City guide · Morocco

Fes travel essentials

Medina navigation, taxi tips, SIM cards, and what tourists need before arriving in Fes - Morocco's most complex ancient city.

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FEZ Airport - first hour

SIM card

One or two counters in arrivals. IAM usually present. If closed, buy in city within an hour. eSIM best backup. Compare all SIM & eSIM options →

Cash

ATM inside terminal. Fes medina is heavily cash-only. Withdraw at least 500 MAD before leaving. See all money & payment options →

Taxi to medina

Grand taxis 15-20 min, 70-100 MAD. No ride-hailing at airport. Pre-arrange if arriving late at night.

Critical tip

Give driver your riad's GPS pin - Fes medina addresses confuse every navigation app. Download offline maps before landing.

Apps that work in Fes

Fes medina survival guide

  • The medina has 9,400+ alleys. Even locals get lost. This is normal - embrace it, but have a pin.
  • Download Google Maps and Maps.me offline before arriving. Neither is complete, but both help.
  • Your riad's WhatsApp is your best navigation tool on arrival night - message them from the airport.
  • Bab Bou Jeloud (the Blue Gate) is your landmark. Everything is measured from it.
  • Use the high-ground landmarks (Al Quaraouiyine, Chaouwara tanneries) to orient yourself.
  • "You must follow me - the other way is closed" is always a scam. It is never closed.

Getting around Fes

  • Petit taxis operate outside the medina - they cannot enter medina streets.
  • InDrive works in Fes city (Careem coverage is thin here), but neither can do medina drop-offs. See all transport services for Morocco.
  • Mule carts and donkeys have right of way in medina alleys. Step aside.
  • Walk from the new city (Ville Nouvelle) to Bab Bou Jeloud takes ~25 min on foot.
  • Train connects Fes to Casablanca (4h), Rabat (3.5h), and Marrakech with a change.

First 24 hours in Fes

  • Hour 1: Cash, taxi, riad pin shared with driver. Don't accept medina "guides" at the taxi rank.
  • Hour 2-4: Rest, get oriented in your immediate neighborhood. Don't rush the medina on day one.
  • Day 1 afternoon: Walk to Bab Bou Jeloud slowly. Take photos, get lost deliberately within earshot of the gate.
  • Day 2: Hire an official guide from your riad for the tanneries and Al Quaraouiyine. Worth every dirham on the first full day.

Things to do in Fes

Fes el-Bali medina

The world's largest car-free urban area - 9,000+ lanes of workshops, mosques, and madrasas. A first-morning guide is well worth it.

Chouara Tannery

Centuries-old leather tannery viewed from the surrounding shops; you'll be handed mint to soften the smell.

Bou Inania & Al-Attarine

Two stunning 14th-century madrasas with carved cedar, stucco, and zellij tilework.

Artisan workshops

Watch ceramics, brass, and weaving being made - Fes is Morocco's craft capital.

Where to stay in Fes

Riad in Fes el-Bali · mid-rangeRestored courtyard riads inside the old medina. Boutique hotel · luxuryQuieter upscale stays with parking near the medina. Ville Nouvelle hotel · budgetModern, easy-access hotels in the new town.

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