Fez Perfecting the last mile, one delivery at a time

So if you want to make sure you leave no stone unturned in the largest walled city in the world you could call on the services of a professional guide. We’ve mentioned that the labyrinthine Fez of Medina has 9,000 alleys and 40,000 dead ends, as well as a history that is just as tangled. There’s a sumptuous collection of local cobalt blue ceramics, a signature of the city for more than a millennium, and astrolabes, a technology adapted by Arab scholars in the 10th century to set prayer times. The gate on the north facade is from the beginning of the 13th century and has two arches, one adorned with moulded plasterwork and the other cedar, and both rich with zellige decoration. The square minaret dates from the 10th century, and was designed to resemble the minaret at the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin.
The tanning industry, for example, still embodied by tanneries of Fes el-Bali today, was a major source of exports and economic sustenance since the city’s early history. It was in this period that Fez reached its cultural peak, becoming a capital and giving rise to madrasas, mosques and some of the city defences that stand today. Not far northeast of the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin is the largest of the city’s three tanneries going about its business in almost the same way for more than 800 years. But it’s the sounds, as much as the sights, that make Place Seffarine special, as the rest of square is given over to copperware, a craft that goes back many centuries in Fez. The university was first founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 which subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world. Multiple moussems (Sufi religious festivals) have traditionally taken place every year in honour of local Muslim saints and are typically sponsored by one or more of the city’s guilds.

• Join photographer and cultural entrepreneur Omar Chennafi on a curated photography tour blending visual exploration with cultural insight.
• We enjoyed this season for long strolls through the medina and cultural visits without the heavy summer heat.
• Following the revolt, Abu Yusuf Yaqub founded Fes Jdid as the new administrative and military centre.
• Yes, if “good” means local, cheap, and satisfying.
• The site houses a weapons museum, which was being restored at the time of our visit, and is now a cultural attraction open to the public.

Climb to the Merinid tombs for a breathtaking view of Fez

It is one of the largest cities in Morocco, with a population of 1.256 million, according to the 2024 census. They’re a great place to stay to find some calm at the end of your busy days in Fes. Marvel at the majestic Royal Palace during this historical tour of Fes.

• Still, it’s one of the top-rated options, offering private rooms with an en-suite bathroom.
• Since 1963 Borj Nord has housed the Museum of Arms, with a collection running to more than 5,000 pieces from Morocco, Africa, Europe and Asia, and dating from prehistory to the 1900s.
• During this period the capital city was known as al-ʿĀliyá, with the name Fās being reserved for the separate site on the other side of the river.
• You can expect rainy days and lower temperatures between 15°C (59°F) and 18°C (64.4°F).
• It contains the University of al-Qarawiyyin which was founded in 857 and is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world.
• Some of the best places to dine in Fez are just inside the gateway, affording a front row view of the day-to-day in a Medieval city.

It is the site of the famous Qarawiyyin University and the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II, the most important religious and cultural sites, while Fez el-Jdid is the site of the 195 acre Royal Palace, still used by the King of Morocco today. Today, the city’s surrounding countryside, the fertile Saïss plains, is an important source of agricultural activity producing primarily cereals, beans, olives, and grapes, as well as raising livestock. Starting under Lyautey, one important policy with long-term consequences was the decision to largely forego redevelopment of existing historic walled cities in Morocco and to intentionally preserve them as sites of historic heritage, still known today as “medinas”.

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Discover the roots of Fes by wandering the thousands of alleys here and enjoy the largest car-free urban area in the world! The medina of Fes (Fes el Bali) is the oldest and largest in North Africa and dates back to the 9th century! The past is alive here, so take one or two days to enjoy all the best things to do in Fes! The city was once the capital of Morocco and is still widely viewed as the cultural epicenter of the country. Afterwards you’ll see Meknes, founded as an Almoravid military settlement in the 11th century, and feted for its medina and Museum of Moroccan Art. For a glimpse of the city’s Jewish history in the Mellah there’s a non-functioning but preserved synagogue dating back to the 17th century.
In 1915 it was turned into a museum of historical art and artifacts, containing around 6,000 pieces. Many old private residences have also survived to this day, in various states of conservation. The tanneries are packed with the round stone wells filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. Since the city’s foundation, the tanning industry has been continually operating in Fez and is considered one of the main tourist attractions. Several forts were constructed along the defensive perimeters of the medina during different time periods.
Discover Al Quaraouiyine University and its mosque, a world heritage site and center of knowledge Get instant shipping options for packages and pallets, locally and globally. Every day, we commit to providing our customers with peace of mind, and this commitment extends to our pricing strategy. We connect Nigeria to over 200+ cities worldwide, offering competitive rates and ensuring each item is delivered with the utmost care. Enjoy reliable and efficient shipping solutions for local and global delivery needs. We absolutely loved our stay in Fez, but it’s not a destination we would dare go back to.

The entrance of the former Royal Palace of Fez

The Palais El Glaoui, the second largest palace in the Fès medina, fascinated us with its history and its many rooms adorned with exceptional architectural details. This palatial complex includes the royal palace, a mosque, a medersa and a parade ground, testifying to the grandeur of the Moroccan monarchy. More than just a park, Jnan Sbil is a green haven where history and nature meet in the heart of the city. A real “coup de cœur” of our stay, we were captivated by this city with its 137 mosques in the medina and its ancestral tanneries perpetuating a unique know-how. Fès, the former imperial capital, fascinated us with its thousand-year-old medina, historic mosques and fine cuisine.
The madrassa is open from 8 AM – 6 PM (always check for religious holidays and events, as this can alter times). The Kairaouine Mosque is known to be the world’s oldest university and fez bet is the second-largest mosque in Morocco. The park is open Tuesday – Sunday between 8 AM – 7.30 PM.

Zaouia Moulay Idriss II

The historic city of Fez consists of Fes el-Bali, the original city on both shores of the Oued Fes (River of Fez), and the smaller Fez Jdid, founded on higher ground to the west in the 13th century. Religious tourism is also present due to the old city’s many major zawiyas (Islamic shrines), such as the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II and the Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani, which attract both Moroccan and international (especially West African) pilgrims. Instead, the French administration built new modern cities (the Villes Nouvelles) just outside the old cities, where European settlers largely resided with modern Western-style amenities. The walls dividing them were destroyed, bridges connecting them were built or renovated, and a new circuit of walls was constructed that encompassed both cities. In 1276 the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub also founded the royal administrative district of Fes Jdid (lit. ‘New Fez’), where the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) is still located today, to which extensive gardens were later added. Numerous new madrasas and mosques were constructed, many of which survive today, while other structures were restored.

History

As the medina is car-free, we recommend parking in the official parking lots near the main gates, or choosing accommodation with a parking option. Take a day trip to the Middle Atlas and explore the monkey forest! Opt for a half-day excursion to the thermal village of Moulay Yacoub, where you’ll be fully catered for. Looking to relax in the thermal waters of northern Maroc? Known for centuries for the virtues of its hot sulfurous waters, it attracts curists and travelers alike in search of relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere of this spiritual place makes it an excellent starting point for sampling local produce such as olive oil and Saïs wines.
The availability of green spaces in Fez is limited and significantly deviates from the international standard, which calls for a minimum of ten square meters of green space per resident. Fez is one of the cities expected to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup and there are plans to upgrade its sports stadium before this date. The festival occurs in May or June and concerts take place at multiple venues across the city, including at historic sites such as Bab Makina (the New Mechouar) in Fes Jdid. Fez hosts the annual World Sacred Music Festival, which started in 1994 and showcases religious music from around the world.

Visit the Attarine and Bou Inania medersas, masterpieces of Merinid architecture

According to some traditions, the city’s name comes from the Arabic word فأس Faʾs, meaning pickaxe. It also contains the Chouara Tannery from the 11th century, one of the oldest tanneries in the world. It contains the University of al-Qarawiyyin which was founded in 857 and is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world. The Medina of Fez is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the world’s largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas). The city consists of two old medina quarters, Fes el-Bali and Fes Jdid, and the much larger modern urban Ville Nouvelle area founded during the French colonial era. After the overthrow of the Marinid dynasty, the growth of Fez stalled and the city subsequently competed with Marrakesh for political and cultural influence.
On the north side, next to the library entrance is Cremerie la Place, for a robust cup of coffee or mint tea. This square is walled on one side by the grand, horseshoe-arched entrance to the al-Qarawiyyin Library, and centres on a gnarled plane tree. Since 1963 Borj Nord has housed the Museum of Arms, with a collection running to more than 5,000 pieces from Morocco, Africa, Europe and Asia, and dating from prehistory to the 1900s.
Apart from that, Fez has a lot more to offer, and you can concentrate on some of the best highlights in one day if you’re rushing out. The visit to the tanneries is brief if you’re sensitive to the smell, so keep this in mind. The tanneries are undoubtedly our highlight from Fez.
During this period the Jewish population of the city grew and the Mellah (Jewish quarter) was formed on the south side of this new district. Fez reached its zenith in the Marinid era (13th–15th centuries), regaining its status as political capital. Under Almoravid rule, the city gained a reputation for religious scholarship and mercantile activity. After the downfall of the Idrisid dynasty, other empires came and went until the 11th century when the Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin united the two settlements into what is today’s Fes el-Bali (lit. ‘Old Fes’) quarter, a.k.a. Medina of Fez. Located to the northwest of the Atlas Mountains, it is surrounded by hills and the old city is centered around the Fez River (Oued Fes) flowing from west to east. Fez (/fɛz/) or Fesa (/fɛs/) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region.
If you find yourself here while poking around the city you’ll be confronted by a row of three heavy wooden doors in horseshoe arches and flanked by high square towers topped with pointed merlons. In the middle of the Medina you’ll happen upon a tight passageway beckoning you onto a square in the shade of large old plane trees and the high minaret of the Zaouia Moulay Idriss II. This functioning royal palace in the Fes Jdid quarter is on more than 80 hectares and has been here since the 13th century.
You can make the climb at sunset, pausing to pick out the city’s landmarks, like the lofty minaret of the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin and the royal palace, fringed by the Mellah (Jewish quarter). A stirring panorama of Old Fez awaits you at the ruins of a royal necropolis from the Marinid Dynasty (13th to 15th centuries). Now meticulously tended, the park has a large pond and water gardens where geometric fountains are festooned with zellige tiles, all bordered by geometric beds of roses, cactuses and low boxwood hedges.