What happened to Fez? Fez is 900 meters above sea level and situated in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, north of Marrakech. The land surrounding Fez is lush with vegetation and seems to be a world apart from the desert. Morocco Excursions
What should you see in Fez? To begin, explore the amazing medina, where the small, twisting alleyways converge to form a complicated, colorful, and loud maze.
Fez Medina (Fez Medina)
The streets of the medina have no printed names, and even if they had, reading them without understanding Arabic would be impossible. It might be difficult to get your bearings at times, but it is a chance to explore every nook and cranny of this magnificent castle. Because there are mopeds and laden donkeys on the other side of the tiny streets, walk on the right side of the streets and always in single file.
Mosques, residences, and schools’ doors are real works of art, with evocative painted and inlaid forms. Dedicate yourself to locating the most stunning ones, and after you’ve had your fill of the medina’s tremendous noise and packed pandemonium, seek shelter on one of the café and riad terraces (every riad has a terrace and the view of the city is wonderful).
Mosque of Al Karouine
Those who do not follow the Islamic faith are not permitted to enter mosques in Morocco. However, you may enjoy them from the outside, where you can get a sense of the interior’s elegance and excellent décor. The Al Karaouine Mosque features a total of 17 entry doors, each of which is adorned differently with various colors and designs.
Fez’s Souk
You can purchase anything at Fez’s souks: dried fruit, fresh fruit, bread, candy, and fried doughnuts. Talaas is the medina’s most touristic section, where street sellers serve a variety of street cuisine. Extend your exploration beyond the Andalusian quarter to the colorful souks favored by residents to taste and purchase their wares.
The Royal Palace is a royal residence.
The Royal Palace of Fez is not open to the public. It is a massive structure covering over 80 hectares in the El-Jadid region. The golden doors, which are ornamented with tiles and inlaid cedar wood, can be seen from the outside.
Fez’s Hammam
All of the hammams in Fez’s medina are traditional hammams, with the exception of one that was recently rebuilt. The black soap and washing glove may be purchased at the souks and taken inside the hammam. It is possible to borrow the bucket.
Al Attarine Madrasa
Madrasas are historic structures dedicated to the study of the Koran, Islam, and Arabic. The magnificent Madrasa al-Attarine is just adjacent to the spice and perfume market from which it gets its name (Attarine really originates from the Arabic word aar, which means perfume merchant). The courtyards of the Madrasa Al Attarine may be visited, from which the students’ apartments and the mosque’s entrance can be seen.
Madrasa Bou Inania
Another madrasa to visit in Fez is Bou Inania. The entry fee is around ten dirhams (which is about 1 euro).
The Merenids’ Tombs
The Merenid tombs erected on the hills around Fez’s medina are the ideal site to take a break from the medina, relax, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, especially during the hour of prayer when the call to the faithful reverberates throughout the city.
Bab Bou Jeloud (Baby Bou Jeloud)
Bab Bou Jeloud is not one of Fez’s oldest gates; it was constructed in the early 1900s. Its blue mosaics, which are mirrored in the white of the area, have a unique beauty, and the square is a popular meeting spot for children and adults alike.
Batha Dar Dar Batha Dar Batha Dar Batha Dar
Dar Batha, a museum displaying the finest of Moroccan handicrafts in 15 rooms, is a short walk from Bou Jeloud Gate. Leather-bound volumes from the 11th century, Andalusian manuscripts from the 8th century, and gold filigree needlework are among the items on display. An Andalusian garden with a lovely tiled courtyard is located within the museum, providing a welcome respite from the turmoil of the medina.
Tannery Chouara
The Chouara Tanneries are Fez’s most renowned tanneries, and they may be visited for a charge. In fact, as you wander the medina, you’ll come across other tanneries where admission is forbidden but where you can view the colorful tanks and people working from above, rather than the more renowned Chouara, which is open to the public.
Meknes
Meknes can be reached in 20 minutes by cab (about 30 dirhams) from Fez or by train to Meknes El Amir (about 20 dirhams). The medina of Meknes is less chaotic than that of Fez and the large central square is absolutely worth a visit. Not far from Meknes are the ruins of Volubilis, an abandoned Roman city. Also visit Sefrou and Azrou, both not far from Fez.
Chefchaouen
The Blue City of Chefchaouen is located about 300 km from Fez, about the same distance are also Casablanca and Tangier. Here instead you will find 12 countries to visit absolutely in Morocco and all the info about the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs.
WHAT TO EAT IN FEZ
Street food in Morocco offers countless possibilities ranging from sandwiches with meat, to the delicious bissara, a soup of broad beans cooked with paprika, cumin and olive oil that is usually eaten in the souks for breakfast.
The typical tajine, to be tried in the best restaurants of Fez, is made with seasonal vegetables and meat colored with a mix of spices (cost 60 Dirham in a restaurant with average prices).
The pastilla is very typical in Fez, but not everyone likes it. The traditional one in fact is prepared with pigeon meat, but it is also made with chicken. If you want to eat it, you will have to order it in the morning for the evening or the day before.
TIPS
Is Fes dangerous?
The medina of Fez is not dangerous at all. During daylight hours all the streets, including the smaller alleys and dead ends, are busy and teeming with life and you can wander around every corner of the city.
At nightfall, it is recommended to stay in a hotel, especially if you are a woman traveling alone. The inhabitants of Fez, when the sun goes down and commercial activities close, leave their homes only to move from one place to another and the city is at rest, waiting for a new dawn, when everything starts to move again noisy and colorful.
A different matter concerns the new city of Fez, the area outside the walls of the Medina. Here are the international clubs and hotels and here live some of the expats who live in Fez. If you want to go out at night and want to drink alcohol this is the area you will have to frequent.
As you walk through the streets of Fez many of the locals will recognize you as a tourist and try to sell you something or take you to see a monument or a street or an inlaid door. They can be very persistent, especially if you are traveling alone, so if what you are looking for is a relaxing and quiet vacation perhaps Fez is not the perfect place for you.
Fez or Marrakech?
It is not easy to choose between Fez and Marrakech. The first one is more authentic, messy and vociferous, it does little to get used to tourists and to welcome them with its own standards. In Marrakech there are many more riads (the center of the Medina is practically a large maze of renovated riads, comfortable and loved by Western tourists) and stores specifically designed for tourists. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation and like the idea of locking yourself in a riad, experiencing the most beautiful hammams in Marrakech, doing some shopping and recharging your batteries, Marrakech is probably the right city for you. If you want to see a bit of Morocco Fez is the perfect low cost
destination.
What to buy in Fez?
In the souks and medina of Fez you can buy all the products of Moroccan handicrafts: carpets, lamps, leather accessories, shoes and bags. In the souks you have to negotiate. It is better to buy directly in the workshops where the producers sell retail.
WEATHER IN FEZ
Temperatures in Fez are more pleasant than in Italy: winters are never harsh, while summers can be very hot. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures reach 40°. January and February are the coldest months. Temperatures rarely drop below 5-8°.
The best time to visit Fez is spring, but be careful. Fez, and in general the entire Atlas area, can be very rainy. The wettest months are the winter months with October and November, but it is not uncommon for it to rain in the spring as well.
