Fes is one of the most rewarding — and most underestimated — family destinations we know. The living craft of the medina, the warmth shown to children, the easy day trips out to Roman ruins and the desert, and the sheer novelty of it all make Fes deeply memorable for children who might shrug at another European city break. It does take a little planning. Here is what we have learned from years of designing family itineraries from Fes.
Where around Fes is best for families with children?
Fes el-Bali is the natural base — endlessly interesting and rich enough to hold attention for two or three days. Children are spellbound by the working crafts: a coppersmith hammering at Place Seffarine, the colour of the Chouara tanneries from a terrace above, a zellige cutter chipping tile to shape. The carved courtyards of the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine medersas read as treasure houses to young imaginations. The deepest lanes are best tackled with a guide and children who can keep pace.
Volubilis, Meknes and Moulay Idriss make an easy day out from Fes. Children clamber happily among the standing columns and mosaics of the Roman city, and the hillside town of Moulay Idriss and the great Bab Mansour gate at Meknes break the day into manageable stops with plenty of open space to run.
The Sahara is the trip highlight for most families. The drive south from Fes through Midelt and the Ziz Valley to the red dunes of Merzouga is a proper road journey, and children who have ridden a camel at sunset and slept in a canvas tent under Saharan stars tend to talk about it for years.
Chefchaouen, the blue town in the Rif north of Fes, is a calmer counterpoint — cool mountain air, easy lanes and blue-washed walls that delight children, with an unhurried pace that suits families who want breathing room between busier days.
How should you pace a family itinerary around Fes?
The most common mistake in family travel here is over-programming. Fes rewards slow movement. A family with children under ten does well with two to three nights in each base, one active outing a day, and one long unhurried afternoon back at the riad. We usually build in a courtyard or terrace afternoon every second day; children need the decompression after the intensity of the medina.
For a ten-day trip: three nights Fes, a day at Volubilis and Meknes, two nights Sahara via Midelt, then back through the Ziz Valley before a night in Chefchaouen on the way north. This works well with children aged six and above. Younger children suit a simpler shape: four nights Fes with day trips, two nights Chefchaouen, then a return to Fes — less driving, more depth.
What are the best riads for families in Fes?
Fes riads — the traditional courtyard houses that now serve as boutique hotels — are ideal family accommodation. The interior courtyard shuts out the medina's noise; the architecture is naturally child-friendly, with corridors to explore and roof terraces to breakfast on; and the staff-to-room ratio is typically high, which means attentive service. Look for a family suite with connecting rooms, a kitchen willing to adapt menus, and — if there is a plunge pool — a cover or enclosure for toddlers. We pre-inspect every riad we recommend. See our destinations guide for our current shortlist.
What should children eat and drink in Fes?
Fassi food is broadly child-friendly. Chicken tagine with olives and preserved lemon; couscous with seven vegetables; harira soup; kefta (spiced minced lamb) grilled on skewers; and msemen (griddle-fried flatbreads) with honey and argan oil are all approachable, lightly spiced and freshly made. Fes is also famous for its sweet almond pastries — a reliable crowd-pleaser. Most riads will prepare simpler dishes on request — grilled chicken, plain rice, eggs — for young children.
Water: drink bottled water only. Tap water in Fes is chlorinated and technically safe, but the mineral balance is unfamiliar to foreign digestive systems and upsets a fair number of visitors. Fresh-squeezed orange juice from the medina stalls is safe and excellent. Avoid ice in cafés unless you are sure it is made from bottled water.
What practical tips make travelling with kids easier in Fes?
- Book private transport throughout — shared taxis and buses are fine for adults but exhausting with children and luggage.
- Carry a child-specific sun cream rated SPF 50+. Moroccan summers are intense; spring and autumn are more forgiving.
- Pack oral rehydration sachets as a precaution; Fes pharmacies stock them, but having your own is reassuring.
- A lightweight or structured backpack carrier beats a pushchair on the medina's stepped, uneven lanes.
- Brief children aged five and up on bargaining before entering the souks — it removes confusion and turns it into a game.
- Carry small MAD notes and coins (10 and 20 dirham) for children to hand over during transactions — it gives them agency and makes the experience tangible.
Frequently asked
Is Fes safe for families with young children?
Yes — Fes, and Morocco generally, is a genuinely family-friendly place. Fassi culture places enormous value on children, and a family with kids is met with warmth rather than impatience. The main practical points are stomach upsets from unfiltered tap water (stick to bottled) and summer heat. A private driver-guide who knows the medina removes the stress of finding your way through Fes el-Bali's lanes with small children in tow.
What is the best age to take children to Fes and Morocco?
Children from about 5 get a great deal from Fes — old enough to be spellbound by the tanneries and a coppersmith's hammer, and to remember a camel ride if the trip runs to the Sahara. Toddlers do well in riads with quiet interior courtyards. Teenagers often rate Morocco among the most memorable places they have been, especially the artisan workshops, the desert and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen.
What should children eat in Fes?
Fassi food is largely child-friendly: tagines, couscous, flatbreads, harira soup and grilled meats are all mild and approachable, and Fes is famous for its sweet pastries. Most riads will prepare simpler dishes for young children on request. Avoid salads washed in tap water, raw street food and unpasteurised dairy from market stalls. Bottled water from the main brands is everywhere.
How long does it take to reach the Sahara from Fes with children?
From Fes the drive to Merzouga, the main Sahara gateway, is roughly five to six hours via Midelt and Errachidia — long but more manageable than the route from the south. With small children we still recommend breaking it, with a night near Midelt or in the Ziz Valley, so the day in the car never feels like an endurance test.
Can children ride camels in Morocco?
Yes. Dromedary camel rides in the Sahara dunes are a highlight for children from about 4 years old. Guides seat young children in front of a parent. Rides of 30–60 minutes to a sunset dune are comfortable; full-day treks are better suited to adults. Always use an operator who keeps the animals in good condition and fits proper saddles.
Do Fes riads have family rooms?
Most Fes medina riads have suites or interconnecting rooms that work well for families. A typical family suite sleeps two adults and two children with a private bathroom. Riads with an interior plunge pool can be a risk for toddlers — ask about a cover or fencing when booking. Several of the finer Fes riads keep cots, extra bedding and simpler children's dishes on request.
Family itineraries
We design trips that children remember for life.
Private transport, child-inspected Fes riads, paced days in the medina and a Sahara overnight — tell us the ages and we will build the itinerary.
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