Late afternoon
Pickup
Your guide and driver collect you from a medina gate or your riad.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Sunset at Borj Nord and the Merinid Tombs
Watch the sun set over Fes el-Bali from the Merinid Tombs, the 14th-century royal ruins on the hill north of the medina, after a stop at the 16th-century Saadian fort of Borj Nord. Your guide drives you up and points out the Qarawiyyin and the tanneries. Allow about 1.5–2.5 hours.
- Private or small-group
- A local guide with you
- Quoted for your dates
What it's like
On the hill just north of the medina sit two of the best viewpoints in Fes. Borj Nord is a 16th-century Saadian fortress built to watch over the city, now home to an arms museum. A little higher, the Merinid Tombs are the ruins of 14th-century royal tombs, open to the sky and looking straight down over the whole of Fes el-Bali.
At sunset the medina below turns gold, the lights come on, and the calls to prayer rise from hundreds of minarets at once. Your guide drives you up, explains what you are looking at, from the green roofs of the Qarawiyyin to the tanneries, and brings you back down for dinner.
Best for: Your first evening in Fes, to see the city whole; Photographers; Couples.
- How long
- About 1.5–2.5 hours
- Where
- The hill north of Fes el-Bali: Borj Nord and the Merinid Tombs
- How active
- Some walking
- Families
- Children welcome
How it runs
A typical running order. Timings shift with your group, the season and the day of the week.
+0:15
Borj Nord
Stop at the Saadian fort for the view and, if it is open, a look at the arms museum.
+0:45
The Merinid Tombs
Walk up to the ruins and find a spot on the hillside as the light softens.
Sunset
The view and the call to prayer
Watch the medina change colour, with your guide pointing out the landmarks below.
After dark
Back to the medina
Drive back down for dinner, or to your riad.
Up close
Borj Nord
A 16th-century Saadian fortress on the hill north of the medina, now an arms museum.
The Merinid Tombs
Ruins of 14th-century Merinid royal tombs, the classic sunset viewpoint over Fes el-Bali.
The call to prayer at dusk
At sunset the call rises from minarets all over the medina, one of the most memorable sounds in Morocco.
Private or small-group
Private
Your party with a guide and driver, timed to the day's sunset, with dinner booked afterwards if you like.
Small-group
A shared sunset outing with a few other travellers and a shared vehicle.
Practical notes
Bring a layer; it gets cool on the hill after sunset, especially outside summer. The ground around the tombs is rough and uneven, so wear sturdy shoes. Museum opening hours vary; the viewpoints are outdoors.
Good to know
Sunset time changes through the year; we set the pickup to match. Going with a guide is more comfortable than walking up alone after dark. Pairs well with a music evening or a rooftop dinner.
Before you knock
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Where is the best sunset view in Fes?
The Merinid Tombs on the hill north of the medina are the classic spot, with Borj Nord just below. Both look straight over Fes el-Bali.
What are the Merinid Tombs?
The ruins of 14th-century tombs of the Merinid dynasty, who ruled Morocco from Fes. Little is left of them but the walls, and the view.
Can we walk up from the medina?
It is possible, but it is a steep climb and the path is quiet after dark. We drive up and down, which is easier and safer.
Pair it with
Medina photography walkGates, fountains, dye vats and rooftops in the best light, with a local guide who knows the angles and how to photograph people respectfully.See how it runs
Andalusian & Gnawa musicAn evening of live Moroccan music in a riad: the refined Andalusian tradition Fes is known for, or the hypnotic guembri and iron castanets of Gnawa.See how it runs
Traditional hammamSteam, black soap and a kessa scrub: the Moroccan bathhouse ritual, either in a neighbourhood hammam with a guide to show you how or in a quieter private hammam.See how it runsRead before you go: Borj Nord and the Merinid Tombs guide, Fes rooftop views and terraces, Things to do in Fes at night.
Send your dates. We'll fit this into your Fes days.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.