Fes Guided Tour of the Medina, Half or Full Day
On this Fes guided tour, a licensed guide walks you through Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free old towns in the world, in half a day or a full day. You enter by Bab Boujloud and follow the Talaa Kebira past the Bou Inania Madrasa to the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Chouara tannery and the Andalusian quarter.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Fes guided tour at a glance
- Half or full day
- Bab Boujloud · Talaa Kebira · Bou Inania Madrasa · Al-Attarine · Chouara tannery · Andalusian quarter
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: Spring and autumn
A Fez medina tour with a licensed guide
Many of the thousands of lanes in Fes el-Bali are too narrow for anything but people and donkeys. With a guide you see the main monuments and the craft quarters at work without losing time in dead ends.
The half day covers the main sights. The full day adds the Andalusian quarter, the potters and a view over the city from the hills.
Highlights
- Bab Boujloud, the blue gate
- The Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas
- The Chouara tannery from a terrace
- The metalworkers' and weavers' quarters
- A view over the medina from the hills (full day)
Read more: Medina of Fez, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Chouara Tannery.
How the day goes
From your pickup in the morning to the drop-off at the end of the day.
Start · Bab Boujloud
Your guide meets you at your riad or hotel and walks you into the medina through the blue gate.
Middle · Madrasas and souks
Down the Talaa Kebira to the madrasas and the craft souks.
End · Tanneries
The Chouara tannery from a terrace, and back to your riad. The full day continues to the Andalusian quarter and the potters.
What is included and not included
Included
- Licensed local guide
- Meeting at your riad or hotel in Fes
Not included
- Entrance fees to the madrasas
- Transport to the viewpoints on the full day
- Drinks and snacks
- Tips
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
Your guide meets you at your riad in Fes or at the nearest gate of the medina.
Best time to go
March to May and September to November are the easiest months for walking the city. Summer afternoons are very hot, so we start early or go in the evening.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, clothes that cover shoulders and knees, a hat in summer, and small change in dirhams for entrance fees and tips.
Good to know
Most sites charge a small entrance fee in dirhams, so carry cash. Mosques in Morocco are closed to non-Muslims, with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca as the main exception. In the souks, prices are agreed by bargaining, and it is fine to say no politely. Your guide keeps unofficial guides away and knows the quieter lanes.
Price, deposit and cancellation
Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.
Questions about the Fes guided tour
Do I need a guide in the Fes medina?
It helps a lot. Fes el-Bali has thousands of lanes and many dead ends, and a guide saves time and keeps unofficial guides away.
Fes or Fez?
Both are right. Fès is the French spelling you see on most signs, and Fez is the older English one.
Can we change the timing?
Yes. You choose the pickup time, the stops and how long you stay out.
Can we add something to the day?
Yes. Tell us what else you would like to see or do, and we suggest how to fit it in.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Let us know their ages and we adjust the walking and the stops.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal.
How long does a Fes guided tour take?
A half day covers the main gate, a madrasa, a tannery terrace and the souks in about four hours. A full day adds the Andalusian quarter, the Mellah and time for lunch in the medina.
What should I wear in the Fes medina?
Shoes with grip, since the lanes are steep and worn smooth, and clothes that cover shoulders and knees. The tannery terraces smell strong, and the shops hand out mint leaves.
Can we see a tannery?
Yes. Leather shops around the Chouara tannery let you watch from their terraces, and your guide takes you to one.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and timing adjusted to you
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