Fez or Fes is a city in northern Morocco and is one of the 4 imperial cities. Although today this city is not the capital of Morocco, it is considered one of the most important and has been chosen by various dynasties and kingdoms as its capital. It is considered the capital of Islam in Morocco and is a city with a lot of history. Its Medina: Fes el Bali is considered the largest in the world and due to its importance it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
How to move around the city
Moving around Fez can be tricky as in all of Morocco, if you decide to take taxis remember that the meter does not exist here and I would recommend agreeing a fare with the driver before entering the car.
From the moment you arrive to the city, you must make decisions, most likely you will arrive at the airport (this was my case) or the bus terminal. At the airport you will have to choose whether to take a bus or taxi as it is 15 km from the city.
- Bus: This was our intention because it is cheap but when we arrived, we were told that the buses were providing service taking the students home and it will take them a long time to resume service. Its cost is 4 MAD (0.40 USD) and you must take line 16 that takes you to the central station from where you must take a Petit Taxi to your accommodation.
- Taxi: Not being able to take the bus, we decided that we were going to take a taxi, while we waited for the bus, we met a Spanish couple who was going to a hostel near ours, so we decided to share the taxi. From the airport to Fes el Bali, you should be charged between 180-200 MAD (18-20 USD)
Once inside Fes el Bali, my recommendation is to walk !!! In general, the Medinas are for pedestrians and almost all places can be reached with “ease” (you will get lost in the Medina but you will love it). You could take some public transport to get closer to the places, but inside the Medina, where almost al the sightseeing occurs you can’t go with a car.
What to do in the city
Fes el Bali
As I mentioned before, Fes el Bali is considered the largest Median in the world and a World Heritage Site so there is much to do and visit. The best thing you can do touring this is to get lost. Don’t worry about where you are going, the Medina is safe and walking through all its corners will bring you spectacular surprises. Walking through its small streets you will reach the vast majority of the following places.
Blue Gate o Bab Bou Jeleoud
It is one of the entrances to Fes el Bali and is the most famous. It is an impressive door with very beautiful blue tiles. Although everyone believes that it is a very old door, it was built at the beginning of the 20th century and it is the entrance that will take you through history. It is surrounded by small cafes and shops where the beginning of the Medina begins.
Al-Karaouine
When you travel to Morocco you must take into account that it is not possible to enter the mosques if you do not belong to the Muslim religion (tourists are only allowed to enter in Casablanca). Like mosques, there are many buildings with these restrictions and this was one of the biggest disappointments. Al-Karaouine is a mosque and the oldest university in the world but sadly you will have to observe it from outside through its doors.
Chouara Tannery
Fez is famous for its leathers and visiting the tanneries of the city is something very interesting you should do. From the terraces that surround the Chouara tannery, you will be able to observe how the artisans work to treat and give color to the different skins for the elaboration of their articles. Many people around you will offer to enter and although there is not a set price for the entrance, make a deal with them before entering. Some terraces also charge to enter or you must buy some article from them. Before you go inside, I recommend you ask for enough mint leaves as the smell is very strong, many people get dizzy.
Andalusian Mosque
Located in the Andaluz neighborhood, one of the largest, most beautiful and oldest mosques in the city. Like Al-Karaouine, you cannot enter, but observing this place of worship is beautiful.
JJnan Sbil Gardens
A perfect place to get out and rest from the city. A 5 minute walk from Bar Bou Jeleoud, you will find this incredible park. Formerly it belonged to the royal palace and were for the exclusive use of the King but they have already been opened to the public.
Watching the sunset at Borj Nord
If you decide to leave Fes el Bali, this is a great option. Located north of the Medina, on this mountain you can see how the colors of the sunset paint the city. I recommend walking because it is not far away and you can enjoy the streets of the city. Right next to Borj Nord, the ancient Marinid Tombs remain, a beautiful place that you can visit.
Accommodation
My recommendation is that you look for accommodation within Fes al Bali because this is where everything happens and you will enjoy the true Morocco. Throughout the Medina you will find many accommodations of all kinds. There are the Riad and the Dar, which are hotels with a central garden and the rooms next to them. In our case, we decided to look for a hostel because we were going to experience the Riad in other cities and we found Funky Fez, a great place to stay with breakfast included and a good atmosphere.
You have to understand that Morocco is a Muslim country and for this same reason, the cultures are very different from what you may be used to. When I speak of a good atmosphere, it means it is quiet, a place where you can make several friends. It is difficult to find party places and where you can get alcohol especially inside Fes al Bali.
Where to eat
Get ready to try a meal with a lot of flavor and different from what you are used to. Morocco is a country with very good food if you open your mouth and discover these incredible flavors. I warn you before, one of the pictures below may be impressive but it caught my attention. I love trying new dishes and when I saw this I knew I had to try it. If you feel like it and have the opportunity, tell me in the comments how you found the camel meat!
- Cafe Clock: A great restaurant where you can eat a good Tajine and various traditional dishes while enjoying the view of the terrace or some Moroccan music. Something wonderful is that they accept card.
- Snack Malak: Close to the hostel where we stayed, you can find this small place with cheap food. It is a good place to eat something and continue with your tour around the Medina.
- Churchill Lounge: If you can no longer stand whith out a cold beer and a good place to smoke shisha, this hidden bar in the Batha hotel was the cheapest and best-service place we found to have a good beer.
- Fes al Bali: Throughout the Medina you will find small restaurants with typical food. Near the Blue Gate, you will find several although they will charge you more for being a tourist. I invite you to look for small local restaurants, all the food is wonderful.
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