Attraction
Medersa Bou Inania
The madrasa was built from 1350 to 1356 under the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris. The courtyard features cedar wood carvings, stucco, and Zellige tiles in peak form, plus its own minaret.
Morocco
Fez
City
Fès is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and is considered the spiritual heart of the country.
by Felix Gillen
Fès is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and is considered the spiritual heart of the country. The Medina Fès el-Bali, founded by the Idrisids at the end of the 8th century, is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. Beyond the Bab Boujloud gate, a labyrinth of alleys begins, featuring Quranic schools, tanneries, and artisan quarters.
Sights in Fez
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Historic Landmark
Bab Boujloud
The 1913 three-arched gate is the main entrance to Medina Fès el-Bali. Outside it's blue-tiled, inside green-tiled. Directly behind it lie the two main alleys Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sghira.
Chouara Tannery
The largest tannery in the Medina is located by the Oued Fès. The hides soak for several days in basins with lime and pigeon droppings and are then dyed with natural colors like poppy, indigo, and henna, all by hand. You can watch from the terraces of the surrounding leather shops.
Medersa al-Attarine
The madrasa, built 1323-1325 under Marinid Sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman II. next to the Qarawiyyin, is named after the spice market. Its original bronze doors are now in the Dar Batha Museum.
Museum Al Batha (Dar Batha)
The palace from the late 19th century has been a museum since 1915. After several years of renovation, it reopened in February 2025 as a Museum of Islamic Art with over 6,500 objects and a riad garden.
The Marinid Tombs
Ruins of the royal Marinid tomb on a hill north of the Medina. Today a popular viewpoint over Fès el-Bali, especially at sunset.
City walks in Fez
Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.
From Bab Boujloud to the Chouara Tannery
About three to four hours through Fès el-Bali: from the Blue Gate over the Talaa Kebira to Quranic schools, shrines and artisan squares up to the tannery.
Stops (8)
Restaurants in Fez
Casual café-restaurant in the Medina with affordable international and Moroccan cuisine.
Garden restaurant Jardin des Biehn with international and Moroccan cuisine.
Moroccan cuisine in a garden restaurant right in the middle of the Medina.
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Chef Najat Kaanache, who has worked at establishments like El Bulli and Noma, opened the restaurant in 2016 in the Medina. A long tasting menu is served, which changes daily based on market availability.
Food & Drinks
Pastilla
Wafer-thin Warka pastry, filled with chicken, almonds and cinnamon, dusted with icing sugar.
Mint tea
Green tea with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, the drink for almost any occasion.
Bissara
Thick soup made from dried fava beans with olive oil and cumin, a typical breakfast.
Khlii
Spiced dried beef or lamb, preserved in fat and often served with egg. It is considered a favorite dish of the Fassis.
Chebakia
Honey-soaked, fried sesame pastry, which is available in Fès all year round.
Culture and History
Two FoundationsIdris I founded a first settlement on the Fès River in 789; his son Idris II founded a second on the opposite bank in 809. From these grew Fès el-Bali, the Old City. Tradition holds that Fatima al-Fihri founded the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in 859, which developed into a center of Islamic scholarship. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter.The MarinidsFès experienced its golden age under the Marinids. In 1276, west of the Old City, they founded Fès el-Jdid as a fortified royal city, which includes the Dar al-Makhzen Royal Palace and the former Jewish Quarter, Mellah. The Quranic schools Bou Inania and al-Attarine, with their wood carvings and tile mosaics, also date from this period.CraftsTo this day, tanners, dyers, carpet weavers, and coppersmiths work in the Medina; their workshops have been located for centuries at Place Seffarine. The largest tannery is Chouara. You can view its dyeing vats from the terraces of the surrounding leather shops; entry is free, but vendors hope for a purchase.
Local Exploration
On Foot Through the MedinaThe alleys of Fès el-Bali are too narrow for cars; donkeys and handcarts carry goods. The two main alleys, Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sghira, start at Bab Boujloud and lead downhill into the center of the Old City. If you don't want to get lost, book a tour with an official guide.Getting There and AwayONCF trains connect Fès with Meknès in just over half an hour, as well as with Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech.Long-distance buses from CTM and Supratours travel to destinations including Chefchaouen and south towards Merzouga.Between the train station, the New Town, and the Medina gates, take a Petit Taxi.Fès-Saïss Airport is located south of the city.
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