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The medina of Fes below the olive-covered hills, a tall white minaret in front

Fes el Bali · Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0

Places to visit in Morocco, from Fes

Where to go in Morocco from a base in Fes: the medina itself, Meknes and Volubilis, Chefchaouen and the Rif, the Middle Atlas, the dunes of Merzouga, Marrakech, Tangier and the coast. Each guide says how many days to give a place and when to go, and we quote any route for your dates.

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A day out of Fes

The medina, then the places you can reach and still sleep in your riad: Meknes, Roman Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss, and the cedar forests of Ifrane and Azrou in the Middle Atlas.

Fes el Bali spread through its valley under a blue sky, seen from the Merinid Tombs hillOur home · 2–3 daysFesMorocco's spiritual and artisan capitalSee FesBab Mansour, the great tiled gate of Meknes, glowing in low evening sun1 dayMeknesFes's imperial neighbourSee MeknesThe Roman Arch of Caracalla at Volubilis, the green plain beyondA private day from Fes or MeknesVolubilis & Moulay IdrissThe most historically layered day reachable from FesSee Volubilis & Moulay IdrissThe white houses of Moulay Yacoub stacked up their hillside, a minaret at the topHalf day from FesMoulay YacoubThe hot-spring town in the hills north-west of Fes, where the water comes up at 54 °C.See Moulay YacoubSefrou spread among gardens and trees below the Middle Atlas foothillsHalf day to a full day from FesSefrouThe walled town south of Fes where Idris II stayed while Fes was built, with a mellah, a waterfall and a June cherry festival.See SefrouBhalil's pastel houses stepping down the hill to the Saïss plainOne to two hours, or half a day with SefrouBhalilThe hillside town of cave houses and painted bridges, half an hour south of Fes, where women knot djellaba buttons in the lanes.See BhalilImmouzer Kandar spread along the edge of its plateau under a sky of broken cloudA stop of an hour or two, or a half day with the lakesImmouzer KandarThe first plateau town south of Fes, at 1,340 m, on the road to the Middle Atlas lakes and Ifrane.See Immouzer KandarThe crenellated walls of the old kasbah at El Hajeb, seen from the Cantina quarterA stop of an hour or two on a Middle Atlas dayEl HajebThe cliff-top town where the Saïss plain meets the Middle Atlas, on the road from Fes and Meknes to Azrou.See El HajebAlpine-style pitched roofs and café terraces in the centre of Ifrane1–2 nightsIfraneFes's alpine neighbourSee IfraneThe town of Taza spread across the plain below the hillsA long day from Fes, or one nightTazaThe walled hill city in the pass between the Rif and the Middle Atlas, with Tazekka National Park at its back.See Taza
The whole of Chefchaouen spread across the hillside, seen from the Spanish Mosque hill

Every place here starts from the same riad door in Fes.

Chefchaouen

The north and the Rif

A night or two away: the blue lanes of Chefchaouen and the Akchour falls, Tetouan's Andalusian medina, Tangier on the straits and the white Atlantic towns of Asilah and Larache.

Ouezzane's white and pastel houses climbing the hillside below a wooded ridgeA long day from Fes, or a stop on the way to ChefchaouenOuezzaneThe holy town without ramparts on the edge of the Rif, home of a 17th-century Sufi zawiya and a famous woollen djellaba.See OuezzaneBougainvillea over a blue lane in Chefchaouen, a man in a djellaba walking away1–2 nightsChefchaouenMorocco's blue pearlSee ChefchaouenThe Akchour waterfall dropping into a turquoise pool, a swimmer at its edge (wide crop)Day hike from ChefchaouenAkchourThe Rif's finest day hike, paired with the blue-city extension from FesSee AkchourWhite rooftops of the Tetouan medina climbing the hill, laundry and satellite dishes on the terraces1–2 nightsTétouanThe Andalusian city of the northSee TétouanStone steps up to a gate in the crenellated walls of the Tangier kasbah2 nightsTangierFes's northern gatewaySee TangierThe white medina of Asilah above its sea ramparts at low tideA half-day or overnight from TangierAsilahA whitewashed Atlantic art townSee AsilahThe Larache seafront promenade above the rocks and the Atlantic1 nightLaracheA quiet Spanish-colonial port on the northern AtlanticSee LaracheColourful houses of Moulay Bousselham on the bluff above the beach and lagoon1 nightMoulay BousselhamMoulay Bousselham is Morocco's premier birdwatching lagoonSee Moulay BousselhamAn inflatable kayak and fishing rods on Saidia beach under a hazy sky2–4 daysSaïdiaMorocco's Mediterranean blue-flag resort in the far north-eastSee Saïdia

The Atlas, the gorges and the Sahara

The long road south from Fes: over the Middle Atlas by Midelt, down the Ziz valley to the Erg Chebbi dunes, then west through the Todra and Dades gorges to Skoura, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou.

The sun setting over rippled orange dunes in Erg Chebbi3 days minimum from FesSahara & MerzougaReal Sahara: 150m dunes, camel caravans and luxury campsSee Sahara & MerzougaThe Jbel Ayachi range rising above the farmland near Midelt under grey sky1 nightMideltThe natural midpoint of the Fes–Sahara driveSee MideltThe decorated city gate of Rissani beside a palm, red flags flying above1 nightRissaniThe last town before Merzouga at the bottom of the Fes–Sahara roadSee RissaniThe earthen old quarters of Tinghir above its dense palm oasis, bare mountains behind1–2 nightsTinghirGateway to the Todra Gorge on the southern desert loopSee TinghirMorning light on the red cliffs of the Todra Gorge, seen up the gorge from above its narrowest point1–2 nights en route to the SaharaDadès & Todra GorgesSheer red canyons and the great switchback road of the deep southSee Dadès & Todra GorgesThe towered mud-brick front of Kasbah Amridil near Skoura under blue skyHalf-day to 1 nightSkouraA palm-oasis kasbah town on the southern desert roadSee SkouraThe earthen ksar of Ait Benhaddou climbing its hill above the dry riverbed, a rider in the foreground1–2 nightsOuarzazate & Aït Ben HaddouAfrica's film capital: earthen kasbahs, desert studios and the road to the dunes.See Ouarzazate & Aït Ben HaddouGreen barley fields in the Draa valley outside Zagora, Jbel Zagora behind1–2 nightsZagoraThreshold of Erg ChigagaSee ZagoraFootprints along a sharp dune crest in Erg Chigaga, a figure resting at the top2 nights minimumM'Hamid el GhizlaneRoad's end at the deep southSee M'Hamid el GhizlaneGreen fields and villages along the floor of the Ait Bouguemez valley under the High Atlas2–4 daysAït Bougmez ValleyThe remote High Atlas 'Happy Valley' of the M'Goun massifSee Aït Bougmez ValleyA tree-shaded square in old Beni Mellal with a minaret and the kasbah walls behind1 nightBéni MellalA central-Atlas break on the long Marrakech–Fes overland lineSee Béni MellalWater spilling over red travertine ledges at the Ouzoud FallsDay trip on the Marrakech leg, or a stop on the Fes–Marrakech overlandOuzoud FallsMorocco's highest waterfallsSee Ouzoud Falls
A guide leading two camel riders across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi

Three days from the medina to the dunes.

Erg Chebbi, Merzouga

Marrakech and the Atlantic

The far end of a longer route: Marrakech and the High Atlas valleys, then the coast from Rabat and Casablanca down to Essaouira, Agadir and Dakhla.

The Koutoubia Mosque minaret in Marrakech rising above palm-planted gardens3–4 daysMarrakechThe red city of the southSee MarrakechEssaouira's white houses above its sea ramparts and rocks2 daysEssaouiraAtlantic Mogador: trade-wind ramparts, fishing boats and grilled sardinesSee EssaouiraThe green Imlil valley from above, earth-built villages among walnut and poplar trees1–4 daysAtlas MountainsBerber villages, walnut terraces and North Africa's highest summitSee Atlas MountainsThe minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca wrapped in sea mistHalf-day to 1 nightCasablancaMorocco's international front doorSee CasablancaBroad steps between palms climbing to the gate of the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat1 dayRabatMorocco's calm, green capitalSee RabatAgadir's long sandy beach and seafront hotels, the Oufella hill beyond2–4 daysAgadirMorocco's far-southern beach citySee AgadirA small camel caravan crossing the stony Agafay desert, the Atlas hazy on the horizonHalf-day, sunset dinner, or overnight on the Marrakech legAgafay DesertA lunar landscape of rolling hills 40 minutes from MarrakechSee Agafay DesertArhbalou village on a terraced slope below layered High Atlas ridgesDay trip on the Marrakech legOurika ValleyBerber villages, river-bank lunches and seven waterfallsSee Ourika ValleyVillages along the green floor of a steep High Atlas valley under cloud1–4 daysImlilThe High Atlas trekking base for Jbel ToubkalSee ImlilThe ochre ramparts of Taroudant behind a row of palm trees1–2 nightsTaroudantThe walled Saadian 'little Marrakech' of the Souss plainSee TaroudantSurfers waiting for waves off the rocky point and beach at Taghazout on a grey day2–5 daysTaghazoutThe bohemian surf village of the far southSee TaghazoutA wide sandy beach on the Dakhla lagoon at low tide3–5 daysDakhlaAfrica's kitesurf capital, at the far opposite end of the country from FesSee DakhlaPainted fishing boats pulled up on the Oualidia lagoon shore under storm clouds1 night or a long lunch stopOualidiaMorocco's oyster lagoon on the Atlantic littoralSee OualidiaThe white town of Sidi Ifni spread below green hills (wide crop)1–2 nightsSidi IfniAn Art Deco Spanish enclave at the country's far-southern edgeSee Sidi IfniA street of old shopfronts and iron balconies in the El Jadida medina, a sign pointing to the Portuguese CisternHalf-day to 1 nightEl JadidaEl Jadida is Morocco's UNESCO Portuguese citySee El JadidaPink houses at the foot of a granite pinnacle in Tafraoute1–2 nightsTafraoutA pink-granite Anti-Atlas village deep in the southSee TafraoutMirleft beach with a red rock headland and the village above, on a grey day2–3 nightsMirleftAn undeveloped surf-and-cliff village on the deep-south coastSee Mirleft

Questions about where to go

Which places are easiest from Fes, how to reach the Sahara and Chefchaouen, and when to go.

Which Moroccan destinations are easiest to reach from Fes?
Fes is one of Morocco's four imperial cities and a central hub in the north. The closest destinations are the other imperial sites: Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the hilltown of Moulay Idriss are all short drives away, and the Middle Atlas towns of Ifrane and Azrou lie just to the south. Fes connects by train and road to Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, and it is the usual northern launch point for the long overland route toward the Sahara.
Can I combine Fes with the Sahara desert?
Yes. Fes is a common northern starting point for the drive to the dunes. The route crosses the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Midelt, through the Ziz valley toward Erfoud and Merzouga at Erg Chebbi, the dunes most often reached from Fes. Because the desert lies far to the south-east, plan at least two to three days for the round trip rather than treating it as a day excursion.
How do I travel between Fes and Chefchaouen?
Fes and the blue city of Chefchaouen are linked overland through the Rif foothills, a journey of a few hours by road. Many travellers pair the two: Fes for its vast medieval medina and Chefchaouen for its relaxed blue-washed streets and nearby Rif nature. Tangier and the Mediterranean north are reachable beyond Chefchaouen if you are continuing a wider northern loop.
How many days should I spend in Fes and the imperial cities?
Most visitors spend one to two days exploring Fes el-Bali, the historic walled medina, with extra time for artisan workshops or the gardens of Fes el-Jdid. To take in the wider imperial-cities region, add a day each for Meknes with Volubilis and Moulay Idriss. A northern itinerary of four to six days comfortably pairs Fes with the surrounding imperial sites and the Middle Atlas.
When is the best time of year to visit Fes and northern Morocco?
Spring (roughly March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant for walking the medina's covered lanes, with mild temperatures and clearer skies. Summer is very hot inland around Fes and Meknes, while winter is cooler with occasional rain and snow in the nearby Middle Atlas. The shoulder seasons suit most imperial-city itineraries best.

Tell us where you want to go. We'll plan the route from Fes.

  1. Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
  2. A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
  3. You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.
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