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Fes

Morocco travel guide

What to see in Fes

The largest and most authentic medina in the country, with tanneries, madrasas and centuries of history.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from April to January
  • Stay in Fes el-Bali
  • Typical food: Chicken pastilla
Photo: Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fes highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Fes el-Bali medina

    One of the densest pedestrian medinas in the world.

  2. Chouara Tannery

    Pits of colour seen from the terraces.

  3. Al Quaraouiyine University

    Founded in 859; one of the oldest universities.

  4. Bab Bou Jeloud

    The blue gate into the medina.

  5. Bou Inania Madrasa

    A Marinid madrasa open to non-Muslims.

  6. Jnan Sbil Gardens

    An Andalusi park between the medina and the Ville Nouvelle.

Where to stay in Fes

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Fes el-Bali · Ville Nouvelle

Day trips from Fes

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Fes

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Fes are from April to January.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February, March

    Ramadan (approximate dates)

    During the day many restaurants close or open less and museum and shop hours change. The evenings, with iftar, are very special.

    What to do: Out of respect, don’t eat or drink in the street during the day; book dinner for after sunset.

Typical food of Fes

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Fes from your kitchen).

Chicken pastilla
Photo: Krista · CC BY 2.0

Chicken pastilla

The jewel of Fes cooking: a pie of wafer-thin pastry filled with spiced chicken, egg and almonds, topped with icing sugar and cinnamon. Sweet and savoury at once.

  • Serves 6
  • 2 h

Ingredients

  • 1 kg chicken thighs
  • 2 onions
  • 1 bunch of parsley and coriander
  • 1 teaspoon each of ginger, cinnamon and pepper and a few strands of saffron
  • 6 eggs
  • 200 g blanched almonds
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon
  • 12 sheets of brick or filo pastry
  • 100 g melted butter
  • Icing sugar

How to make it at home

  1. Simmer the chicken with the grated onion, herbs, spices and a glass of water for 1 hour. Shred it off the bone.
  2. Reduce the stock, add the beaten eggs and let them set while stirring, like soft scrambled eggs.
  3. Fry the almonds, chop them coarsely and mix them with the sugar and cinnamon.
  4. In a tin, layer buttered sheets of pastry so they hang over the edge. Add layers of egg, chicken and almond, and close with the overhanging sheets and a few more.
  5. Bake at 180 °C for about 25 minutes, until golden. Decorate with icing sugar and lines of cinnamon.

The trick: It’s also made with fish (seafood pastilla), without sugar.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the souk stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Morocco guide.

  • Nur

    Medina

    Contemporary Moroccan cooking.

  • Café Clock

    Medina

    Views and local dishes.

Frequently asked questions about Fes

What to see in Fes?

Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara Tannery, Al Quaraouiyine University, Bab Bou Jeloud, Bou Inania Madrasa and Jnan Sbil Gardens.

What to see in Fes in one day?

Don’t miss Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara Tannery, Al Quaraouiyine University, Bab Bou Jeloud, Bou Inania Madrasa and Jnan Sbil Gardens. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Fes?

The handiest areas to stay are Fes el-Bali and Ville Nouvelle.

What’s the best time to travel to Fes?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Fes are from April to January.

What day trips can you take from Fes?

Guided tour of the Fes medina, Volubilis and Meknes and Chefchaouen from Fes.

What is the typical food of Fes?

Chicken pastilla. The jewel of Fes cooking: a pie of wafer-thin pastry filled with spiced chicken, egg and almonds, topped with icing sugar and cinnamon. Sweet and savoury at once.

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More in Morocco

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.