Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Bab Boujloud, Fes · Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
All ten gates of Fes, in one day
From the tiled Bab Boujloud of 1913 round the walls of Fes el-Bali, across the river and on into Fes el-Jdid: ten gates, seven centuries of building. About 9 km on foot along the OpenStreetMap route, with a licensed guide and a car on call for the long stretches.
- Private or small-group
- Licensed Fassi guide
- A car on call between gates
The walk, stop by stop
9.2 km on foot, about 138 minutes of walking between 10 stops, along the OpenStreetMap foot route. Full day, at your pace.
Where the walk begins
1913, French Protectorate (beside an older gate that may date from the 12th century)
Bab Boujloud باب أبي الجنود
Blue outside, green inside: the tiled gate of 1913. Bab Boujloud is the tiled, triple-arched gate at the western end of Fes el-Bali, built in 1913 as a ceremonial entrance to the old city. Its outer face is blue, its inner face green, and through the main arch you see the minaret of the Bou Inania Madrasa.
More about Bab Boujloud4 min on foot from Bab Boujloud, 260 m
1204, Almohad (Muhammad al-Nasir)
Bab Mahrouk باب محروق
Almohad, 1204: the Gate of the Burnt. Bab Mahrouk is a fortified Almohad gate built in 1204 on the north-west corner of Place Bou Jeloud. For centuries it was the main western entrance to Fes el-Bali and the start of the Tala'a Kebira.
More about Bab Mahrouk22 min on foot from Bab Mahrouk, 1.5 km
Almohad, early 13th century (rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake)
Bab Guissa باب الكيسة
Named for an 11th-century emir; the way down to the Qarawiyyin. Bab Guissa is the main north-western gate of Fes el-Bali, an Almohad gate with a bent entrance that opens onto the lanes down to the Qarawiyyin. The Bab Guissa Mosque stands just inside it.
More about Bab Guissa13 min on foot from Bab Guissa, 890 m
Fes el-Bali, R'cif, in the lower medina by the Oued Fes
Bab Sidi Laouad باب سيد العواد
The R'cif way in, a few steps from the coppersmiths. Bab Sidi Laouad is a gate at R'cif, in the lower part of Fes el-Bali, that leads from Place R'cif towards the Seffarine square. Local press describes it as the main entrance on the R'cif side.
More about Bab Sidi Laouad15 min on foot from Bab Sidi Laouad, 990 m
Fes el-Bali, eastern side on the Andalusian bank, north of Bab Ftouh
Bab Khokha باب الخوخة
Named for a wicket door; its history is disputed, its name lives on. Bab Khokha is the name of a historic gate on the eastern side of Fes el-Bali, about 550 metres north of Bab Ftouh. Its date and history are disputed. Today the name survives in the neighbourhood and in Avenue Bab Khoukha.
More about Bab Khokha10 min on foot from Bab Khokha, 680 m
Almohad, early 13th century; restored in the 18th century
Bab Ftouh باب فتوح
Two towers and a straight passage onto the Andalusian bank. Bab Ftouh is the main south-eastern gate of Fes el-Bali, on the Andalusian side of the river. About 15 metres high, it is a straight-through Almohad gate between two rectangular towers, with a large cemetery on the slope outside.
More about Bab Ftouh19 min on foot from Bab Ftouh, 1.3 km
Fes el-Bali, southern wall where the river leaves the medina
Bab Jdid باب جديد
The New Gate, where the river leaves the medina. Bab Jdid, "the New Gate", is on the southern edge of Fes el-Bali, where the Oued Bou Khrareb leaves the medina. It is one of the few places where cars and buses can enter, on the road down to Place R'cif.
More about Bab Jdid19 min on foot from Bab Jdid, 1.3 km
Fes el-Bali, south-western wall
Bab el-Hadid باب الحديد
The Iron Gate, once opening onto gardens and mansions. Bab el-Hadid, "the Iron Gate", is a small gate in the south-western wall of Fes el-Bali. The quarter behind it was once mostly gardens and large houses, so for most of its history no main road led to it.
More about Bab el-Hadid19 min on foot from Bab el-Hadid, 1.3 km
1276, Marinid; rebuilt in 1924
Bab Semmarine باب السمارين
Gate of the Farriers, Fes el-Jdid's southern door. Bab Semmarine is the southern gate of Fes el-Jdid, the royal city the Marinids founded in 1276. Its name means "Gate of the Farriers", and it opens onto the Grande Rue that runs north towards the Royal Palace.
More about Bab Semmarine17 min on foot from Bab Semmarine, 1.1 km
Marinid towers, about 1286–87; named after 1737
Bab Segma باب الساكمة
Two octagonal Marinid towers that once carried an aqueduct. Bab Segma is two massive octagonal Marinid towers on the north side of Fes el-Jdid, all that is left of a gate into a royal garden. The garden has gone, and the gate takes its name from a pious woman buried here in 1737.
More about Bab Segma
Why walk it with a guide
Private or small-group, planned around your date and your questions.
A gate is a story
A gate burned for a rebel, a gate named for an emir, a wicket door whose history is still argued over. Your guide tells each one where it happened.
Both cities
Fes el-Bali's gates in the morning, then Fes el-Jdid's: the Marinid towers of Bab Segma and the farriers' gate, Bab Semmarine.
Walk it all, or not
The whole loop is about 9 km. A car follows on the long stretches, so you can walk every metre or ride between the far gates.
A person writes back with a plan and a quote. No prices online, no obligation.
Ten gates, and between them the whole history of the walls.
Bab Segma, Fes el-JdidWhat we checked
Every date on this page, and where it comes from. Opening days and hours change, so we confirm them for your date.
Bab Mahrouk was built by the Almohad ruler Muhammad al-Nasir in 1204.
Source: Wikipedia, Bab Mahrouk (opens in a new tab)Bab Guissa, the main north-western gate of Fes el-Bali, was completed around 1212.
Source: Wikipedia, Bab Guissa (opens in a new tab)Bab Semmarine dates from 1276 and was rebuilt in 1924.
Source: Wikipedia, Bab Semmarine (opens in a new tab)Bab Boujloud, the tiled gate, went up in 1913, beside an older gate that is now walled up.
Source: Wikipedia, Bab Bou Jeloud (opens in a new tab)
More walks in the medina
Each one on its own OpenStreetMap route, each planned for you.
The gates of FesAll ten on the map, each with its own sourced page.Read about the gates
The Royal Palace gates and Fes el-JdidThe brass palace gates, the Mellah and Bab Semmarine in a morning.See the tour
Merinid Tombs and Borj Nord at sunsetUp the northern hill on foot to watch the sun set over the medina.See the walk
Madrasas and mosques of FesBou Inania, the Attarine, the Qarawiyyin's doors and the Saffarin madrasa.See the walk
The Fes souk walkTalaa Kebira, the Henna souk, the Kissaria and the coppersmiths.See the walk
Dar Batha and Nejjarine museumsThe Al Batha palace museum and the cedar fondouk of the carpenters.See the walk
Golden-hour photo walkJnan Sbil to the Chouara tannery, paced for photographs.See the walk
First-day orientation walkThe landmarks, the two main streets and the way home.See the walkQuestions before you walk
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
How far is the walk?
Can we do only some of the gates?
Can we still see all ten gates?
How much does it cost?
Tell us your date. We'll plan the ten gates.
- 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.