10 Best Things To Do in Fes, Morocco
I only had one night and morning to explore Fes so I didn’t get to do quite as much as I wanted, but here are some of the things I would recommend! If you can, plan for 2-3 days in Fes to have time to see everything.
1. Bab Boujloud
Also known as The Blue Gate, Bab Boujloud is made from vibrant mosaic tiles. It’s one of the main entrances into the medina. As you enter the medina the gate is blue, make sure to turn around once in the medina and check out what it looks like on the other side, it’s green! I would recommend starting your adventure through Fes here!
2. Explore the Medina
The Medina of Fes is actually the largest in the world! I visited medinas in Marrakech, Fes, & Chefchaouen and Fes’s medina was my favorite. It felt the least touristy. However, I did get haggled the most here. There are guys that say they’ll help you find places or will take you to the tannery. If you’re like me and downloaded your maps, just keep saying No and eventually they’ll leave you alone.
3. Bou Inanaia Madrasa
This is a 14th-century Islamic school located in the medina. I read that if you are in a time crunch you should choose to see Bou Inanaia Madrasa OR Al Attarine Madrasa because the architecture and tilework are pretty similar, so I chose to skip this one
4. Kissariat al-Kifah
This is a bustling covered market that’s Morocco’s version of a shopping mall. Here, merchants display everything from textiles to handcrafted goods, creating a vibrant tapestry of color, texture, and sound. I didn’t get a chance to go to the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II but this is located right next to it. It’s a sacred, high-status shrine dedicated to the city’s founder and patron saint.
5. Mosque and University of al-Qarawiyyin
This is the world’s oldest University! It was founded in 859 AD. Orginally a mosque and school, and grew into a major intellectual center focusing on Islamic law, Arabic language, and sciences. In 1963 it was integrated into Morocco’s university system. As a non-Muslim, you cannot enter but can view from an entry that a security guard sits at.
6. Al Attarine Madrasa
Another 14th-century Islamic school. It’s renowned as a masterpiece of Marinid architecture. This madrasa is pretty small so tour groups are in and out pretty quickly. I usually recommend getting to these places right when they open but I got there late morning and had the place to myself for a few minutes between groups!
7. Place Seffarine
This is a bustling, historic triangular square where you can watch traditional coppersmiths at work! It’s a loud area but fun to watch the creations of pots, trays, lanterns, and so much more!
8. Moroccan Tannery
Also known as the Chouara Tannery, this is the most famous of the 3 tanneries in Fes. You can pay to go inside the tannery or just view it from above through one of the shops patios. Tanneries smell awful so I had no desire to have a tour inside.
From my research, the places with the best views were Terrasse 10 or 64. This area of the medina is filled with people trying to “guide” you to the tannery but I promise it’s not that hard to find these spots on your own. I said no time and time again and then found Terrasse 10 and walked up to a few different levels to find a great view. They do offer mint leaves to hold up to your noise to try to mask the awful smell.
These are shops so the workers will try to sell you something but honestly I just went in pretty quick and snuck out. This was the one thing I kept reading online would be difficult to do without spending money or having to hire a guide, but as a solo female, I just put on a little RBF (resting bitch face), kept saying no, found where I needed to go and got in and out without being scammed.
9. Marinid Tombs
I did not have enough time to make it to the Marinid Tombs as they are a bit outside of where most things are in Fes, but if you have time to spare, check out these crumbling structures that were built for sultans and royalty. I read that the area also offers the best panoramic and sunset views over the medina.
10. Check out the other City Gates
There are 14 main historic gates leading into the old medina and its surrounding fortifications. I spent some time just wandering around Fes and got to see a few of the gates. This is Bab Jdid!
