Home › Destinations › Fes
Weather in Fes
The world's largest living medieval city
—
Loading live weather...
About Fes
Fes el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban zone. Founded in 789 AD the medina has been continuously inhabited for 1,200 years and contains 9,000 lanes. The Chouara Tannery where leather has been produced by hand since the 11th century using pigeon dung and saffron is one of the most remarkable sights in Africa.
Best months to visit
Year-round
Things to do in Fes
Chouara Tannery
Al-Qarawiyyin oldest university
Medina wandering
Traditional hammam
Dar Batha Museum
Cooking class
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
Fes is the world's largest living medieval city and one of travel's most extraordinary experiences — the Fes el Bali medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 9,400 lanes so ancient and bewildering that it has been compared to a fossilised city, unchanged in essential character since its 9th-century founding. The Chouara tanneries, where leather has been dyed in the same honeycomb of stone vats using the same methods for a thousand years, are one of the world's most visually extraordinary sights, and the madrasas and mosques of the city's Islamic Golden Age universities are breathtaking.
Best areas to stay in Fes
Fes el Bali (Old Medina)
The UNESCO-listed medieval core — the world's largest car-free urban area, with the tanneries, Al-Qarawiyyin University (the world's oldest), and the most atmospheric Islamic architecture in Morocco.
Fes el Jdid (New Medina)
The 14th-century royal extension of the medina, containing the mellah (Jewish quarter) and the entrance to the Royal Palace, with elaborately crafted brass doors.
Bou Inania Madrasa
The most spectacular Islamic school in Morocco — extraordinary stucco, cedarwood, and zellige tilework in three stories around a courtyard fountain, dating from the 1350s.
Merenid Tombs Viewpoint
The ruined 14th-century Merenid royal tombs on the hill above the medina — the finest panoramic view over Fes el Bali, particularly at dusk when the call to prayer begins.
Getting to Fes
✈
Flights
Fes-Saïss Airport (FEZ) is served by direct flights from London Gatwick and Stansted with Ryanair and easyJet; also reachable from Casablanca (CMN) or Marrakech (RAK) via train or bus.
⏱
From London
~3 hours direct from London
🚕
Getting around
The medina is entirely pedestrian — donkeys and handcarts are the only in-medina transport. Petits taxis serve the areas between the medina, the new city, and the airport. Fes train station connects to Casablanca and Marrakech efficiently.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Fes?
March to May and September to November offer the most pleasant temperatures for navigating the medina — spring wildflowers on the surrounding hills add to the beauty. Summer can be extremely hot in the medina's confined streets; winter is mild but can be cold in the evenings.
Is it easy to get lost in the Fes medina?
Absolutely — the Fes medina has over 9,000 lanes and no logical street grid whatsoever. A licensed guide for your first day is strongly recommended; apps like Maps.me work offline with surprisingly accurate medina mapping for independent exploration.
How do I visit the Chouara Tanneries?
The tanneries are best viewed from the leather shops on the lanes above — shop owners will allow access to their terrace viewing platforms, usually expecting (but not requiring) a purchase or tip. Visiting in the morning gives the best light and activity.
Can I visit Fes without a guide?
Yes — independent exploration is rewarding and the city is safer than its labyrinthine reputation suggests. Apps and downloaded maps help considerably. However, a guide for the first half-day provides historical context that significantly enhances the experience.
What food should I try in Fes?
Pastilla (pigeon or chicken pie with almonds and cinnamon in filo pastry), harira soup (the traditional breaking of the fast soup with tomato, lemon, and herbs), mechoui (whole slow-roasted lamb), and the wood-fired Msemen (layered flatbread) are Fes specialities.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Fes medina is the most extraordinary urban experience I've had anywhere — completely bewildering and completely captivating. The Chouara tanneries in morning light were the most vivid and striking thing I've seen in years. Worth the three-hour flight a hundred times over.
Isabelle D. · April 2024
★★★★★
We hired a guide for our first full day and it transformed the experience — historical context made the Al-Qarawiyyin university and the madrasas genuinely emotional to visit. The pastilla at a riad restaurant that evening was extraordinary.
Edward T. · October 2023
★★★★☆
Getting lost in the Fes medina is both genuinely disorienting and genuinely wonderful — we turned a corner into a lane of copper beaters, then a lane of spice merchants, then a lane of musicians making traditional instruments. The Merenid Tombs at sunset were breathtaking.
Chloe H. · March 2024
Ready to visit Fes?
Find the best hotels and experiences for your trip.
More dream destinations
