There are so many things to see, a guided tour really is the best way to make the most of your time in Fès.
Popular things to see:
Musée des Armes: A fortress that once protected Fes, in the Muse des arms you’ll see 8,000 pieces of artillery from Makina, the arsenal built by Moulay Hassan.
Fes -el Bali: Best characterized as a sea of rooftops embellished with minarets and domes. It’s too narrow for cars so walking is the most common way to travel within this old city, although donkeys and mules are still used.
Souks: Browse the souks selling henna, slippers, caftans, silks, jewellery and spices.
Mosques: There are many mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco. You can still appreciate the unique architecture and entrance-ways which are well worth seeing.
Karaouiyine Mosque: One of the oldest in the world and interestingly the Mosque also functioned as the first university in Morocco.
Ech Cherabliyine Mosque: (Mosque of the Slipper makers)
Andalusia Mosque: A stunning mosque definable by its imposing green and white minaret. Built at the end of the 9th century by a woman, the wooden carvings are exquisite.
Dar el- Magana: A fourteenth century water clock and Zaouia el Tijaniya.
Fondouk el- Najjarine: This is a UNESCO recognized site. Within the foundouk’s three floors is the Musée de Bois, which displays carved doors from the Bou Inania Medersa.
Musée Dar el- Batha: Here you will find a fantastic collection of pottery, leather-work, wood, books and manuscripts from the nineteenth century.
Bab el Ftouh — ‘Gateway of the Aperture’: Explore the Andalusian quarter which is a residential part of the medina and here you will find many monuments.
Fès el Jedid: A kasbah which functioned as Morocco’s administrative centre until 1912. You can explore the royal palace and many interesting quarters including the Moulay Abdalllah Quarter, the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and a little farther south lies Ville Nouvelle (The New Quarter).
The Tanners District: See where leather is produced using the same centuries-old methods. It’s quite confronting to smell the leather tanneries, men often stand up to their waists treating leather in noxious baths, in much the same way as has been done for centuries – but don’t let this put you off visiting; as ethnic leather goods make great souvenirs!
El-Attarine Madrasa or the Medersa Attarine: The university attached to the mosque has been the centre of Islamic learning in Morocco for more than 1000 years. Azouia Moulay Idriss, the tomb of Moulay Idris is a highly revered shrine.
Place Nejjarine: A beautiful fountain can be seen at the Place Nejjarine, which is a square deep in the heart of the medina. It is also home to the Nejjarine Museum of Wood and Carpentry and showcases Fez’s renowned wood-carving tradition.
