Fes el-Bali medina
Walk the Talaa Kebira from Bab Boujloud down through the souks to the Karaouine — the world's oldest continuously operating university (859 AD).
Rabat, MoroccoConcierge · 7 Days · 9–21H GMT+1
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Fes, Morocco
The world's largest car-free medieval city — Morocco's spiritual capital to Rabat's political one.
Best time
April–May and September–October
Recommended
2–3 days
Airport
Fès-Saïs (FEZ)
Region
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Why Fes
If Rabat is Morocco's administrative capital, Fes is its spiritual one — and the two are linked directly by train, roughly two and a half hours apart, which makes Fes the natural deep-history companion to a Rabat base. Founded in 789 AD by Idris II (whose father, Idris I, lies enshrined at Moulay Idriss near Meknes on the same route), Fes is the oldest of the four imperial cities and home to Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina of more than 9,000 alleys with no cars and barely any motorbikes. It is where Morocco's craft traditions are still practiced daily — tanneries, brass-beating, weaving and the bookbinders of the Karaouine. Where Rabat's medina is gentle and walkable in an afternoon, Fes demands slow days, a historian and a restored riad inside the walls.
What to see
Highlights of Fes.
Chouara tanneries
The famous pigment vats viewed from a leather shop terrace. Best in the morning when the light hits the pits.
Medersa Bou Inania & el-Attarine
Two 14th-century Marinid madrasas with carved cedar, stucco and zellige at its finest.
Volubilis & Meknes
A perfect day trip: Roman mosaics at Volubilis, then lunch and the imperial gates of Meknes.
Pottery quarter & blue gates
Watch the cobalt-and-white Fassi ceramics being thrown, glazed and fired across the river from the medina.
Itineraries
2 tours that visit Fes.
Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Fes. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.
1 daysMost booked day tripDay trips
Meknes & Volubilis — UNESCO Day Trip
A full private day east of Rabat to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the imperial city of Meknes — Bab Mansour, the granaries and stables of Moulay Ismail — and Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with its mosaics and triumphal arch.
from $195view →
1 daysDay trips
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun & Volubilis
A full day to the whitewashed hill-town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun — one of the holiest places in Morocco, burial place of the founder of the first Moroccan dynasty — paired with the Roman ruins of Volubilis just below.
from $190view →
Before you go
Practical notes.
- Getting there: Fly into FEZ, or 4h drive from Tangier, 7h from Marrakech
- Where to stay: Inside the medina in a restored dar or riad
- Dress code: Respectful — shoulders and knees covered near religious sites
Concierge
Have your Fes trip designed by a local
Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.
Request a proposalFAQ
Fes — common questions.
How do I get from Rabat to Fes?+
The simplest way is by train — the capital and Fes are linked directly, roughly two and a half hours apart, which makes Fes an easy two- or three-night addition to a Rabat-based trip. A private transfer can take in Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis on the way.
Do I need a guide for the Fes medina?+
Strongly recommended for at least the first day. Fes el-Bali is far denser than Rabat's gentle medina — without a guide you will get lost, which is part of its charm but also costs you the context of nine centuries of history.
Is Fes worth visiting after the calm of Rabat?+
Very much so — they are deliberate opposites. Rabat is open, green and unhurried; Fes is dense, ancient, deeply religious and still a living medieval city. Pairing the two gives the full sweep of imperial Morocco, from administrative capital to spiritual heart.
Closest destinations
Pair Fes with.
These destinations are closest to Fes — easily combined on a private itinerary.
51 kmNorthern Morocco · Meknès-Tafilalet
Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
Within day-trip reach of the capital, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss form Morocco's most layered day — Roman mosaics whose olive port became Rabat itself.
Explore53 kmImperial city · Northern Morocco
Meknes
The quiet imperial city of Moulay Ismail — monumental gates, vast granaries and Roman Volubilis next door.
Explore
57 kmMiddle Atlas · Ifrane Province
Ifrane
An easy detour off the capital-to-Fes line, Ifrane is Morocco's 'Little Switzerland' — alpine chalets, cedar forest, snow and wild Barbary macaques.
ExploreRead more
From the journal.
Travel notes and practical guides to plan your time around Fes.