Travel tips, hotels, food, sightseeing in Fez
Fez (sometimes spelled "Fès") is a city in central Morocco. It is famous for the hats of the same name, which originated here. Fez is also famous for its ancient walled city, which many compare to the walled city of Jerusalem. It is a UNESCO Heritage site.
Understand
Fez is the medieval capital of Morocco, and a great city of high Islamic civilization. It also has the best-preserved old city in the Arab world, the sprawling, labyrinthine medina of Fes el-Bali, which is incidentally also the world's largest car-free urban zone.
Get in
By plane
Flights operate regularly from Casablanca and Paris-Orly to Fes-Saiss airport.
New services starting soon from Frankfurt(Hahn), 25 Oct 06, London (Luton), 31 Oct 06, and Marseille Provence, 09 Nov 06. Direct service from Heathrow airport twice a week also available from November 1, 2006.
By train
There is regular train service, along the line that runs from Rabat to Oujda. It is about 3.5 hours direct from Rabat to Fez.
By car
Fez is less than 4 hours' drive by car from Casablanca. The stretch of toll highway from Rabat to Fez is in superb condition and is inexpensive.
Travelling by grand taxi (inter-city taxi), though more expensive than trains, is viable for tourists- a ride from Fez to Casablanca in spring 2005 cost 1200 dirhams (approx 120 euros), not bad if you are sharing the cost among 3 or 4 passengers. Note that grand taxi fares are regulated and it is worth checking the official rates with the tourist board, as some drivers or hotels will quote inflated prices.
Within Fez, ride in the petits taxis (local taxis) rarely cost more that 15-20 dirhams (spring 2005). However, the medina of Fes el-Bali is only accessible from a few points by car. Place R'cif is a taxi and bus drop-off in the heart of the medina; there are a couple of parking areas such as Ain Zleten on the edges of the medina.
By bus
The main bus terminal ("gare routiere") is just outside the old city on the north side, near the Ain Zleten entrance. Grands taxis (inter-city taxis) can also be obtained here. There is also a bus terminal in the ville nouvelle, 7 km from the medina, with taxi stands nearby.
Get around
Ignore the travel guides that tell you that you'll get lost in the medina and that you must hire a guide. Most guides will simply take you from shop to shop where you will be pressured to buy goods, which will cost you extra because the seller will be obliged to pay the guide a hidden commission. There are some basic landmarks that you can use to get around, and there is an increasing amount of signage. The main drag is the Talaa Kbira, which runs from the Bab Boujloud area to the Karaouiyne mosque in the heart of the medina. Once you get into the narrow, windy heart of the medina, you can find your way out again by constantly heading downhill. That way you will eventually come out onto the Place R'cif, a dropoff for buses and taxis, where you can get a petit taxi out of the medina. Look for the book Fez from Bab to Bab (Hammad Berrada). It has a complete map of the medina and several well-described walking tours. However, be discreet taking out your map or you will have many offers from false guides!
Fez (sometimes spelled "Fès") is a city in central Morocco. It is famous for the hats of the same name, which originated here. Fez is also famous for its ancient walled city, which many compare to the walled city of Jerusalem. It is a UNESCO Heritage site.
Understand
Fez is the medieval capital of Morocco, and a great city of high Islamic civilization. It also has the best-preserved old city in the Arab world, the sprawling, labyrinthine medina of Fes el-Bali, which is incidentally also the world's largest car-free urban zone.
Get in
By plane
Flights operate regularly from Casablanca and Paris-Orly to Fes-Saiss airport.
New services starting soon from Frankfurt(Hahn), 25 Oct 06, London (Luton), 31 Oct 06, and Marseille Provence, 09 Nov 06. Direct service from Heathrow airport twice a week also available from November 1, 2006.
By train
There is regular train service, along the line that runs from Rabat to Oujda. It is about 3.5 hours direct from Rabat to Fez.
By car
Fez is less than 4 hours' drive by car from Casablanca. The stretch of toll highway from Rabat to Fez is in superb condition and is inexpensive.
Travelling by grand taxi (inter-city taxi), though more expensive than trains, is viable for tourists- a ride from Fez to Casablanca in spring 2005 cost 1200 dirhams (approx 120 euros), not bad if you are sharing the cost among 3 or 4 passengers. Note that grand taxi fares are regulated and it is worth checking the official rates with the tourist board, as some drivers or hotels will quote inflated prices.
Within Fez, ride in the petits taxis (local taxis) rarely cost more that 15-20 dirhams (spring 2005). However, the medina of Fes el-Bali is only accessible from a few points by car. Place R'cif is a taxi and bus drop-off in the heart of the medina; there are a couple of parking areas such as Ain Zleten on the edges of the medina.
By bus
The main bus terminal ("gare routiere") is just outside the old city on the north side, near the Ain Zleten entrance. Grands taxis (inter-city taxis) can also be obtained here. There is also a bus terminal in the ville nouvelle, 7 km from the medina, with taxi stands nearby.
Get around
Ignore the travel guides that tell you that you'll get lost in the medina and that you must hire a guide. Most guides will simply take you from shop to shop where you will be pressured to buy goods, which will cost you extra because the seller will be obliged to pay the guide a hidden commission. There are some basic landmarks that you can use to get around, and there is an increasing amount of signage. The main drag is the Talaa Kbira, which runs from the Bab Boujloud area to the Karaouiyne mosque in the heart of the medina. Once you get into the narrow, windy heart of the medina, you can find your way out again by constantly heading downhill. That way you will eventually come out onto the Place R'cif, a dropoff for buses and taxis, where you can get a petit taxi out of the medina. Look for the book Fez from Bab to Bab (Hammad Berrada). It has a complete map of the medina and several well-described walking tours. However, be discreet taking out your map or you will have many offers from false guides!
Travel tips, hotels, food, sightseeing in Fez
![Travel tips, hotels, food, sightseeing in Fez]()
Reviewed by ayoub
on
October 17, 2014
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