Morocco's oldest imperial city holds Fes el Bali, the largest car-free urban area in the world — a medieval medina of thousands of narrow alleys built around a university older than any in Europe.
Planning a Fes trip
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Day-by-day itineraries
Frequently asked questions
Is Fes worth visiting if I have already been to Marrakech?
Yes — Fes el Bali is larger and, by most accounts, even more maze-like and historically intact than Marrakech's medina, with a genuinely different, older character.
Do I need a guide in the Fes medina?
Not strictly, but many first-time visitors hire one for at least the first day — the medina is large enough and confusing enough that a guide saves real time and helps avoid unofficial touts at the gates.
Can I go inside the Al Quaraouiyine mosque?
Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque interior, but the university's courtyard and surrounding madrasas are viewable, and the exterior architecture is worth seeing regardless.
Is the Chouara Tannery worth visiting?
Yes — it is one of the oldest tanneries in the world, and several surrounding leather shops offer terraces to view the dye pits from above, which is the standard and most comfortable way to see it.