Fez is Morocco’s oldest imperial city and the cultural heart of the country. Its UNESCO-listed medina, Fes el Bali, is the largest car-free urban area in the world, with 9,400 narrow alleys hiding madrasas, tanneries, souks, and fondouks. Founded in 789 AD, Fez is home to the world’s oldest continuously operating university. Here are the top things to do in Fez, from historic landmarks to hands-on craft experiences. For monthly temperatures and rainfall data, see our Fez weather by month. For a complete overview, visit our Fez travel guide.
Things to Do in Fez: The Medina and Historic Landmarks
Bou Inania Madrasa
Built between 1350 and 1355 by Sultan Bou Inan, this is the finest Marinid-era theological college in Fez and one of the few religious buildings in Morocco open to non-Muslims. The courtyard features intricate zellij tilework, carved cedar wood, and stucco plasterwork. The minaret overlooks the medina rooftop. The madrasa also functions as a Friday mosque. Entry costs 20 MAD (US$2). Open daily 9am to 6pm, except during Friday prayers. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. Location: Talâa Kebira, Fes el Bali. To choose the best season for your trip, read our guide to the best time to visit Fez.
Al-Attarine Madrasa
Smaller than Bou Inania but with finer detail work, this 14th-century madrasa takes its name from the nearby perfume and spice market (Souk al-Attarine). The central courtyard features a marble fountain, finely carved stucco, and cedar wood screens. The upper floor held student cells. Entry costs 20 MAD. Open daily 9am to 6pm. Located near the spice souk off Talaa Kebira, a 5-minute walk from Bou Inania. Our Fez events and festivals guide lists all major annual events.
University of Al Quaraouiyine
Founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, this is the world’s oldest continuously operating university according to UNESCO and the Guinness World Records. Non-Muslims cannot enter the main building, but you can view the courtyard through the main gates on Rue Al Quaraouiyine. The university library was restored and reopened in 2016. The surrounding area, Place Seffarine, is the coppersmiths’ square where artisans hammer metal vessels by hand. Best viewed in the morning when the light hits the brass and copper. Learn about each area in our Fez neighborhoods guide.
Zaouia of Moulay Idriss II
The shrine of Moulay Idriss II, who ruled Fez from 807 to 828 and is credited with making it the capital of the Idrisid dynasty. Non-Muslims cannot enter the zaouia (shrine) itself, but you can peer into the courtyard from the entrance. The area around the shrine, Place Moulay Idriss, is a focal point of the medina. The wooden bars across the entrance are meant to prevent horses and donkeys from entering. Worth a brief stop while walking through the central medina. For accommodation recommendations, see where to stay in Fez.
Things to Do in Fez: Tanneries and Craft Workshops
Chouara Tannery
Fez’s largest and most famous tannery, operating since the 11th century. The stone vats filled with coloured dyes and white pigeon-dung softening solution are one of Morocco’s most photographed sights. You view it from the terraces of surrounding leather shops (free to enter, but shopkeepers expect you to browse). The best vantage point is from Leather Shop Terrace 10, with multiple levels of balconies. Go in the morning (before 11am) when the vats are full and the light is best. Bring a sprig of mint for your nose as the ammonia smell from the pigeon dung can be strong. The surrounding shops sell leather goods at inflated tourist prices, so bargain hard or buy elsewhere. Practical information is in our Fez travel tips guide.
Sidi Moussa Tanneries (The White Tannery)
A smaller, lesser-known tannery northwest of the medina near Bab Guissa. These tanneries specialise in white leather for bookbinding. Far fewer tourists visit, and you’ll get a more authentic, less pressured viewing experience. The white vats are used for cleaning hides before dyeing. Access requires navigating narrow residential alleys; a local guide helps find the entrance. Best for travellers seeking an alternative to the crowded Chouara experience.
Place Seffarine and Coppersmiths
The coppersmiths’ square next to the Quaraouiyine library is a working metalworking district. Artisans hammer brass, copper, and silver into pots, trays, lamps, and teapots using techniques passed down for centuries. The rhythmic sound of hammering fills the square throughout the day. You can watch craftsmen at work up close and buy directly from workshops (cheaper than the main souks). Best visited weekday mornings when all workshops are active.
Ceramics and Zellij Tile Workshops
The Ain Nokbi pottery district, located just outside the medina walls on the road to Sefrou, is where Fez’s famous ceramics are made. Workshops produce zellij mosaic tiles (the geometric tiles seen on every madrasa and fountain), hand-painted pottery, and tagine dishes. You can watch the entire process from clay shaping to kiln firing to hand-painting. Many workshops offer free tours and ship purchases internationally. Prices here are far lower than in medina souvenir shops. A taxi from Bab Jdid costs about 20 MAD (US$2).
Things to Do in Fez: Gates, Fortifications and Gardens
Bab Bou Jeloud (The Blue Gate)
The iconic blue gate is the main western entrance to Fes el Bali and the most photographed doorway in the city. Built in 1913 by the French, it features blue fassi tilework on the outside and green tilework on the inside (green is the colour of Islam). The area just inside the gate has cafes, food stalls, and money exchange offices. It’s the default meeting point and starting point for guided tours. Come at sunrise for photos without crowds. The gate faces west, so late afternoon light illuminates the blue tiles best.
Borj Nord and the Merenid Tombs
Borj Nord is a 16th-century Saadian fortress on the northern hill overlooking the medina. It houses the Arms Museum (Musee des Armes), displaying Moroccan weaponry from prehistoric times to the 20th century. Entry is 20 MAD. Just above Borj Nord lie the Merenid Tombs (14th century), now crumbling ruins with the best panoramic view of Fes el Bali. The hill is a popular sunset spot. It’s a steep 20-minute walk up from Bab Guissa; take a taxi if you’re not up for the climb. Go in the late afternoon for golden light over the medina. Free access.
Jnan Sbil Gardens
These restored Andalusian-style gardens sit between Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, just outside Bab Bou Jeloud. Paths weave through fountains, palm trees, bamboo groves, and flower beds. The gardens were originally part of a royal palace and were reopened to the public in 2010 after restoration. Free entry. Open daily from 8am to sunset. It is a quiet refuge from the medina’s intensity. Good for a picnic lunch or a shaded break during summer sightseeing.
Things to Do in Fez: Food and Cultural Experiences
Cooking Class in a Riad
Several riads and cooking schools offer half-day Moroccan cooking classes, typically starting with a guided visit to the souk to buy ingredients, followed by hands-on preparation of a tagine, couscous, or pastilla. Classes cost 300 to 500 MAD (US$30 to $50) per person and include the meal. Cafe Clock (48 Derb Jamaa) runs popular 3-hour workshops. Book at least a day ahead. Most classes are in English or French.
Fes Food Tour
Guided evening food tours navigate the medina’s street food scene: bissara (dried fava bean soup), harira (chickpea and lentil soup), maakouda (potato fritters), and chebakia (honey-soaked sesame cookies). Tours typically last 3 hours, cost 250 to 400 MAD (US$25 to $40) per person, and cover 5 to 8 tasting stops. They run daily starting around 6pm from Bab Bou Jeloud. A good introduction to medina street food without the guesswork of which stalls are safe.
Hammam Experience
A visit to a traditional hammam (public bathhouse) is a quintessential Moroccan experience. For an authentic local hammam, try Hammam Mernissi near Bab Guissa (mixed hours for men and women; entry 10 MAD plus 50 MAD for a scrub and soap). For a more spa-like experience, Riad Laaroussa and Palais Faraj offer private hammam sessions with argan oil massages (from 300 MAD/US$30). Bring your own soap, shampoo, and a scrub glove for public hammams. Women should wear underwear or bikini bottoms.
