Fez Traveler Essentials
- Safety rating
- 6.6/10
- Best time to visit
- Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather, avoiding the searing inland summer heat.
- Population
- 1.2M
Overview
Morocco's spiritual and cultural heart guards the world's largest car-free urban area, the medieval medina of Fes el-Bali, a maze of 9,000 lanes. Ancient madrasas, bustling souks and the famous tanneries make it feel gloriously frozen in time.
Getting around
The medina is explored entirely on foot, with handcarts and donkeys moving goods; petit taxis serve the new town.
Local etiquette
Dress conservatively, do not enter mosques as a non-Muslim, and accept that bargaining is part of the culture.
Safety
The medina is safe but disorienting; ignore aggressive 'guides' who steer you to shops, and keep valuables secure in tight crowds.