The Top Things To-Do for an Incredible Time in Fes Morocco

Fes

Fes really surprised me in the best way. I loved the massive medina, plenty of history, and people eager to tell you about their culture. After being warned ahead of time that we may be put off on Fes by the constant hassling from shop keeps I can gladly say that was not our experience at all! We stayed in the best Riad in Fes, took an amazing tour through the city, and ate some incredible food, I can’t wait for you to experience Fes too!

Where to Stay

Riad Laaroussa: Staying in a Riad of course is a must while in Morocco and we decided to splurge on the magnificent Riad Laaroussa. The location is in the heart of everything and once you enter the unassuming door you are transported to a stunning oasis. The details here are amazing and the accommodations are super luxurious. We checked into the Gray Suite which was massive with a fireplace, bathtub and stunning view of the courtyard and fruit trees. We had a fabulous massage in the in-house spa and cooled off in the incredible pool as much as we could! The rooftop terrace has a massive breakfast which is included in your stay and they have a great restaurant all day too!

What to Do

Tour the Medina: To get our bearings for the city we booked an Airbnb tour experience Fes Walking Tour with Hanna after seeing amazing reviews for her and we are SO glad we did! Hanna is such an amazing person and is so knowledgeable on all things Fes. She took us to some local shops, we tried her favorite foods, shopped, and laughed! Hanna had a great sense of humor, and we saw all the major sights of the city. She is a mother and a badass working woman in Morocco and I want her to get all the support she deserves! When she found out we were on our honeymoon she arranged some special treats for us to experience what a Moroccan wedding was like - so fun! Touring and getting a feel for the Medina is a must do first step

Visit the Tannery: This is one of the most impressive working tanneries in the world and is a must see in Fes! People have been working and dying leather in the same family business for generations. We were warned over and over about the smell, but to be honest it didn’t bug us too much! I don’t know if we became desensitized to smells like that after living in China or what but we didn’t really need the mint they gave us to mask the smell! haha

Al Attarine Madrasa: This old Islamic school is a beautiful example of Moroccan architecture and great place to take photos. It was built in 1325 and is a quite peaceful sanctuary in the heart of the city! The entrance fee is really small, which is true of most sights in the city. If you find that you stumbled upon any Madrassa or museum, its worth the small fee to pop in and check out what’s there! Part of the fun of exploring the crazy winding streets of Fes

Bou Inania Madrasa: Including another Madrasa because this one is the biggest in Fes, is inexpensive and has a mosque within the walls which make for beautiful views and photos! Madrasa’s are such a unique and mysterious place people have been studying at for centuries. Pro-tip: I recommend only looking at all the dormitories in one Madrasa during your visit to Morocco because they can start looking similar and there’s a lot more unique things to explore!

The Blue Gate: As you wander the streets of the medina, make your way to the blue gate to see the impressive arches that mark the entrance to the ancient walled city of Fes! The blue side of the gate which greets visitors as they enter represent the city of Fes, and on the reverse side when you leave is the green color of Islam. I love how Morocco uses colors in a meaningful way, which also makes the city feel magical and cohesive

Where to Eat

The Ruined Garden: Make a reservation in advanced for this magical garden since it gets busy here! We opted for dusk to watch the garden transform into a romantic candlelit oasis and a highly recommend it. This restaurant is in a cozy old courtyard overgrown with plants and a beautiful garden. The food was delicious, and this was our favorite restaurant in Fes!

Café Clock: We got to this awesome rooftop restaurant right before sunset and snagged the private table up on the upper roof and it was pure magic! We tried the camel burger which was pretty good and got some tagine that was delicious! Such a fun spot that feels like a perfect blend of cultures. The views from this restaurant are worth the trip alone, a must try in Fes!

Riad Laaroussa Restaurant: We started every day with a gorgeous feast on the rooftop of this Riad. It’s the perfect viewpoint of Fes and the decor puts you right into vacation relaxation mode. They have a great restaurant for lunch and dinner which is great especially if you just had a long day of traveling and want to unwind after checking in! Make reservations in advanced to eat here

Street food in the Medina: Part of the fun of staying in the old city is tasting some of the traditional food! We loved the little sweet fried pastries (pictured above), that are a tradition during Ramadan. Trying Moroccan bread is also a must, and the bread is even better with some Harira which is a tomato based soup! My favorite street food we tried was Maakouda, which is like a little flat potato patty - picture a hash brown but made of delicious mashed potato instead - sooo good!!

What to Pack

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