THE PERFECT ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS IN FES, MOROCCO
Day 5 of our Two Weeks in Morocco has us leaving the blue city of Chefchaeoun and heading to Fes. While the grand taxi (at $25 a person) is an option, due to the length of this drive, we had prearranged with Hotel Dar Mounir to drive us for 1200 dirhams, that’s $115 – not cheap. The full drive will take you around 4 hours. It’s worth the drive though because Fes is a completely different experience than the other cities on this 14 day tour.
FIRST AND FOR MOST: HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO VISIT FES?:
As I mentioned, Fes really stood out for us as a truly unique Moroccan city - one that was my favorite actually! Because of the sheer size of the medina and attractions around it, we decided to stay 3 days in Fes. Our last day was a little slow (which in the middle of a two week vacation was actually a GOOD thing) so I'm happy we had some cushion.
Read on to see how we filled our time in this lovely city!
WHERE TO STAY FOR YOUR 3 DAYS IN FES, MOROCCO:
Riad Sara
17 Derb El Gabasse، Fes 30000, Morocco
Once again located in the middle of it all, Riad Sara was the first riad we stayed at while in Morocco. A riad is traditionally a family home. Its design is to give the family communal space which it does by having an open terrace/garden in the middle with all of the rooms surrounding it. Our room was huge and the $55 a night rate came with free breakfast.
WHAT TO DO FOR 3 DAYS IN FES, MOROCCO: DAY 1
You will be less than surprised to find out that the top thing to do in Fes is to explore the Fes el Bali aka the medina. Fes' is huge and the alley ways are even more windy than in Tangier. Some spots to hit include the Bab Boujeloud, an ornate gate to the medina, Al Attarine Madrasa, an ancient religious school that was closed while we were there and Rue Seffarine where you can peek in at metal worker’s shops.
Follow any alleyway you like, stopping to try freshly grilled kebabs on the street or pastries from one of the many bakeries. Just be wary of any strangers that offer to give you directions - likely they will demand money after doing so. We also had people telling us certain alley ways were closed and trying to get us to follow them the other way. It wasn't true. Morocco is after all a poor country so some of this goes with the territory - just ignore them and keep walking.
You can also enter the Bou Inania Madrasa - a religious school and mosque from the 1400s that showcases incredible tile work and craftsmanship. It is possible to take a tour or go in by yourself for just 10 dirhams.
DAY 2 OF YOUR 3 DAYS IN FES, MOROCCO
The most popular stop - and the one that is most unique to Fes is a trip to the Chouara Tanneries. Located at the north east corner of the medina, you will smell them before you see them. The easiest way to view the tannery is to enter into one of the shops that borders it. I had read that stall #10 offers the best view so that's what we did. We were welcomed in and given a chunk of mint to stuff up our noses for the viewing. The smell is intense but also manageable. The tannery is filled with huge pots of dyes and bleaches, made of manure, urine and herbs. The workers stand directly in these to work which is a sight in itself. You will also see huge piles of hides getting ready to enter the vats or dry. On your way out, you may be pressured to shop inside the stall. I bought a pair of traditional Moroccan shoes and after seeing directly where it was made, I was excited about them. Just be sure to haggle - offer half price and expect to pay around 60-70% of what the original quote was.
Once you're medina'd out, consider taking a walk up to the Marinid Tombs. You'll leave the walls of the medina to do so but its a pleasant walk and view back at the city. These Roman tombs may be as old as the 13th century.
DAY 3 OF YOUR 3 DAYS IN FES, MOROCCO
Check out the Jnan sbil park, which is located outside of the medina and in the more modern area of Fes. It's small but well maintained and worth a walk around. Here you can see more of what normal life in Fes is like. The average person that lives here is likely not venturing into the medina for daily shopping, instead sticking to modern grocery stores and malls like this one.
While in this area you can also check our the Royal Palace of Fez which is worth a look a walk around the Mellah - Jewish Quarter.
RELAXATION PIT STOP:
Hammam Mernessi Hitting the hammam is a must do while in Morocco and after days and days of walking this is how we decided to end our 3 days in Fes. You can book an appointment by messaging them on facebook - and they respond quickly. You'll have a couple options of various combos with scrubs and/or massages. We opted for the scrub and 30 min massage for 420 dh. The massage was not great (if you like it hard) and they applied too much oil for my taste but I was here for the scrub anyway. If you haven't done a hammam before, be prepared to take it all off. They will give you disposable underwear to wear - and that's it. The scrub can be intense but you will feel re birthed to the world after!
WHERE TO EAT: IN FES
Mom's Touch - Our absolute favorite meal of the trip. Get the ginger chicken tagine with dates/pineapple and the amlou cheesecake. The staff was SO nice too
Cafe Clock - A popular spot you will hear about in both Fes and Marrakech. Try their camel burger pictured below
Riad Fes Relais & Chateaux - one of the few hidden bars in the city, set in a stunning riad
Hotel Batha - It's a British saloon in the middle of a dry city
Continuing on around Morocco? Check out our other guides!
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