Riad Alassala Fes
Fès, ma
9.41,103 reviews
US$46
per night
About Fes
Fes (Fès el-Bali) is Morocco's imperial and spiritual heart — a UNESCO-listed 9th-century medina of 9,000+ derbs (alleys), the world's oldest continuously operating university (Al-Qarawiyyin, 859 CE), the Chouara tanneries, and craft guilds (zellige, brass, weaving, leather) still working out of family workshops. Base inside the medina in a restored dar or riad for full immersion; Ville Nouvelle (Art Deco French quarter) is calmer and easier by car. Fes is Morocco's crafts + gastronomy + scholarship capital — Marrakech's more contemplative, less commercial sibling.
At a glance
- UNESCO 9th-century medieval medina + Al-Qarawiyyin (world's oldest university, 859 CE) + Chouara tanneries.
- Hire a licensed guide first day (200–400 MAD half-day) — 9,000 alleys, easy to get lost.
- Base inside medina in a restored dar/riad for immersion; Ville Nouvelle for calm + easier taxis.
- ONCF train Fes ↔ Casablanca 3h30; Al Boraq high-speed reaches Tangier 1h55 (Marrakech extension coming).
- Currency MAD (dirham, closed); Type C/E 220V plugs; drink bottled water.
Featured stays in Fes — live rates
Prices are live from our licensed booking partner and may change.
MIA Urban Fès
Fès, ma
8.01,698 reviews
US$47
per night
Ibis Fes
Fès, ma
7.43,378 reviews
US$55
per night
Hôtel Royal Urban Concept
Fès, ma
9.02,337 reviews
US$57
per night
Riad El Ouedghiri
Fès, ma
9.6597 reviews
US$60
per night
Hôtel Volubilis
Fès, ma
7.37,084 reviews
US$67
per night
Riad Braya
Fès, ma
9.4312 reviews
US$74
per night
Riad Al Makan Fes & Spa
Fès, ma
9.02,099 reviews
US$74
per night
When to visit
March–May and September–November are ideal (18–26°C, clear skies) — perfect for medina walks and Middle Atlas day trips (Ifrane, Azrou cedar forest, Volubilis + Meknès). June–August tops 35°C but medina alleys stay shaded; December–February is cool (5–15°C) with occasional rain — pack layers for stone-cold riads. Sacred Music Festival (early June) is a bucket-list cultural event; book 3+ months ahead.
Getting around
Fes el-Bali is entirely pedestrian — no cars inside the medina walls. Hire a licensed guide (200–400 MAD half-day, ask your riad) for the first day; the medina has 9,000 alleys and even locals get lost. Petit taxis (red) run in Ville Nouvelle and to medina gates (Bab Boujloud, Bab R'cif) — agree fare or ask for the meter (typically 15–30 MAD). Grand taxis (beige) go inter-city. Fes airport (FEZ) is 15 km, 20 min taxi 150 MAD daytime / 200 MAD night.
Where to stay
Fes el-Bali (medina)
UNESCO 9th-century medina — riads Palais Amani, Riad Fes Relais & Châteaux, Riad Laaroussa, Karawan Riad, Palais Faraj.
Fes el-Jdid
13th-century royal quarter — Mellah (Jewish quarter), Royal Palace gates, quieter than Bali.
Ville Nouvelle
French colonial Art Deco quarter — modern hotels, cafés, restaurants, easier car access. Hôtel Sahrai (design flagship), Ramada Fes.
Fès-Saïss + Route Immouzer
Suburban resorts + villas with pool + Atlas views 10–15 min from centre.
Your Marhaba Trip Plan
Fes at a glance
- Recommended trip
- 3–5 days
- Best time to visit
- March–May and September–November are ideal (18–26°C, clear skies) — perfect for medina walks and Middle Atlas day trips (Ifrane, Azrou cedar forest, Volubilis + Meknès).
- Getting around
- Fes el-Bali is entirely pedestrian — no cars inside the medina walls.
- Recommended areas
- Fes el-Bali (medina) · Fes el-Jdid · Ville Nouvelle
Top experiences
- Al-Qarawiyyin University + Mosque — Founded 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri — world's oldest continuously operating university (UNESCO).
- Bou Inania Madrasa — 14th-century Marinid theological school — the medina's most exquisite zellige + carved cedar.
- Chouara Tanneries — 12th-century leather tanneries — view free from surrounding leather shops (mint sprig for the smell).
- Attarine Madrasa + Nejjarine Fondouk — Marinid madrasa + wood museum in a restored caravanserai — quiet counterpoint to the souks.
Do I need a visa for Fes?
- Policy
- Visa-free
- Typical stay
- 90 days
Visa-free 90 days for US/UK/EU/Canada/Australia/NZ/Japan/Gulf states + 70+ nationalities. Passport valid 6+ months. Others via e-visa (acces-maroc.ma).
Official government sourceHow do I get to Fes?
Airports
- FEZ · Fès-Saïss · 15 km
20 min taxi 150 MAD daytime / 200 MAD 9pm–6am; riad transfer 200–300 MAD with medina porter (essential — cars can't reach riads).
By rail
ONCF train Fes ↔ Casablanca 3h30 130 MAD; Fes ↔ Marrakech 6h30 200 MAD (via Casablanca).
Cash MAD is closed currency — withdraw on arrival at FEZ ATM (BMCE, Attijariwafa).
How do I get around Fes?
- Walking — Fes el-Bali entirely pedestrian — no cars inside medina walls.
- Licensed guide — 200–400 MAD half-day via riad — essential first day for medina orientation.
- Petit taxi (red) — Ville Nouvelle + medina gates — agree fare or ask for meter (15–30 MAD typical).
- Grand taxi (beige) — Inter-city shared — to Meknès 40 MAD, Chefchaouen 100 MAD (or private for 6x).
Passes & tickets
No integrated transit pass — Fes is small enough that walking + occasional petit taxi covers everything.
Book a riad that offers airport pickup + medina porter — luggage-dragging over 9,000 alleys is brutal.
What should I eat and know about food culture in Fes?
Signature dishes
- Pastilla — Fes' signature — sweet-savoury pigeon (or chicken) pie in phyllo with almonds + cinnamon sugar. Try Dar Roumana or Palais Amani.
- Fassi tagine — Lamb with prunes + almonds + honey — Fes' imperial gastronomic signature.
- Harira — Tomato-lentil-chickpea soup — Ramadan iftar essential, served year-round from 15 MAD stalls.
Etiquette
- Ramadan sunrise-sunset: many restaurants closed until iftar — eat at hotel or grab pastries before sunset.
- Al-Qarawiyyin + working mosques: non-Muslims cannot enter; view exteriors + peer through open doors only.
- Bargaining expected in souks — start at 30% of asking, meet at 50–60%. Coffee shops + restaurants fixed price.
Bottled water only. Mint tea (atay) is the national ritual — accept when offered. Alcohol only in international hotels + licensed restaurants (rare in medina).
Is Fes safe for travelers?
Overall risk: LowEmergency: 19
- Very safe — Morocco one of Africa's safest destinations; tourist brigade patrols medina.
- Faux-guides + aggressive shop touts are the main annoyance not danger — firm 'la, shukran' works.
- Solo female travellers: expect attention; modest dress (shoulders + knees) reduces catcalls significantly.
- Don't accept unsolicited 'shortcuts' or 'help' — leads to shop for commission or lost in medina.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Morocco?
No visa for US/UK/EU/Canada/Australia/NZ/Japan/Gulf states and 70+ nationalities up to 90 days on arrival. Passport must be valid 6+ months. Others apply via Moroccan consulate or e-visa (acces-maroc.ma). Land borders with Algeria closed; Ceuta/Melilla enclaves separate.
How many days should I plan in Fes?
Two full days minimum — one for guided medina + tanneries + Bou Inania Madrasa, one for Al-Qarawiyzine + Attarine Madrasa + craft workshops + Mellah. Three lets you add Volubilis Roman ruins + Meknès day trip (60 km, 1h). Four adds Middle Atlas (Ifrane + Azrou cedar forest + Barbary macaques). Fes is Marhaba's slowest-pace Morocco city — resist the urge to blitz.
How do I combine Fes with Marrakech and the Sahara?
Marhaba's imperial + desert flagship: Fes 3 nights → Middle Atlas + Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) 2 nights via private driver 8h → Sahara camel + luxury camp 1 night → Ouarzazate + Aït Benhaddou 1 night → Marrakech 3 nights via High Atlas + Tizi n'Tichka pass. Total 10 nights. ONCF train Fes ↔ Casablanca 3h30 → Marrakech 3h30 is the budget alternative. Al Boraq high-speed reaches Tangier 1h55; Marrakech extension coming.
How do I handle the Fes medina without getting scammed?
Book a licensed guide through your riad first day (200–400 MAD half-day) — clarifies the maze + insulates from faux-guides. Ignore boys offering directions (they lead to a shop for commission); politely refuse cooperatives claiming '10 min only' (they're 45-min hard sells). Buy leather + rugs only after your guide's shop or with confidence in bargaining (start at 30% of asking). Chouara tannery viewing is free from surrounding leather shops — a mint sprig helps the smell.
Is Fes good for families?
Yes for age 8+ with pacing — younger children find the medina overwhelming (crowded, sensory). Kids love the tanneries (from above), donkey traffic, mint tea rituals, tagine cooking classes (Riad Laaroussa + Palais Amani offer half-day classes), and Middle Atlas Barbary macaques at Cèdre Gouraud. Family riads with pools: Palais Amani, Palais Faraj, Riad Fes. Ville Nouvelle hotels (Sahrai, Ramada) offer larger rooms + pools if the medina feels intense.
What's the best luxury stay in Fes?
Riad Fes Relais & Châteaux (medina flagship — Andalusi mansion, pool, spa), Palais Amani (medina — Art Deco palace + Andalusi garden, hammam), Karawan Riad (medina — Aga Khan Award-winning restoration), Palais Faraj (medina cliff-edge — panoramic terrace + spa), Hôtel Sahrai (Ville Nouvelle — design flagship, Givenchy spa, panoramic pool). Palais Amani + Riad Fes both offer private hammam + Sacred Music Festival packages.
How do I get from FEZ airport to my hotel?
Fès-Saïss (FEZ) 15 km south — petit taxi (red) 150 MAD daytime / 200 MAD 9pm–6am (agree fare in advance). Most riads offer transfer 200–300 MAD including medina porter (essential — cars can't reach riad doors). Bus 16 runs to Ville Nouvelle 4 MAD (30 min) but not practical with luggage. No train link.
Is Fes safe for tourists?
Very safe — Morocco is one of Africa's safest destinations, and Fes' medina is heavily policed with tourist brigade. Petty scams (faux-guides, aggressive shop touts) are the main annoyance not danger. Solo female travellers welcomed but expect attention — modest dress (shoulders + knees covered) reduces catcalls significantly. Don't accept unsolicited 'help' or 'shortcuts.' Emergency 19 (police) / 15 (ambulance). Ramadan afternoons quieter but many restaurants closed until sunset iftar.
You may also like
More ways to extend or combine your Fes trip.
Fes ↔ Marrakech ↔ Sahara flagship
Marhaba's 10-night imperial + desert signature — Fes 3 + Middle Atlas 1 + Sahara 2 + Aït Benhaddou 1 + Marrakech 3 via private driver.
Fes ↔ Chefchaouen Andalusi loop
Fes 3 nights + private driver 4h Rif road + Chefchaouen 2 nights — Morocco's most contemplative pairing.
Morocco ↔ Cairo ancient civilizations
Al-Qarawiyyin scholarship + Al-Azhar (Cairo) — two oldest Islamic universities. Royal Air Maroc + EgyptAir 6h30 via CMN. Marhaba's 10-night North Africa heritage flagship.
Fes ↔ Andalucía heritage bridge
Alhambra + Al-Qarawiyyin — twin capitals of Andalusi civilisation. Fly CMN ↔ Seville 2h30 or via Madrid.
