One of Morocco’s best-preserved cities, Fes (also spelled “Fez”) will transport you back in time with its traditional culture and beautiful historic buildings. The ancient medina retains much of its old-world charm, offering a labyrinth of narrow streets and winding alleys that are dotted with souks, market stalls, tradesmen, and the occasional donkey. In fact, with ~150,000 inhabitants, the Fes medina is the world’s largest car-free zone and in 1981, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This beautiful colonial city is now becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing travel destinations. Its hectic pace can be overwhelming to some travelers, but that’s also what makes a trip to Fes so compelling.
If you don’t want to attempt to navigate Fes on your own, then you may feel more comfortable on a guided tour. There are hundreds of tour options in Fes – a handicraft tour where you’ll learn from local artisans, a Moroccan cooking class with a master chef, and many more! And once you’re done exploring the old city of Fes, you’ll find plenty of day trips nearby, including the blue-washed city of Chefchaouen and the site of the oldest Roman ruins in Morocco, Volubilis.
Here is our list of the 7 best Fes tours and day trips to the nearby attractions. Whatever tour you choose you’re sure to be charmed by the fascinating city of Fes!
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How to Book Tours in Fes
While there is no shortage of tour agents in Fes, you never really know how reputable they are. We prefer booking our tours online at GetYourGuide.com because you can compare all the Fes tour options around Fes in one place and choose the excursion that is just right for you. Plus, GetYourGuide has an excellent cancellation policy in case your holiday plans change.
The Best Tours and Day Trips in Fes, Morocco
1. Explore the Medina of Old Fes
There’s no better way to get acquainted with the bewildering medina of Old Fes than with a local guide. During this 4-hour walking tour, you will explore the walled city, stopping at ancient mosques, beautiful madrasas, and colorful souks to shop for unique Moroccan souvenirs.
On your own, it’s easy to get lost in the complex maze of streets that make up the Fes medina. But on this tour, you’ll navigate the narrow, winding alleyways with a knowledgeable local guide who will enlighten you on all the historic sites along the way.
You’ll visit the top Islamic sites of Fes, including Bou Inania Madrasa, which dates back to the 13th century, as well as the beautiful Kairaouine Mosque and Andalusian Mosque. Other points of interest along your route include the Nejjarine Fountain with its elaborate mosaic tiles and the impressive Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts. You’ll also have a chance to see the Chouara Tannery, packed with round stone vessels filled with colorful leather dyes.
Another highlight of this walking tour is Batha Palace. The Batha Palace is a former royal palace that has gorgeous gardens. It is now a museum home to a collection of traditional arts and crafts like colorful Moroccan carpets.
Even though we love exploring new places on our own, we can personally attest to how easily you can become lost in the medina of Old Fes. If there is one city in the world where it pays to have a local guide, Fes is at the top of the list!
Your Fes medina tour will include the following:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Professional tour guide
2. Discover Traditional Berber Artworks on a Fes Handicraft Tour
Fes is the capital of trade in Morocco so there is no better place in the country to learn about Moroccan handicrafts. On this full-day handicraft tour, you’ll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at local craft manufacturing.
As you explore the twisting alleyways of the medina, you’ll meet local artisans and get a glimpse of their busy workshops. Everything from carpet weaving, brass-etching, woodcarving, and leatherwork, all being passed down from master to apprentice. And at the end of your tour, you’ll even get to try your artistic skills at pottery and scarf-making classes with local instructors.
On your handicraft Fes tour, you’ll view the talented workmanship on display at Place Seffarine, a metalworker’s souk where copper, metal, and silversmiths hammer out their handiworks to a beautiful melody. Next, you’ll discover the Chaourie Tannery, one of the oldest tanneries in Africa. They have been using the same traditional leather dyeing techniques for hundreds of years!
You’ll visit the Batha Museum and see its excellent collection of traditional Moroccan arts and crafts. Then it’s off to Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts to marvel at its stunning courtyard and intricately-carved wooden architectural details.
This jam-packed tour brings the artistic heritage of Fes and wider Morocco to life. If you’re excited about shopping in Morocco then this is one of the best tours in Fes for you!
Your Fes handicraft tour will include the following:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Pottery and scarf-making classes
- Entrance fees to historical sites
3. Taste the Flavors of Fes with a Moroccan Cooking Class
Moroccan cuisine is famous all over the world, so why not sharpen your cooking skills with a Moroccan cooking class? During this unique cooking class, you’ll actually be able to choose what Moroccan dishes you want to learn to cook!
You’ll learn tasty recipes to take home with you – delicious tagines, fresh salads, homemade bread, and sweet desserts. But the best part is at the end when you can enjoy the delicious meal you prepared with the help of a local chef.
Your five-hour cooking class will begin by choosing what you want to prepare from a selection of Morocco’s most iconic dishes. After choosing your menu, you’ll head to one of Fes’ many souks with your chef to purchase fresh local ingredients. Your guide will show you how to shop like a local. They will explain key Moroccan spices, such as cinnamon, saffron, and turmeric that comprise the unique flavors of North African cuisine.
Next, you’ll head to the home of a local family where you’ll receive a warm welcome with traditional Moroccan tea. You’ll be using their kitchen to prepare your meal which adds to the authenticity of this Moroccan cooking experience.
After learning the ins and outs of your chosen recipe with instruction from the chef, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. With your fellow students, you will have a relaxing and rewarding lunch with new friends. If you love food then this cooking tour is a must-do and is sure to be an unforgettable experience!
Your Moroccan cooking class will include the following:
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Cooking instruction by a master chef
- Shopping excursion in a local souk
- Ingredients for your delicious lunch
4. Unwind with a Luxurious Hammam Treatment
Exploring the expansive medina of Fes can be exhausting and overwhelming. Take a break to indulge yourself and revitalize your skin with a traditional Hammam massage in a luxurious palace. For 3+ hours, you’ll be the center of a Moroccan cleansing and relaxing ritual that has been around for centuries.
You’ll receive a traditional beauty treatment, including a body massage using special oils made locally. This multi-step treatment will melt away your stress, rehydrate your skin, and will leave you feeling reinvigorated.
Hammam treatments begin with a deep cleansing in a hot steam room – much needed after walking through the dusty street of Fes. Next, you’ll enter a lavish candle-lit bathing room for a traditional deep-tissue massage from a professional hammam attendant. You’ll be pampered with a unique combination of nourishing oils that are produced locally in Fes. Your treatment ends with a body scrub that will soften and exfoliate your skin.
Following your hammam treatment, you’ll relax in the resting room enjoying light tapas and a refreshing glass of mint tea. There is simply no better way to unwind after a long day of sightseeing Fes than with a hammam!
Your luxury hammam spa experience will include the following:
- Hammam massage with a body scrub
- Light tapas menu and mint tea
5. Learn the History of Morocco in Meknes and Volubilis
Take a respite from the rush of Fes to visit the holy cities of Northern Morocco. On this full-day excursion, you’ll explore the historic Roman ruins of Volubilis, visit the whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss, and tour the ancient Imperial City of Meknes.
Your day trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, and Meknes begins at 9 am with a pick-up at your accommodation in Fes before departing for Volubilis. Once you arrive at these 2000-year-old ruins, you’ll have an hour to roam through the crumbling stone buildings. Just imagine what life was like during the days of the Roman Empire! The ruins of Volubilis are one of Morocco’s best-preserved Roman sites.
Next on your tour is a short stop to the beautiful hill town of Moulay Idriss. This white-washed city is home to the tomb of Idris I, the great-great-great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Islamic ruler of Morocco. Moulay Idriss is so sacred to Moroccans that foreigners were not even allowed to stay overnight in the town until only recently.
The tour continues with a trip to Meknes, where you are free to explore the laid-back atmosphere of the old town center on your own. Be sure to check out the central El Hedim Square, a smaller version of the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech, as well as the Bab Mansour Gate, an enormous gateway to the walled city that features intricate mosaic tilework across its arches.
You can also visit the Dar Jamai Museum of Moroccan Art to see a wide variety of handicrafts, and you’ll pass by the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, a beautifully decorated tomb that is the resting place of the most famous sultans of Morocco.
Your Meknes and Volubilis day trip will include the following:
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Transportation to Volubilis, Moulay Idris, and Meknes
- You’ll also have the option of a guide in Volubilis and Meknes
6. Wander the Picturesque Blue City of Chefchaouen
Located in the northwestern mountains of Morocco lies the striking and overwhelmingly beautiful blue-washed town of Chefchaouen. You have probably seen photos of Chefchaouen, but pictures simply don’t do it justice. You’ll want to see this amazing Moroccan city with your own eyes. Plus, it’s easy to do on a day trip from Fes to the blue city of Chefchaouen.
Your tour starts with a pick-up from your accommodation in Fes at 8 am. After arriving in Chefchaouen, you’ll have four hours of free time to wander the striking blue streets on your own. Luckily, this cute mountain town is smaller and much easier to navigate than the larger cities in Morocco.
As you explore Chefchaouen, we recommend a stop at the Kasbah Museum, the Grand Mosque, and the Ethnographic Museum which contains musical instruments and relics of the old town. You’ll also want to save time for lunch in one of the cafes in Plaza Uta el-Hammam – the main square of Chefchaouen. Then enjoy the panoramic view from the Spanish mosque or any cafe with a rooftop.
Don’t forget your camera for your trip to Chefcahaouen – there are so many pretty alleys that make perfect backdrops for photos in this beautiful blue city. If you’re seeking the perfect Instagram photo in Morocco then you don’t want to miss this day trip from Fes!
Your Chefchaouen day trip will include the following:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- A comfortable air-conditioned minivan with a professional driver
7. Visit Rabat, the Capital City of Morocco
Often overlooked by visitors to Morocco, the capital city of Rabat offers plenty of impressive sights, including the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Chellah, Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower, and the old medina. The fact that this seaside city is off the main tourist track is part of its charm. And if you take the time to visit, you’ll appreciate being away from the tourist crowds of Fes.
Your full-day tour of Rabat will begin with the Hassan Tower standing high on a hill overlooking the Bou Regreg River. Originally commissioned in 1195, the unfinished Hassan Tower was intended to be the tallest minaret in the world and part of a magnificent mosque. But when the Caliph died in 1199, construction ground to a halt, and the tower, along with the mosque, was never completed.
Next, it’s off to the exotic Mausoleum Mohammed V, an elaborately decorated tomb with intricately carved marble and stunning stained glass windows. And then a delicious Moroccan meal at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you’ll explore the UNESCO-protected Kasbah of the Udayas. This 12th-century kasbah is perched over the water, providing great views of the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll relax in the Moorish-style gardens and admire the Islamic and French-colonial influences around you.
The last stops on your tour include a visit to the Chellah ruins – the remains of a walled fort city built by the Romans that is now a Muslim necropolis – and finally a stroll through the modern new part of Rabat.
This enchanting and often underrated city should be on everyone’s bucket list when visiting Morocco. If you have time for a day trip from Fes to Rabat you certainly won’t regret it!
Your Rabat: Full-Day Trip From Fes tour will include the following:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver
That’s it – The 7 best tours in Fes! Do you have a favorite day trip or tour in Fes? Let us know below.
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