Top Things to Do and See in Fez!

03/11/24 • 28 min

We have dabbled in Fès since the start of the Destination Morocco podcast, as it has made an appearance in episodes such as our tour overview of Morocco, our discovery of famous Moroccan food, or in particular from our guests' stories, such as with Chantal and her family, who spent some memorable days in and around the city:

Now, we enter into our first dedicated series of episodes on this fabulous city, starting with a general overview of the main sights to see, and a sample itinerary for a typical four-day visit.

Crucial to planning your trip to Fès is knowing how much time you should spend there, as it is not like any other destination in Morocco. The medina's maze of labyrinthine streets and alleys alone could keep you occupied for a week or more, simply by checking out different corners, craft studios, shops, tanneries, cafés and restaurants.
And that's without seeing some of the city's other highlights including the great observation points that look out over the valley, the pottery and ceramics studios that are further to the edge, the Fes Jdid (or "New Fez," which expands beyond the old medina and in fact dates from 1276), or of course the New City (la Nouvelle Cité), which offers a modern, dynamic contrast to the ancient streets.
Hiba serves as our guest host for today's episode, with Azdean and Sam as the guests, primarily because they reflect on their own trip to Fès in 2023 as tourists themselves. Although they have visited often, Fez far enough from their home base in Marrakech to be a special trip and experience, even for them. They can thus draw from the itinerary they followed last year where, like many of Destination Morocco's guests, four days was the allotted time.
In four days, one can start with a visit to the iconic Bab Bujlud gate and a guided tour of the Medina. Other highlights include the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, Madrasa Bu 'an Aniyah, and the famous, colorful Chouara tannery. That still leaves time for activities, including taking a cooking class, trying a distinct Fes hammam, visiting the Dar Batha Museum, or relaxing in Jnan Sbil Gardens.

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Now, we enter into our first dedicated series of episodes on this fabulous city, starting with a general overview of the main sights to see, and a sample itinerary for a typical four-day visit.

Previous Episode

Understanding Ramadan in Moroccan Culture

You can also watch this video episode on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/FhPkzzzYjns
Ramadan in 2024 starts on the evening of Sunday, March 10th and goes until Tuesday, April 9th, followed by the feast of Eid al-Fitr, or the ‘Feast of Fast-Breaking.' Despite its perhaps solemn reputation, Ramadan is a joyful time for Muslims around the world, Morocco being no exception. As Azdean, Hiba and Sam explain in today's episode, the food is unique and better, families and community frequently come together, and it is a time for celebration and collective spirit, where sacrifice and diligence go hand in hand with helping others and giving back.
The question though is often raised by non-Muslim travellers, "Can I travel to Morocco during Ramadan? Is it worth it, is it a good idea?"
Our episode today is to counter that view and establish that, although routines and schedules are undeniably different during Ramadan, it is still very much possible to travel to and around Morocco during the holy month, and in fact it is quite a special experience.
Hiba, Sam and Azdean discuss the spiritual meaning and practices of Ramadan for Moroccan Muslims, which includes fasting, Zakat (charitable giving), communal traditions such as Iftar (breaking of the fast), and increased recitation of the Quran. Because if you are in Morocco during Ramadan, you'll want to understand what the traditions are, why they're important, and what to look for, to give you a better appreciation for what's happening around you.
Then there is some practical travel advice for tourists, including suggested itineraries, cultural etiquette, and meal planning, which is key. Fundamentally, everything remains open in Morocco during Ramadan, from restaurants to shops to riads. The defining difference is the availability of food.
It is easier to find western-catering restaurants in the big cities, but since travel around Morocco involves a lot of driving through the rural countryside, restaurants are fewer anyway and during Ramadan they may be closed during the day. You can plan ahead with snacks and packed lunches, and your tour guide, driver and riad hosts will all help you stay prepared.
Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan is a unique and immersive cultural experience. As Azdean points out, you only have the chance one month out of the entire year, so if you have the opportunity, make the most of it and enjoy this special time!
Music credits:
Min Wahi El-Lami / Ali Sabah / courtesy of www.epidemicsound

Next Episode

Exploring the Magical City of Fez. Live Q&A

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Wednesday, March 13, exploring the vibrant city of Fez.
Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel for even more details and tourist ideas, and particularly for the visuals that accompany our conversation. Maps, photos and more await you there!
Exploring the Magical City of Fez, video replay

Azdean, Sam and Ted expand on our recent episode on Fez (which goes over a sample four-day itinerary) and reminisce on their own experiences and memories there, while answering your questions about what to see and do in the city, a bit of history and context, and practical logistics like accommodation and transport.
Fez is a remarkable place to visit, wandering the maze of the Medina, popping into shops, admiring the mosques and madrasas, learning about the tanning process while overlooking the dye vats: and all of this within the old city alone!
Branching further out, there are beautiful lookout stops, pottery and ceramic studios, or the modern contrast of the New City, which instantly brings you forward to the present-day.
Fez has prominent Jewish heritage, and it is easy to visit the historic Mellah, synagogue and Jewish cemetary, located alongside the royal palace, with its brilliant gold doors.
We talk about all this and much more in our live Q&A session, and it will get you more excited than ever to see this fabulous city for yourself.The best way to follow this episode is by watching it on our YouTube channel, where you can follow along with the maps and images.
But if you're listening in your car, on the bus, cooking, going for a walk etc., this audio excerpt of our live recording is a great place to begin.
You can always send us questions and ideas for episode and live Q&A topics, and join us and interact live on our monthly sessions, the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
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Destination Morocco Podcast - Top Things to Do and See in Fez!

Transcript

[00:00:00] HIBA: Hello everyone, and welcome to yet another thrilling episode of the Destination Morocco podcast. which takes us on a tour of Morocco's most alluring sights. Your host for today's journey through the mythical Moroccan city of Fez is myself, Hiba. So we will discuss, outline, the best activities and [00:01:00] sights to do and see in Fez.

[00:01:03] But, I must say that today's episode holds a specific surprise, as our esteemed host, Azdean is joining us a