Fes el-Bali medina
Walk the Talaa Kebira from Bab Boujloud down through the souks to the Karaouine — the world's oldest continuously operating university (859 AD).
Casablanca, MoroccoConcierge · 7 Days · 9–21H GMT+1
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Fes, Morocco
The world's largest car-free medieval city — a direct train ride from your Casablanca gateway.
Best time
April–May and September–October
Recommended
2–3 days
Airport
Fès-Saïs (FEZ)
Region
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Why Fes
Founded in 789 AD, Fes is the oldest of Morocco's four imperial cities and home to Fes el-Bali — a UNESCO-listed medina of more than 9,000 alleys, with no cars and barely any motorbikes. From Casablanca, where most international visitors land at CMN, Fes is a direct train of around four hours from Casa-Voyageurs, making it the natural first imperial-city stop on a northern route. It's where Morocco's craft traditions are still practiced daily — tanneries, brass-beating, weaving and the bookbinders of the Karaouine — and is best done slowly, with a historian, staying in a restored riad inside the walls.
What to see
Highlights of Fes.
Chouara tanneries
The famous pigment vats viewed from a leather shop terrace. Best in the morning when the light hits the pits.
Medersa Bou Inania & el-Attarine
Two 14th-century Marinid madrasas with carved cedar, stucco and zellige at its finest.
Volubilis & Meknes
A perfect day trip: Roman mosaics at Volubilis, then lunch and the imperial gates of Meknes.
Pottery quarter & blue gates
Watch the cobalt-and-white Fassi ceramics being thrown, glazed and fired across the river from the medina.
Itineraries
Our Fes tours.
Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Fes. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.
3 days
Fes, slowly
Three nights inside the medina with a private medieval-history guide, tannery, kissaria textiles, dinner with a Fassi family.
from $980Enquire →
8 days
Imperial cities, privately
From Casablanca, eight nights tracing Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes and Chefchaouen with private historians.
from $2,450Enquire →
Before you go
Practical notes.
- Getting there: Direct train ~4h from Casa-Voyageurs; or fly into FEZ; 2h train from Tangier
- Where to stay: Inside the medina in a restored dar or riad
- Dress code: Respectful — shoulders and knees covered near religious sites
Concierge
Have your Fes trip designed by a local
Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.
Request a proposalFAQ
Fes — common questions.
Is Fes worth visiting if I've already seen Marrakech?+
Yes — they are completely different cities. Marrakech is open, theatrical and modern around the edges. Fes is denser, older, more religious, and still very much a living medieval city.
Do I need a guide for the Fes medina?+
Strongly recommended for at least the first day. Without one you will get lost — that's part of its charm but also costs you the context.
How do I get from Casablanca to Fes?+
The simplest way is the direct train from Casa-Voyageurs, which reaches Fes in about four hours and runs several times a day. We can also drive you privately with a stop at Meknes or Volubilis en route — a richer way to use the journey from your Casablanca arrival.
Closest destinations
Pair Fes with.
These destinations are closest to Fes — easily combined on a private itinerary.
51 kmNorthern Morocco · Meknès-Tafilalet
Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
Two hours inland from Casablanca's gateway lies the most historically layered day in Morocco — Volubilis's Roman mosaics beneath the hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss, near Meknes.
Explore
53 kmImperial city · Northern Morocco
Meknes
The quiet imperial city of Moulay Ismail — monumental gates, vast granaries and Roman Volubilis next door.
Explore
57 kmMiddle Atlas · Ifrane Province
Ifrane
Trade Casablanca's Mauresque facades for alpine chalets: Ifrane is the Middle Atlas 'Little Switzerland' of red roofs, snow and wild Barbary macaques, an inland turn off the northern rail line.
ExploreRead more
From the journal.
Stories, guides and practical tips to help you plan your time in Fes and beyond.