Fes is one of our favourite cities in Morocco! It’s authentic, filled with culture and the landscapes are incredible! We found Fes way more chill than Marrakech even though it’s a busier city.
In this travel guide, we want to show you how to plan your 2 day Fes itinerary and see the best sights around the city! We’ve also included tips on how to deal with transport, where to eat and some history of the vibrant city!
Fes is home to the world’s largest and oldest Medina and it’s classed as a Unesco World Heritage site! The Medina dates back to the 9th century and it’s impossible to wander through the many streets!
Morocco is actually the first Arabic country we’ve travelled to and although Fes wasn’t our first destination in the country, it was definitely the one that we felt most comfortable in! It just felt more natural and not as touristy as Marrakech.
The city is buzzing with atmosphere and one of the best things to do in Fes is to simply admire the locals, the markets and the streets of the medina. We’re excited to show you our 2 day Fes itinerary!
This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you.
Quick Tips for 2 Days in Fes
- Currency – Morrocan Dirham (compare to your own currency here)
- Apps – Whatsapp, Maps.Me, XE Converter, GoogleTranslate & InDrive
- Travel Insurance – Check out SafetyWing
- Sim Card – Get your Morrocan E-sim in advance here!
- Where to stay in Fes – Dar Melyani!
- Best ATM – Al Barid Bank (no foreign transaction charge)
- Check out our 2 week Morocco itinerary!
2 Day Fes Itinerary: Best Things To Do
Now we’ll get into our tried and tested itinerary filled with personal recommendations and the best things to do in Fes.
We arrived in Fes the night before this itinerary as we did a Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes. We were dropped outside of the medina near the famous gate, as vehicles cannot enter.
Locals with wheeled carriages (like a wheelbarrows) wait near Babs and take luggage to your riad for a small fee. So if someone starts loading your luggage, check for a price.
As we arrived so late, we only went out for dinner at Culture Cafe with some people we met on the Sahara Tour and had a brief look at the wonderfully massive medina.
Day 1 – Fes El Bali, Art & Views
The first day of your Fes itinerary will be spent exploring Fes El Bali, the city’s ancient medina and the oldest and largest in the world!
Fes is also the second largest city in Morocco so the medina has most of the main sights in Fes. We’ll share what particular sights to look at within the medina. But, don’t forget to get lost and roam the streets yourself!
Luckily Google Maps worked throughout the main streets of the medina, so we didn’t technically feel lost at any point!
Explore Fes El Bali (the Medina)
Fes El Bali is the ancient walled medina of Fes dating back to the 9th century. There are over 9,000 little streets and more than 300 mosques within the medina, which shows how big it is! You’ll find most of the accommodations here alongside restaurants and local homes.
The medina is fully pedestrianised apart from the odd motorbike and donkey squeezing through. It’s the best way to start your 2 days in Fes.
There isn’t necessarily a best time to visit the medina as every time has a different atmosphere. We’ve wandered the streets at all times of day and noticed that 8am is when it’s quiet, the shops start to open at 10am and 8pm is when it’s most liveliest!
The main streets of the medina are the easiest to follow leading from one gate of the city to another. You’ll then find thousands of smaller streets within the medina.
Note: It’s a common trick that locals may try to steer you in the direction of their shop or market by telling you you’re going the wrong way. Unless you’ve specifically asked someone for directions, just ignore anyone telling you these things!
As the medina is massive, one of the best ways to get around is to join a walking tour when you arrive in Fes. This is perfect if you want to be guided around and meet other travellers! We chose to explore Fes ourselves and it’s not too hard at all! You’ll find everywhere you need to visit in our 2 day Fes itinerary!
if you’re interested in shopping in Fes, we’ve included some tips on how to haggle within the souks on our Marrakech itinerary. We found the medina of Fes to be much more charming than Marrakech, not as busy and far fewer motorbikes zooming through the medina. So it may be a better opportunity to shop here instead!
Rainbow Street in the Medina
We stumbled by Rainbow Street by chance and loved the creative addition to the city! The street is filled with artwork from various artists and we even saw an artist working on art in a room nearby.
It’s a popular spot amongst younger Moroccans and super easy to visit for free whilst spending 2 days in Fes.
➤ Plan the rest of your trip with our 2 Week Morocco Travel Guide!
Bou Inania Madrasa
Fes is filled with beautiful madrasas nestled within the enormous medina. Madrasas are schools in Morocco and some have now been opened for the public to view. We visited Ben Youssef in Marrakech and fell in love with Moroccan architecture so we knew we wanted to see more schools!
In the end, we didn’t get to visit Bou Inania Madrasa as we ran out of time and chose to visit another madrasa (which we’ll show you on day 2 of this Fes itinerary). So we’re adding it to this Fes 2 day itinerary so that you can plan your visit!
Inside Bou Inania Madrasa, you’ll be greeted with a big courtyard with an amazing design, like most of the schools in Morocco.
💰 20 dirham per person
For lunch head to Sekaya for some tasty Moroccan food! The sign outside isn’t easy to find, but if you follow Google Maps, you’ll arrive at the right place. Sekaya is very affordable in Fes and we had vegetable tagine and cous cous along with complimentary sides for only 50 dirham per person.
The restaurant is near the famous tanneries in Fes and you can view them from a distance from the terrace of Sekaya!
The Tanneries in Fes
If we’re being honest, we wouldn’t really recommend visiting the tanneries in Fes, however, we can’t write this 2 day Fes itinerary without mentioning them. There are three leather tanneries in Fes with the most famous one being Chouara Tannery.
We visited Chouara Tannery after doing some research about it and stayed for 2 minutes before turning our backs and walking fast away.
The leather tanneries in Fes have kept their traditional ways of dyeing leather, sadly leather is the hide of animals and although you won’t see anything horrific, the smell definitely is. As vegans, we don’t contribute towards the leather industry and we only visited the tannery as it was free and a highly recommended place to visit in Fes.
But the smell is horrendous due to the ‘leather being treated’ in pigeon droppings and more.
When you get closer to Chouara Tannery shop owners will start to lure you into their shop to view the tannery from above. It is completely free to view Chouara Tannery so luckily you don’t have to contribute a penny towards this process. These shops will be full of leather and the smell definitely lingers. Locals will offer mint to hold up to your nose to relieve the smell.
If you do happen to visit the tannery, visit No 10 Terrace as the doorman was genuine and didn’t hassle us at all, but that might be because we stayed for 2 minutes! I feel like I can smell the tannery just by writing about it!
Place Seffarine
When exploring the medina during our Fes itinerary, we came across Place Seffarine, a lovely square filled with atmosphere. You’ll find lots of copper workers creating traditional Moroccan products. We did notice a few tour groups around this area, you can book an Old Medina Guided Walking Tour here!
The square has a beautiful tree in the middle along with lots of cafes, restaurants and more shops.
Wander around Bab Rcif & the Markets
Close to the Bab Rcif, there are lots of markets to explore around the medina. You can pretty much find everything in the Fes El Bali from shoes to restaurants and souvenirs to perfumes.
We’re never really on the hunt for items as we always travel light, but we do appreciate good fruit and snacks!
After following the everlasting streets in the medina we stumbled across fresh markets filled with fruit, veg, nuts and sadly animal products (there are some brutal scenes in these areas of the medina if you’re sensitive to the meat industry).
We grabbed a bag of almonds, bananas and some medlar fruits for our journey the next day!
Take a pottery class in Morocco and make your own mosaic pot!
Marinid Tombs
After having a little break in our riad, we headed out to explore our last stop of the day! Luckily with two days in Fes, we have a whole day to explore tomorrow.
The Marinid tombs have some of the best views in Fes and they’re definitely worth the 30-minute trek to the top! You can see the ruins from the medina in Fes high up on the hills, so you know the views will be good!
We took the route through the cemetery up and then walked along the castle to get back down to the medina. From the top of the hill, you can see all the walls of the medina which really shows the size of it!
The tombs were used for the Marinid dynasty back in the 14th century but they haven’t really been preserved since, so they’re now just crumbled ruins. They’re free to visit, so it’s definitely worth adding to your 2 day Fes itinerary!
For dinner, we went to La Casa and shared a Harira soup, Moroccan salad platter and Hummus plate.
➤ Take a look at our 3 Day Marrakech Itinerary!
Day 2 – Madrasa, Parks & Markets
On day 2 of our Fes itinerary, we woke up to an amazing breakfast at our accommodation. We’re thankful they gave us vegan options such as bread, fruits, jam, homemade juice and mint tea. Their fresh homemade fruit juice was honestly the best juice we’ve ever had.
We ate our breakfast with more panoramic views of the whole of Fes Medina, including a view of the surrounding mountains and views of the tombs.
Al Attarine Madrasa
During our 2 day Fes itinerary, we arrived at Al Attarine Madrasa close to opening time and it was worth it! The entry price is only 20 dirhams (the same as the other school in Fes) and more of the school is open to the public, so you can explore more!
Al Attarine Madrasa is in amazing condition, similar to the ones in Marrakech. The Moroccan architecture is some of the best in Fes and it makes these schools so photographable!
You also get some nice views of the mosque next door which is closed to non-muslims.
If you only want to visit one of the madrasas in Fes, we recommend this one as there’s more to see for the same price!
💰 20 dirham per person
We wrote down all our travel costs for Morocco so you can plan your trip to Marrakech.
Mosque and University Kairaouine
As you can see the mosque from the windows of Al Attarine Madrasa, it’s the best time to visit before having some lunch.
We took photos of the Mosque and University Kairaouine doorway from the street as you cannot enter. Guards are at the open door, presumably stopping any non-muslims trying to enter which we totally understand.
When the university was first built, it was a place to learn about the Koran but it’s now a place of study for other subjects.
The mosque is beautiful from what we could see and is an active place of worship. If you hear a call to prayer you’ll see many people heading here to pray! It’s worth admiring during your 2 days in Fes.
➤ Heading to Chefchaouen? Check out our 2 Day Chefchaouen Itinerary!
For lunch, we want to recommend trying bessara soup from a local stall buried within the medina. Besara soup is commonly eaten for breakfast by Moroccans but we’ve had it for lunch and dinner too!
If you search for Mister Falafel on Google Maps, you’ll be sure to find the right shop! There are two places here that serve the soup in that little square depending on what time you go.
The soup is made purely of white beans with lots of oil and you can then flavour it yourself with chilli powder, cumin and salt alongside a big bread. The best part is the soup is only 8 dirham each which is a fraction of the price other restaurants charge for food in Fes.
The guy was beyond friendly and funny, if you can find him we can’t recommend them enough!
➤ We visited the Sahara Desert from Marrakech to Fes and it was an incredible addition to our Morocco trip! You can book your Sahara Trip on GetYourGuide.
Bab Boujloud
If you haven’t found the most famous gate entrance to the medina during your two days in Fes, now is your time to do so! The Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud) was built in 1913 and is absolutely beautiful! Although the area it’s placed in is pretty chaotic as it’s a busy place!
This area is often a pickup and drop off for tours, so watch out for locals approaching you offering tours as they may not be genuine tour guides.
Bab Boujloud is a triple-arched gate that was once an entrance to the medina in Fes. It’s now always open without doors as the medina doesn’t have doors to the gates anymore!
Jnan Sbil Botanical Park
Continue heading away from the medina to find the Jnan Sbil Botanical Park. This park is a breath of fresh air after spending a few days in busy Morocco.
It’s worth adding to your 2 day Fes itinerary as it’s completely free to visit! It’s a really good park and you’ll be transported out of Morocco for a while.
We spent a while here watching life go by! There are water fountains, bamboo, a lake and even some pets! We saw guinea pigs and pigeons in cages which was strange to see, but birds are common pets in Morocco.
➤ Get your Morrocan E-sim for Fes!
The Royal Palace
After the park, it’s a good time to visit the Royal Palace and Jewish Synagogue which is even further away from the medina.
The Royal Palace is a popular place to visit in Fes but sadly you can’t visit the inside! Instead, you can admire the front of the palace with 7 beautiful gates.
Whilst you’re in the area, it’s also worth checking out Aben Danan Synagogue a lovely Jewish Synagogue with a small entry fee.
The last place we’d love to recommend for dinner is Culture Box! We actually ate here twice on our Fes visit as we arrived the night before this 2 day Fes itinerary. After eating a lot of Moroccan food, a falafel wrap was a treat! The vegetable pastilla is also worth trying too!
Spend your last evening in Fes exploring the streets of the medina and soaking up the Moroccan nightlife.
More things to do in Fes
- Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts – a beautiful historic building sharing the history of wood carving in Morocco!
- Take a pottery class – learn how to create traditional Moroccan items!
- Hammams – Moroccan baths and spa!
- Borj Nord Museum & Dar Batha Museum – two Moroccan museums that were temporarily closed during our Fes trip!
- Day trips to Chefchaouen – Day Tour to the Blue Town of Chefchaouen from Fes!
It’s worth mentioning that most Moroccans don’t like having their photo taken without consent. We’ve seen a few locals get angry with other tourists taking their photo and it does make sense to ask someone before snapping away.
Where to stay in Fes
Fes is filled with amazing places to stay! We recommend basing yourself in the Old City within the Medina – you’ll find accommodation for any type of budget. Here’s a few we recommend during your 2 day Fes itinerary!
Dar Melyani $ – We stayed here for 3 nights in Fes and had the best breakfast! The hosts are so friendly and the Dar is actually a Museum house with lots of artefacts in the rooms! – Find on Booking.com here!
Riad Andalib $$ – A luxurious place to stay with incredible rooms and decor! The breakfast here looks amazing too. – Find on Booking.com here!
Riad Verus $ – A lovely hostel with dorms and private rooms, so it’s the perfect place to meet other travellers with the option of privacy! The Riad is well-decorated and has great vibes. – Find on Hostelworld here!
➤ Find more places to stay in Fes!
Where to eat in Fes
Fes is filled with delicious food from Morrocan cuisine to international options. Here’s a few places we recommend visiting during your 2 days in Fes:
- Veggie Pause $$ – a vegetarian restaurant in Fes with local and international food!
- Culture Box $-$$ – our favourite spot in Fes with amazing options & good prices!
- Sekaya $ – a great place to try affordable Moroccan food!
- Cinema Cafe $-$$ – perfect for breakfasts and local Moroccan food.
We’ve written a full guide on how to travel Moroccan as a vegan!
How to get to Fes
Fes has an international airport, so it’s possible to start your Morocco trip here! We travelled from Marrakech to Fes via a minivan as part of our 3 day tour to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech to Fes. After Fes, we took a bus to Chefchaouen!
How to get to Fes from Marrakech
Before we booked our Sahara Desert Tour we looked at how to get from Marrakech to Fes.
Plane – The quickest way to get from Marrakech to Fes is by plane which takes just under an hour with Air Arabic Maroc.
Train – This option will take around 7-8 hours and it’s a good idea to book your ticket in advance on the ONCF website.
Bus – Use CTM or Supratours to take a bus journey from Marrakech to Fes! It will take around 7 hours which is similar to a train and you can book these tickets online too.
How to get to Fes from Chefchaouen:
We travelled from Fes to Chefchaouen, so the journey will be the same but reversed!
A taxi from the Fes Medina to the CTM bus station in New Fes should cost no more than 20 MAD and the drivers should use the metre by law. We struggled to find this but accepted a 25MAD rate with no metre.
We booked our CTM tickets online, which cost 110 MAD per person from Fes to Chefchaouen. It also costs 5MAD per luggage that goes under the bus, our small backpacks were okay. You’ll need a ticket to retrieve the bag at the end of the journey which is reassuring!
No need to print the e-tickets for the bus, the driver checked our phones without any issues! Our seats were assigned online, so it was a pretty smooth process! There’s toilets at most bus stations throughout Morocco, but there wasn’t any on the bus, but there was AC!
We spoke to other travellers who were quoted €18 for a private transfer to Chefchaouen.
How to get around Fes
We highly recommend walking around Fes as it’s the best way to explore the medina! Even with 2 days in Fes, you have enough time to explore by foot.
Taxis – There’s plenty of taxis outside of the medina and we had to use one to get to the CTM Bus Station in New Town. Taxis should cost around 20 dirham per ride, but drivers will want to charge you way more than that, just haggle it down to a price you feel comfortable with.
Tours – Book yourself on a local cultural highlights guided tour and see the sights with a local guide.
Is Fes expensive?
Fes isn’t an expensive place to visit! Morocco is affordable for most travellers and you can expect to pay less than Western European countries.
- Expect to pay between 50 MAD – 150 MAD for tourist meals
- Local food could range between 5 MAD – 20 MAD for soup, filled khobz and wraps in the medina.
- Street bread (khobz) usually cost 1-2 MAD each, depending on type and size.
- Bananas have cost us between 13-20 MAD for roughly 5-6 large bananas. We consider this fair but likely high for local prices. Medlar fruit cost 7 MAD for a large bag, likely a local price.
- A 1.5L water bottle should cost between 6 MAD – 10 MAD in a shop. Although it’s likely to be 15 MAD – 20 MAD in a restaurant. You can buy 5L bottles for around 13 MAD in shops/stalls in the medina.
When to visit Fes
The temperatures in Morocco can get very high, especially in the Sahara! Fes can reach 40°C in the summer months of July-August so we recommend avoiding this time of year.
The best time to visit Fes is March to May and September to November!
The weather should be manageable and it won’t be too cold for visiting other areas of the country. The winter months are a good time to visit Fes with the temperature hovering around 15-20°C, but the mountains and Sahara will be pretty cold!
Although we’ve never visited Morocco during Ramadan, we’ve heard that it can be a wonderful time to visit! If you’re vegan (like us) you may want to avoid ‘Eid Al Adha’ which means ‘Feast of Sacrifice’. This celebration in Morocco comes with the sacrifice of sheep, goats, and cattle and this can happen within the Medina.
Is Fes worth visiting?
Yes! We’re so glad we visited Fes on our Morocco trip! It ended up being one of our favourite places as it was so authentic! It’s quite easy to get to from Marrakech and anywhere in Europe due to Fes having an international airport.
2 days is enough time to spend in Fes, but we ended up spending 3 and had a more relaxing visit (but we did also spend a few hours sorting our laundry out)!
When we were in Marrakech, we were warned about Fes and how locals are more intense, it’s busier and generally, the city is way more stressful but we actually found it to be the opposite of Marrakech.
Morocco’s largest Medina is worth adding to your Morocco bucket list!
Have a great trip to Fes! Find us on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers)! Check out more of our Morocco Travel Guides:
- Morocco on a budget: Travel Costs
- 2 Week Morocco Travel Guide
- 3 Day Marrakech Itinerary
- Sahara Desert Tour: What to Expect
- 2 Day Chefchaouen Itinerary
- Vegan in Morocco Travel Guide
LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!
