Fes

Fes is safe for tourists, though it requires a little more awareness than smaller Moroccan cities. The medina is vast and easy to get lost in, and unofficial guides sometimes approach visitors at the entrance gates. Using a licensed guide for your first day in the medina is strongly recommended — it removes the stress of navigation and provides valuable context to what you're seeing. The main tourist areas are well-patrolled and visitor-friendly.

Three to four days is the ideal amount of time to spend in Fes. The first day covers the highlights of Fes el-Bali — the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara tanneries, and the Al-Attarine souks. A second day allows for a deeper exploration of the medina's quieter quarters and a visit to the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter. A third day is perfect for a day trip to Volubilis and Meknes, two of Morocco's most impressive historical sites.

The best time to visit Fes is between March and May or September and November, when temperatures are comfortable for walking the medina on foot. Summer in Fes can be intensely hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 38°C (100°F) in July and August, making exploration uncomfortable. Spring brings pleasant warmth and occasional wildflowers in the surrounding countryside, while autumn offers golden light and fewer crowds than the peak summer season.

Staying inside Fes el-Bali, the ancient medina, is the most immersive and recommended experience. The city's riads are concentrated within the medina walls and offer a tranquil retreat from the intensity of the streets outside. The area around Bab Boujloud, the ornate blue gate marking the western entrance to the medina, is particularly convenient for sights and restaurants. Fes el-Jdid, the newer medieval quarter, and the Ville Nouvelle are better suited for travelers who prefer modern hotels and easier transport access.

Fes is one of Morocco's more affordable imperial cities. Budget travelers can get by on $40–$60 USD per day, covering a guesthouse or budget riad, street food and local restaurant meals, and entrance fees to the medersas. Mid-range travelers typically spend $90–$150 USD per day, including a comfortable riad with breakfast, guided medina tours, and sit-down dining. A licensed guide for a full day in the medina costs approximately $30–$50 USD and is considered essential value by most visitors.

Fes is best known for its extraordinary medieval medina, Fes el-Bali, one of the best-preserved historic city centres in the Arab world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is equally celebrated for the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 AD and recognised as the world's oldest continuously operating university, and for the Chouara tanneries, where leather has been dyed and processed using traditional methods for over a millennium. Fes is also the home of Fassi cuisine, widely regarded as the most refined and complex of all Moroccan culinary traditions.