Looking for the best place to stay in Fez?
Follow the guide, we have tested, listed and detailed for you the best areas to stay in Fez as well as the best accommodation in this city that we love visiting so much.
Fez, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, is full of places of great interest that tell the story of Arab-Muslim culture, as well as buildings that bear witness to its past greatness.
To soak up the intoxicating sights and exhilarating sounds of Fez, the best place to stay seems to be in or around the medina, which, with its bustling souks, mystical alleyways and historic monuments, will add another dimension to your stay. But is this the only option, in a surprising city that doesn’t really reveal all its secrets?
Wondering where the best places to stay in Fez are? Follow the guide, we’ve selected our favourite areas to stay in Fez.
⏰ Don’t have time to read everything?
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations (Riads ) sorted by price category:
🚨 Note: These hotels are among the most popular, so don’t delay booking. What’s more, they offer free cancellation, so don’t worry if you change your mind
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with panoramic views over the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book here.
🌃 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
Table des matières
The best areas to stay in Fès
In Bab BouJloud
Immense and imposing, Bab Boujloud, the gateway to the old city, is also notable for its blue and green earthenware tiles, which are the emblematic colours of Fez.
If you have chosen to stay in this district as your accommodation in Fez, this is where your taxi will drop you off as soon as you arrive from the airport. To reach your hotel or Riad, you’ll need to walk for a few minutes. This is a pedestrian zone and no cars are allowed in the old town.
This will also be the starting point for all your strolls and wanderings in the medina. Fès’ first bus station is just a few metres from the Porte Bleue.
5 things to see or do here:
- Visit the two major avenues, Talaâ Kbira and Talaâ Sghira
- Tour the entire medina
- Savour traditional Moroccan cuisine in the medina’s various restaurants: couscous and tajine are just some of the dishes on the menu
- Sip mint tea on the lively terraces of the cafés
- Visit the souks
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the best area to stay in Fès
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book here.
🌃 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
Where to stay in Fès with your family: the Old Medina (Fès El Bali)
The Old Medina Fès El Bali is the nerve centre of the city. You can reach it from the 2 main thoroughfares, Talaâ Kbira and Talaâ Sghira, or from the Rcif district.
The old town has retained all its charm and authenticity, bearing witness to a glorious past. You’ll love wandering and getting lost in its narrow streets and lively souks.
It’s also the perfect place for shopping. You’ll end up in the centre of an area brimming with little stalls, workshops and galleries, where you’re sure to find an array of gifts for your friends and loved ones.
5 things to see and do here
- See the Al Quaraouiyne Mosque
- Visit the Médersa Attarine
- Visit the Medersa Bou Inania
- Stroll around Place El Nejarine and its museum
- Explore the Batha Museum
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the old medina where to stay in Fez
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book here.
🌃 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
In the New Town
This district near the central station is not lacking in charm either, and you’re sure to enjoy it just as much as the old town, but in a different way.
In the New Town, which has just celebrated its centenary, many buildings are European in style, but the most remarkable buildings are houses built in the first half of the twentieth century.
But you’ll also find offices, doctors’ surgeries and a host of hotels.
There are also bars, terraces, restaurants and brand-name shops. If you’re a fan of nightlife and its surprises and temptations, this is the place to be.
5 things to see and do here
- Discover the Avenida Hassan II
- Go shopping in the luxury boutiques
- Have a mint tea on the terrace of a café
- Stroll through the gardens of the Nouvelle Ville
- Dine in an Italian or Moroccan restaurant
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the New Town where to stay in Fès
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book here.
🌃 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
What’s the best area to stay for the first time in Fez?
If this is your first visit to Fez, we recommend you stay in the area around the Quaraouiyine Mosque, on the left bank of the Medina, near Place Nejjarine.
In the centre of this medieval area, which has withstood the effects of time and retained all its charm of yesteryear, you can enjoy excellent proximity to the most important tourist attractions, such as the imposing Al-Quaraouiyine mosque and its 16 naves.
It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in a friendly atmosphere steeped in history, which we particularly enjoyed!
5 things to see and do here
- See the Al-Quaraouiyine mosque
- Visit the Médersa Cherratine (94 m)
- See the Moulay Idriss sanctuary
- Visit the Place Nejjarine (88 m away) and its museum
- Explore the Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts (231 m away)
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the best area to stay for the first time in Fez
Note: Don’t delay booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book here.
Where to stay in Fès to visit
As has already been said and suggested, to get the most out of your trip to Fès, it would be more subtle to opt for accommodation in the historic centre.
The Andalusian quarter, which is one of the star districts of Fès el-Bali, could be a good choice. It could offer you a foretaste that would make your stay even more enjoyable.
The Andalusian side of the city stands out for the authenticity of its religious monuments and the craftsmanship of its inhabitants. One of the most captivating sights in the Andalusi district is the Andalusian Mosque, crowned by its magnificent minaret in the colours of the city and of Islam.
If you’re a shopping aficionado, the local souks and goldsmiths’ shops are the perfect place to pick up some bargains. But it’s also the perfect place to enjoy the city’s bustle and exotic beauty.
5 things to see and do
- Explore the Chouara Tanneries (at 431 m)
- Visit the Des Andalous mosque
- See the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque (534 m away)
- Visit the Médersa Cherratine (558 m)
- See the Médersa Attarine (577 m away)
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the best area to visit Fès
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book your room here.
The place to stay in Fès for couples and lovers
What could be better than a little romantic getaway to fan the flames of passion in your relationship? And Fès has no shortage of romantic accommodation.
A first romantic getaway is like taking a placement test, and perhaps, double or nothing. That’s why we warmly recommend this region where stress will have no power over your couple: Fès el Bali. Here, all your senses will be awakened. The flow of smells, the local crafts and the friendliness of the locals will fascinate you to no end.
The pinnacle of this experience is when you visit the Chouara tannery together, and there all your senses will awaken, get carried away, even explode. The smell and the spectacle of the intense, brilliant colours of the dyes that are revealed to you will be the memory that will forever mark your mind, the memory that will forever remind you of this wonderful region and your passion for it.
The best place to stay in Fès as a family with children
The medina remains the most attractive district for a stay in Fès with children, a trip they won’t soon forget.
Your children, whatever their age, are sure to enjoy wandering through the souks of the medina. Exotic and a complete change of scenery thanks to the different sounds, colours and scents, the souks are home to a myriad of gadgets and unusual objects. We also recommend taking them on a bicycle tour of the Medina or a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city. Wouldn’t this be a motivating way to encourage them to open up to other civilisations, to inspire in them a desire to see new horizons?
The chic district for accommodation in Fès
If you’re looking for a peaceful stay, far from the hustle and bustle of the old town, Fès Jdid, the new Medina, seems to lend itself wonderfully to your desires. This district is home to the city’s most important institutions. As you stroll through this select, residential part of Fès, you’ll also find a wide choice of restaurants, hotels and luxury Riads, as well as a panoply of shops selling traditional clothes, mules, fabrics, etc. At the bend in an alleyway, on a street corner, you may come across stalls selling spices, or stalls selling henna and many other products.
What to see and do here
- Take a stroll along the main street in the district
- Visit the Royal Palace
- Take a tour of the Mellah, the Jewish quarter
- Go shopping in the Arab market
- Visit the Jardin Jnan Sbil
Here are our 3 favourite hotels (Riads ) in the best chic district to stay in Fès
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these Riad hotels are among the most booked in Fez.
(€) Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab. This cheap Riad in Fez is located in the centre of Fez and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the medina. Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Riad Alya. Riad Alya offers a refined and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the medieval city of Fès. It is located in the travellers’ favourite district. Book here.
(€€€) Riad Braya. This beautiful Riad is located in the historic part of Fez and features an indoor swimming pool in the patio, a lounge area and an Italian marble courtyard. It has a terrace with mountain views. Book your room here.
The tourist district in Fès
There are a number of tourist districts in Fès, some perhaps more so than others, such as Batha, home to a number of riads, a museum and a square where taxis drop off tourists.
Boujloud, with its legendary blue gateway to the medina, is a favourite with visitors to Fès. Here, in addition to a food souk, you can also discover traditional Moroccan gastronomy in its traditional snack bars serving kebabs with unforgettable flavours.
Neighbourhoods to avoid
Some neighbourhoods don’t really enjoy a good reputation, most of which are located on the Andalusian bank, such as Jnane Bou Taa, or Sidi Boujida..
There are mainly snack bars and cafés frequented only by men. It should also be said that this area is not very popular with tourists. In fact, there are hardly any guides to help you find your way around. But could we decide to classify it as a place to be avoided? As the area is still little-known, it’s hard to know whether this reputation is justified or not.
We advise you to stick to the main streets, be a little more vigilant and you’ll be safe from unpleasant surprises.
Best area(s) for going out
Going out means, in other words, attending musical evenings, having a drink, dancing – in short, letting off steam in a festive atmosphere, where alcohol is often the main guest. In Morocco, this is still possible, but outside the Medina, which, although popular with tourists, remains more conservative. The New Towns are better suited to a more westernised lifestyle, with trendier, more exciting evenings including spirits and beer, dancing and music.
Where to stay near Fès
Meknes is perhaps the best option, the ideal place. As the crow flies, the city is around 53 km from Fès, so you can easily reach it. But staying in Meknes is also an opportunity to discover this imperial city, to wander as you please through the labyrinth of its alleyways, and to get lost, indulge yourself and soak up the exclusive atmosphere of its medina.
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