Fès

Fès is Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital, celebrated for its vast medieval medina, Fès el-Bali, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest car-free urban areas. The city feels like a living museum of Moroccan history, craft and tradition.

Founded in the late 8th century by Idris I and expanded under Idris II, Fès served as an imperial capital for centuries. Landmarks such as the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 857 and regarded as one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the 11th-century Chouara Tannery and the Royal Palace reflect its deep scholarly and architectural heritage.

The old city is divided into the districts of Fès el-Bali and Fès Jdid, with the Jewish Mellah and the modern Ville Nouvelle nearby. Visitors explore labyrinthine lanes, the Bab Bou Jeloud gate, historic madrasas, the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts, and workshops producing leather, ceramics, zellige and metalwork.

Fès remains a major centre for traditional crafts and hosts the annual Fès Festival of World Sacred Music, drawing international performers and audiences. Its food scene features tagine, couscous, pastilla and street food, with rooftop cafés and restaurants overlooking the medina.

For both leisure and business travellers, Fès offers history, culture and crafts, plus convenient rail and air links to Meknès, Rabat and Casablanca and easy access to the Middle Atlas and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.