from being eaten for dinner though!

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  17. No I haven’t been to Morocco but my husband was there in the late 1970s. Aah I could see myself sipping mint tea in your friend’s home in Fes. There is always a huge contrast between old and new, but I always find the old has much more character.

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  21. Aww I love the photos in this post. I was in Fes and other parts of Morocco 2 years ago. This brings me right back. And I suddenly remembered the smell of Chouara Tannery hahaa. That was something! 🙂

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  22. Your photos are beautiful Rhonda! I really like the atmosphere you’ve captured int he shot of the barbecue in the archway. I’m also pretty sure I have a photo of that same copper worker, beating on his copper bowls! #wkendtravelinspiration

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    • That BBQ archway shot is my favourite from Fes. As for the artisans, they are so talented, and I imagine they sit there day after day working their craft. Cool that we both chose the same guy to photograph.

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  23. Your photos are really stunning, you’re very talented. I feel like I was there! I actually love the contrast and it’s one of the reasons Morocco is so high on my list! Thanks for sharing and happy travels 🙂

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  24. Hi Rhonda – what a fascinating journey – the different souks, the smen … I’d never heard of – even though I used to make couscous… is a fascinating ‘butter’ to learn about … and how amazing to be able to look down on the tannery … they do smell … we’re lucky that we live in such sanitized places … but I’d love to visit there – and stay in your ‘hotel’ that I can’t find now … but it looked stunning … and to experience the hamman … such a great place to see … and to have some rooftop views … glorious … cheers Hilary

    Reply

  25. It must have been interesting visiting the tannery. Did it smell bad? I’ve heard the smell is unbearable around the tanneries. Morocco surely looks like a great place to visit. Your photos prove that.

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    • Yes, it was shockingly stinky. The mint leaves help, a bit. However, it is so fascinating, that I could ignore the stench. My vegetarian daughter didn’t do so well here.

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  30. Rhonda, I am blown away by your pictures! The devil is in the details and I love all those details you have capture. I would like to get lost on that medina and discover at my own pace. And, I would like to get my henna tattoos too!. #TPThursday

    Reply

    • Thanks. As for the Henna, take caution as to where you get it done. I can’t remember the details, but we were warned that some of the street vendor henna artists don’t use the same standard of henna.

      Reply

  32. I think I may have mentioned before when you showed photos of these type places, I can’t seem to even think about going into countries and places like theses. I just feel scared even thinking about it. I give you a lot of power going there. I guess I’m just frightened. Thanks to you, a scared person like me can see places like this by a strong person like you Rhonda. Thanks for allowing me to see Morocco from your eyes.

    Cruisin Paul

    Reply

    • Glad I can share this with you. You got me curious, so I looked it up. For violent crimes, you are 29 times more likely to get murdered in the USA and similarly 6 times more likely to get raped than in Morocco. However, the overall crime rate is higher in Morocco.

      Reply

  33. Wow! What interesting and amazing photos, like the one where one building was holding up another. EEEK! You must have had a difficult time narrowing down what photos you would use for this blog but you did well and gave a real feel for the place. What a wonderful experience for your children.

    Reply

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