{"id":12867,"date":"2026-05-07T11:08:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maroclovers.com\/pourquoi-aller-fes-raisons\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T11:36:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T11:36:43","slug":"is-fez-worth-visiting-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maroclovers.com\/en\/is-fez-worth-visiting-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Fez worth visiting? Our 8 reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fez<\/strong>, the former imperial capital of Morocco, has left a deep impression on us, with its dense history and authentic daily life. The country’s third-largest city, it is home to the world’s oldest medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Al Quaraouiyine University, founded in the 9th century and considered the oldest still in existence. In this article, we share with you 8 reasons to visit<\/strong> the fascinating city of Fez<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

\"Discover<\/figure>\n\n

This opinion is completely independent<\/strong>, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.<\/p>\n\n

Is Fez worth a visit?<\/h2>\n\n

Yes, go without hesitation! Fez is a world city, a concentration of history, crafts and gastronomy that will surprise you at every turn. We recommend it to all travelers in search of an artistic, historical and gastronomic immersion in Morocco. <\/p>\n\n

We list the reasons in more detail below, or you can check out our selection of the city’s top attractions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\"Fès
Medina of Fez, the largest and oldest in the world<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Reason 1 – A thousand-year-old UNESCO medina, the oldest in the world<\/h2>\n\n

F\u00e8s el-Bali is quite simply the oldest inhabited medina in the world. Built in the 9th century by Moulay Idriss II in a basin near the Sebou River, it now boasts 14,000 listed buildings, 137 mosques and 23 public hammams. We were captivated by this immediate immersion in intact medieval urbanism, where the two main arteries, Talaa Kbira and Talaa Sghira, guide visitors through an endless labyrinth. Along the alleyways, you’ll discover the Dar al-Magana hydraulic clock with its 13 windows, historic fondouks and interconnecting terraces that reveal the city from above. ThisUNESCO<\/a> World Heritage Site has to be earned: bring good shoes, accept to get lost and let the medina tell you its story at its own pace. Entrance is free, and there are several gateways, including the famous Bab Boujloud, with its blue and green zelliges, one of the most photographed symbols of the imperial city. Take a half-day guided tour of the Medina of Fez with a local guide!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n

\"Fès
Bab Boujloud Gate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
WHERE TO STAY IN FES<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In F\u00e8s El-Bali (old medina)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotel Riad Dar Lys – See prices, photos and availability<\/a>Hotel Riad Dar Laura – See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

F\u00e8s El-Jdid (near the Royal Palace)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa Hotel – See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Hotel<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

See our complete selection of the best hotels in Fez<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
See all available accommodation >><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Reason 2 – An outstanding architectural and religious heritage<\/h2>\n\n

Beyond the medina itself, F\u00e8s boasts a density of historic monuments that is rare in the world. The Al Quaraouiyine Mosque, inseparable from the university of the same name founded in the 9th century by Fatima Al-Fihri, is the second largest in Morocco. Its white minaret, one of the oldest in the country, and its green tiles can be seen from the surrounding streets. A little further afield, the Attarine and Bou Inania Medersas illustrate the apogee of Merinid art in the 14th and 15th centuries: geometrically patterned zelliges, hand-carved cedar wood and remarkably fine stucco. We were struck by the decorative perfection of these places designed for religious instruction. The Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, the city’s founder, is a major place of pilgrimage in the heart of the medina, whose immense doors and woodwork bear witness to exceptional sacred architecture. Finally, the monumental gates of the Palais Royal in the F\u00e8s Jdid district, framed by thousands of small blue and green ceramic tiles, share a final striking testimony to the architectural refinement of the imperial city. Discover more on a guided tour of the medina!<\/a><\/p>\n\n

\"Fès
M\u00e9dersa Attarine in Fez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Reason 3 – Ancestral craftsmanship, the living soul of the city<\/h2>\n\n

F\u00e8s is one of the world’s capitals of traditional craftsmanship, and we felt it with every step we took in the medina. The Chouara Tanneries are its most spectacular emblem: over 250 families perpetuate a centuries-old know-how, dyeing leather with poppy, indigo, henna or saffron using techniques that have remained unchanged for generations. We watched this colorful ballet from the terraces of the leather goods stores, fresh mint in hand to attenuate the characteristic odors. Beyond the tanneries, the medina is home to specialized souks where each alleyway has its own specialty: dyers, spice merchants, copper craftsmen, potters and weavers still work by hand. The Mus\u00e9e Nejjarine, a treasure trove housed in a former 18th-century fondouk, traces the history of the arts and crafts of wood, from southern cattails to customary law plates written on palm or poplar. To visit Fez without stopping off at a workshop is to miss its very soul. Visit the Chouara Tanneries with a local multilingual guide!<\/a><\/p>\n\n

\"Fès
Tanneries Chouara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN MOROCCO<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n