Essential Fes Travel Guide: What to See & Do

Fes is a city of contrasts, where centuries-old traditions exist alongside modern Moroccan life. Often regarded as Morocco’s cultural and spiritual center, it brings together a historic medina, lively craft quarters, religious monuments, and the spacious avenues of the Ville Nouvelle.

Explore Fes el-Bali, the Historic Medina

At the heart of any Fes travel guide is Fes el-Bali, the UNESCO-listed old city founded in the ninth century. The medina is entered through the famous blue-tiled Bab Boujloud and contains thousands of narrow lanes, forming one of the world’s largest pedestrian urban areas.

Its winding streets lead past mosques, Quranic schools, markets, hammams, workshops, and historic courtyards. Exploring the medina offers an insight into the city’s religious, commercial, and everyday life.

Discover Fes’ Traditional Crafts

Fes’ heritage is especially visible in its working craft traditions. Leather is still processed at the Chouara Tannery, while artisans create zellij tiles, carved wood, metalwork, textiles, and ceramics using techniques passed down through generations.

The University of al-Qarawiyyin, traditional madrasas such as Bou Inania, the Nejjarine Museum, and the busy markets around Seffarine and R’cif show how faith, education, and commerce have long been interconnected in Fes.

Experience the Ville Nouvelle

Fes also has a quieter and more spacious side. Built during the French colonial period, the Ville Nouvelle features broad streets, gardens, cafés, public squares, and Avenue Hassan II.

This modern district provides a striking contrast to the dense historic quarters of the medina while reflecting the city’s continuing evolution.

What to See and Experience in Fes

For travelers wondering what to see in Fes, the city is about more than checking landmarks off a list. Its character comes from the experience of moving through its historic streets, encountering aromatic food, intricate craftsmanship, Islamic architecture, and everyday life unfolding around every corner.

Fes can feel intense, but that energy is precisely what makes it one of Morocco’s most memorable destinations.