Fes Day Tour From Casablanca
Fes Day Tour From Casablanca: Medina, Madrasas and Craft Workshops
Visit the oldest and most authentic medina in Morocco in a single day. A comfortable drive from Casablanca brings you to Fes, where a guide leads you through narrow lanes, ornate madrasas, craft workshops and the walls of the oldest university in the world.
Our Fes day tour from Casablanca leaves around 8 am and is built for travellers short on time who still want to see the real Fes. The city is about 300 km from Casablanca, so the day is long, but the drive is comfortable and the payoff is huge. The old medina of Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, a maze of thousands of alleys that has barely changed in centuries.
With a guide, you explore the medina, discover Koranic schools such as Al Attarine and Bou Inania, admire Andalusian-style palaces, fountains and rich artistry, and visit a pottery and ceramics workshop where craftsmen work as their ancestors did. A one-hour break in the afternoon lets you eat in a typical restaurant in the center of the medina. If time allows, your guide adds more sights from a list of favourites, so every day is a little different.
- DurationFull day, from around 8 am
- Pick-upYour accommodation in Casablanca
- DistanceAbout 300 km each way
- HighlightsMadrasas, Al Karaouiyine, workshops
- Lunch1-hour break in the medina
- Activity levelModerate walking
Fes Day Tour Highlights
- Stroll through the narrow lanes of the Fes medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit the Al Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas and admire their carved wood, stucco and zellige
- See the beautiful walls of Al Karaouiyine, the oldest university in the world
- Admire Andalusian-style palaces, fountains and rich traditional artistry
- Learn how traditional mosques and buildings were constructed
- Visit a pottery and ceramics workshop
- Have lunch in a typical restaurant in the heart of the medina
- See more with optional extras such as Bab Boujloud, the Nejjarine Museum or the Chouara tanneries, depending on time
Your Fes Day, Step by Step
Here is a typical day. Your guide adapts the order and the extra stops to the time available and to your interests.
Departure from Casablanca
Your driver collects you at around 8 am at your accommodation and sets off for Fes in an air-conditioned vehicle. The drive is about 300 km, so use the time to rest, read or watch the countryside change from the Atlantic plain to the hills of the north. Your driver can suggest a short stop on the way if you need a break.
Guided walk through the medina
On arrival, your guide leads you into Fes el-Bali, the old walled medina, along narrow paths lined with old shops and workshops. You pass Koranic schools known as madrasas, including Al Attarine and Bou Inania, with their intricate carved cedar, plasterwork and mosaic tiles. Andalusian-style palaces and fountains give the lanes a surprising elegance, and your guide explains the symbols and stories along the way.
Al Karaouiyine and traditional architecture
See the beautiful walls and doorways of Al Karaouiyine, the oldest university in the world, founded in the 9th century. Your guide shows you how traditional mosques and buildings in Fes were constructed, from the carved wooden lintels to the green tiled roofs. It is a calm, atmospheric part of the day that explains why Fes is called the spiritual capital of Morocco.
Lunch in the medina
Take a one-hour break in the afternoon for lunch in a typical restaurant in the center of the Medina of Fes. It is a chance to sit down, recharge and try local dishes in a traditional setting, surrounded by the sounds of the old city. Lunch and drinks are paid directly by you, so you can order as much or as little as you like.
Pottery workshop and other sites
Visit a pottery and ceramics workshop and see how clay becomes the colourful plates, bowls and tiles that Fes is known for. Depending on time, your guide may add Bab Boujloud, the Nejjarine Museum, the Jnan Sbil Garden, the Moulay Abdellah quarter or the Chouara tanneries. These extras are not guaranteed, but they are a good way to personalise your visit.
Return to Casablanca
In the late afternoon you leave Fes and drive back to Casablanca, where your driver drops you at your accommodation. After a day of lanes, crafts and history, most travellers enjoy a quiet ride home with a lot to look back on. Keep your photos and notes handy, as you will want to plan the longer Fes stay you wish you had.
Why Book This Tour With Visit the Desert
Hotel pick-up, zero stress
We collect you in Casablanca and bring you back, so you skip the train timetables, taxis and the confusion of arriving alone in a big medina.
The imperial city, in one day
If you cannot spare two days for Fes, this trip gives you the medina, the madrasas and the craft workshops in one go, with a guide who knows the way.
A guide in the maze
The Fes medina is easy to get lost in. A guide turns it into a story, showing you the places that matter and keeping the day on track.
What Is Included in the Fes Day Tour
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Casablanca (4×4 or van)
- All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Multilingual driver for the whole day
- Guide for the medina visit
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and sites
- Tips for your guide and driver
Good to Know Before You Go
Long day
Fes is a few hours from Casablanca by road. Expect a full day with comfortable driving each way, and tell us if you prefer an earlier start.
Walking
The medina is a maze of lanes with uneven stones and some slopes. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and bring water.
What to wear
Choose modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, which is respectful in religious areas and comfortable for walking. A hat and sunscreen help in summer.
Best season
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer afternoons are hot in the medina, and winter mornings can be cool.
Prefer to stay?
One day is a taste of Fes. If you want more time, our longer tours include a full day in the city with a night in a riad.
Ready to Visit Fes?
Choose your date in the booking form on this page, or send us a message and we confirm your pick-up details with you.
Fes Day Tour: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Fes in one day from Casablanca?
Yes, but it is a long day. The city is about 300 km from Casablanca, and you leave around 8 am, spend several hours in the medina with a guide, and return the same day.
Which sites do we visit in Fes?
You explore the medina, madrasas such as Al Attarine and Bou Inania, the walls of Al Karaouiyine and a pottery workshop. Depending on time, your guide may add Bab Boujloud, the Nejjarine Museum, the Jnan Sbil Garden, the Moulay Abdellah quarter or the Chouara tanneries.
Is lunch included in the price?
No. A one-hour lunch break is planned in a typical restaurant in the center of the medina, and you pay directly for what you order. It is a good moment to rest and try Fassi dishes.
What is Al Karaouiyine?
It is the oldest university in the world, founded in the 9th century and known for its beautiful walls and doors. Your guide explains its history and why it made Fes a centre of learning and faith.
What time do we leave and when do we get back?
We pick you up at around 8 am at your accommodation in Casablanca. After the medina visit and lunch, you drive back and arrive in the evening, so plan no fixed commitments that night.
Is the walking difficult?
The medina has uneven lanes, steps and some slopes, so a moderate level of fitness is helpful. Wear sturdy shoes, take your time, and tell your guide if you would like more frequent breaks.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear modest, comfortable clothing and good walking shoes, and bring a hat, sunscreen and water in summer, or a light jacket in winter. Carry some cash for lunch, drinks, tips and any purchases in the workshops.
Can I stay longer in Fes?
Yes. One day is a taste of the city, and our 9-Day Imperial Cities Tour From Casablanca includes more time in Fes and the other imperial cities. We can also tailor a shorter stay with a night in a riad.
