Are two days enough to explore Fez? As Morocco’s spiritual capital, the city encloses the world’s largest medina within its millennia-old walls. We were captivated by this UNESCO-listed labyrinth, its centuries-old mosques, and its traditional tanneries that carry on a unique craft. A weekend allows you to focus on the highlights of the medina and its heritage without getting sidetracked.
Here’s our ideal itinerary for spending two days in Fez, complete with plenty of photos!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Practical Tips for Visiting Fes in 2 Days
What can you see in Fez in two days? Is that enough time?
In two days, you can explore the main landmarks of the medina, its artisan workshops, and its spiritual heart. We recommend focusing on the old city, as excursions to the surrounding areas are best suited for a longer stay.
Maps of must-see attractions
To help you find your way as you read our itinerary below, here is our map of the main tourist attractions in Fez:
Getting around Fez
The medina of Fez can only be explored on foot, as no vehicles are allowed inside: its maze of narrow streets is both its greatest charm and its main pitfall for unaccompanied visitors. Small red taxis or a ride-hailing service make it easy to reach the New City at affordable rates. Renting a car isn’t necessary for a weekend focused on the medina, but if you’d still like to take the opportunity to explore a bit further afield, check out the car rental options. We strongly recommend hiring an official guide for your first visit to the medina, as the complex layout of the alleys makes it difficult to find your way without local landmarks. You’ll also come across horse-drawn carriages in the city, a mode of transportation we prefer to avoid out of respect for animal welfare.
Where to Stay in Fez
WHERE TO STAY IN FES
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In Fès El-Bali (old medina)
Hotel Riad Dar Lys – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Riad Dar Laura – See prices, photos and availability
Fès El-Jdid (near the Royal Palace)
Palais Faraj Suites & Spa Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
Our Ideal Itinerary: 2 Days in Fes
We’ve designed this weekend to pack the highlights of the medina into two action-packed days: historic landmarks, traditional crafts, and panoramic views of the city follow one after another without a break.
Day 1 – 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Bab Boujloud and Al Quaraouiyine University
Start your visit at the Bab Boujloud Gate, built in 1913 during the French Protectorate. We enjoyed this colorful transition between the modern city and the medieval world, adorned with blue zellige tiles on the outside and green ones on the inside. As you walk up Talaa Kebira Street, you’ll pass the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, founded in the 9th century by Fatima Al-Fihri and considered the oldest university still in operation in the world. The interior is reserved for Muslim worshippers, but we could sense the power of its history from certain gates in the medina that offer a glimpse of its inner courtyard.
Day 1 – 2:00–4:00 p.m.: The Chouara Tannery
The afternoon is devoted to one of the most fascinating sights in the medina: the Chouara Tannery. The process, which lasts three weeks, begins with the removal of hair from the hides in lime baths before they are softened with natural ammonia. We watched the leather being dyed—poppy red, indigo blue, or saffron yellow—from the terraces of the leather goods shops. More than 250 families there have passed down this craftsmanship from generation to generation, and you’ll be given some mint to help mask the smell of ammonia while the guide explains the process. Visit the Chouara Tanneries with a local multilingual guide!
Day 1 – 4:30–6:00 p.m.: The Attarine Madrasa
End this first day with a visit to the Attarine Madrasa, built in the 14th century during the Merinid dynasty. Its refined architecture struck us as soon as we entered: colorful zellige tiles, carved cedar wood, and finely crafted stucco come together to form a structure of great precision. You’ll explore the small rooms where students from all over the kingdom once lived, as well as a central courtyard featuring a fountain that invites you to relax. Book your tour of the madrasas in Fez today. For dinner, head to the Café-Restaurant Moulay Idriss or Restaurant Le Tarbouche—both renowned for traditional Moroccan cuisine and among our top picks for dining in Fez.
Day 2 – 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II and Nejjarine Museum
We headed to the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, founder of Fez and son of Moulay Idriss I. This sacred monument impressed us with its woodwork and its doors of majestic proportions. From the outside, we admired the large prayer hall in front of the tomb, adorned with fountains and mosaics; the interior is reserved for Muslims. Continue on to the Nejjarine Museum, housed in a former 18th-century fondouk, where we were fascinated by the collection dedicated to woodworking arts and crafts—ranging from spindles from southern Morocco to customary law tablets inscribed in ink on palm wood. Its terrace tea room offers one of the most beautiful views of the medina’s rooftops, but photography is still prohibited in the exhibition halls.
Day 2 – 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Artisan souks and Fondouk Barka
Continue with a stroll through the artisans’ souks in the medina: dyers with their bright colors, merchants selling fragrant spices, and copper artisans who still hammer their work by hand make up the scene. Fes remains one of the great centers of Moroccan craftsmanship, home to workshops specializing in pottery, mosaics, zellige, and weaving. We enjoyed discovering the Fondouk Barka, a former caravanserai where artisan cooperatives display their creations—a stop that reveals the city’s creative spirit far from the most touristy shops. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of narrow streets: we recommendtaking a half-day guided tour of the Medina of Fez with a local guide.
Day 2 – 2:30–4:00 p.m.: The Tombs of the Merinids
Head to the Merinid Tombs for one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Fez and the surrounding Mount Zalagh. This ancient royal necropolis, dedicated to the Merinid dynasty that reigned from 1269 to 1465, intrigued us with its remains of the tombs of former sultans. The site consists of two parts: the first contains the ruins of a fortress, and the second is located higher up. We strongly recommend that you exercise caution: the site has no safety barriers or supervision, and the winding access road requires careful driving, especially at the end of the day.
A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE
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Day 2 – 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: Jnan Sbil Gardens and the Royal Palace
Across from the Palais Royal, we loved strolling through the Jnan Sbil Gardens! Created in the 19th century, these flowerbeds and tall trees are home to more than 3,000 plants and century-old trees, including bitter orange trees, far from the hustle and bustle of the narrow streets. Nicknamed “the lovers’ garden,” this place has a special atmosphere that we enjoyed exploring. Right across the way, the Royal Palace, known as “Dar el Makhzen,” is impressive with its 80 hectares in the Fès Jdid neighborhood: its enormous gates, framed by thousands of ceramic tiles—dominated by the blue of Fez and the green of Islam—remain visible from the park’s entrance, as the palace is not open to the public.
Day 2 – Evening: Fassian cuisine
Did you know that Fez is renowned for its cuisine, considered the most sophisticated in Morocco? Tagines with complex flavors, pastilla with pigeon and almonds, fragrant couscous, and harira soup will delight your taste buds as you wrap up the weekend. We were, of course, charmed by pastries such as kaab el-ghzal (gazelle horns) as well as khlii, meat confit in fat. The Fez-Meknes region also produces excellent wines, including the Syrah and Volubilia vintages, which we particularly enjoyed. For a gourmet dinner, head to the Gayza Restaurant at the Riad Relais & Châteaux; for a more bistronomic experience, try the Ishq Restaurant. Both are featured in our selection here.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN MOROCCO
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Not too wide
- A good engine
- For more choice, book early.
If you’d like to include more museum highlights in your itinerary, there are several places worth adding to your tour. The El Glaoui Palace, the second-largest palace in the medina, captivated us with its light-filled courtyards and its striking Art Deco room, where antique objects and works of art are on display. The Arms Museum, housed in the 16th-century Borj Tower, features one of Africa’s largest collections of weapons, with a panoramic view of the medina from Fort Borj Sud. Finally, the Batha Museum, nestled in a late 19th-century Hispano-Arabic palace, showcases a beautiful collection of Moroccan crafts in a serene Andalusian garden.
Alternative 2: with excursions
If you have an extra day or a car, Fez is an excellent starting point for exploring the surrounding area. Volubilis, the ancient capital of Mauretania Tingitana and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, features 42 hectares of remarkably well-preserved mosaics and the nearly intact triumphal arch of Emperor Caracalla. About an hour’s drive away, Meknes charmed us with its authenticity; less crowded than Fez, it features the Bab Mansour Gate and the Dar Jamaï Museum, which we consider among the most beautiful in Morocco. Nearby, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, perched on the hills of Mount Zerhoun, is home to the country’s only cylindrical minaret. See prices, photos and availability for this excursion. Find all our suggested excursions from Fez here.
Alternative 3: with activities for children
For families, the souks of the medina and the Fondouk Barka already offer a lively spectacle that captivates children: the colors, the scent of spices, and artisans at work easily spark their curiosity. The Jnan Sbil Gardens, with their ponds, fountains, and tall trees, also make for a pleasant outdoor break between visits to monuments. We prefer to avoid horse-drawn carriages for family outings, out of respect for animal welfare, but simply walking through the medina is an adventure in itself for the little ones.
Option 4: Relaxation and Wellness Package
If you’d like to swap out one of the activities for a more relaxing experience, the hammam is an integral part of daily life in Fez. Whether it’s a traditional, down-to-earth spot or a more upscale establishment, it offers a unique sensory experience that combines soothing warmth with ancient purification rituals. Experience a moment of traditional Moroccan beauty and book your slot today.
Just a 30-minute drive away, the spa town of Moulay Yacoub has been known for centuries for the healing properties of its hot, sulfur-rich waters, ranging from traditional baths frequented by locals to a modern spa center equipped with swimming pools and treatment facilities. Want to relax in the thermal waters? Choose a tour with full service .
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What You Need to Know for Your Weekend in Fez
The Weather in Fez
Winter is a great time to experience Fez in a different light, with mild temperatures ranging from 15°C (59°F) to 18°C (64.4°F) during the day and fewer tourists. We enjoyed this season for the long strolls through the medina, even though rainy days are still possible. The cool evenings are perfect for savoring a cup of mint tea in traditional riads.
The Crowds in Fez
Note a distinctive feature of the weekly schedule: on Fridays, the Muslim day of prayer, some businesses adjust their hours or close, even though it is not an official holiday. On weekends, some shops close on Saturday—particularly those run by the Jewish community—and others close on Sunday. Tourist traffic increases significantly every May during the World Sacred Music Festival: be sure to book your accommodations in advance if your trip coincides with this period.
Adjusting Your Itinerary When It Rains
Rainy days are more common in winter in Fez. If the weather doesn’t allow you to visit the Merinid Tombs, there are several indoor options available in the medina. The Nejjarine Museum, the Batha Museum, or the El Glaoui Palace are great places to spend several hours out of the rain while exploring Fez’s crafts and heritage. A traditional hammam is also a good indoor alternative on a gloomy day.
Knowing Where to Eat
Renowned for its rich culinary heritage and time-honored expertise, Fez’s restaurant scene—which blends tradition and sophistication—particularly captivated us. We explored this imperial city to uncover the restaurants that showcase the art of Moroccan cuisine, from fine-dining establishments to cozy family-run spots. Check out our selection of the best restaurants here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Morocco
- Best of
Top Destinations
Must-See Places in Morocco
Most Beautiful Riads
Most Beautiful Cities
Most Beautiful Medinas
Morocco’s Most Beautiful Landscapes
Most Beautiful Gardens
Best Museums
Morocco’s Most Beautiful Beaches
- Practical advice
When to go?
How to rent a car in Morocco
Driving tips
- The must-dos
Marrakech
Casablanca
Fez
Meknes
Chefchaouen
Essaouira
Rabat
Tangier
Tetouan
Agadir
The Sahara Desert
