Flights to Fes

From Fes-Saiss to the medina

Petit taxis are not allowed to leave the city, so grand taxis carry most passengers into Fes for a fixed fare, taking 20 to 30 minutes. Cars cannot enter Fes el-Bali, the walled old city, so riads usually send someone to meet you at the nearest gate, such as Bab Bou Jeloud with its blue tiled arch. If you're travelling on, trains from Fes run to Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech.

Inside Fes el-Bali

Founded in the 9th century, Fes el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest car-free urban area in the world, with around 9,000 lanes. The University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, is often described as the oldest continuously working university. Bou Inania Madrasa has carved cedar and zellige tilework, the Chouara tannery has dyed leather in stone vats for centuries, and the coppersmiths of Seffarine Square hammer pots by hand. Above the old city, the ruined Merenid Tombs give a wide view over the rooftops at dusk.

Day trips from Fes

Volubilis, with its Roman mosaics and triumphal arch, and the imperial city of Meknes are both about an hour away and are often combined in one day. The cedar forests and Barbary macaques around Azrou and Ifrane are a similar distance south, and Chefchaouen, the blue town of the Rif Mountains, is around four hours by road.

When to book

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the medina, with days around 22 to 27°C. Summer often passes 35°C, while winter days are mild but nights fall close to freezing, so pack layers. An official local guide for your first morning makes the lanes much easier to learn, and Ramadan changes opening hours in the medina, so check before you travel.

Planning Fes with Marrakech or the desert? Call 020 7871 4545 for an open-jaw quote.