A Complete Guide to Fes: Morocco's Ancient Imperial City

Founded in the 9th century and once the capital of the Idrisid dynasty, Fes is widely considered Morocco's spiritual and intellectual heart. Its old city, Fes el-Bali, is one of the largest car-free urban zones on Earth — a UNESCO World Heritage medina of more than 9,000 narrow alleyways that has barely changed shape in a thousand years.

Bab Boujloud: The Blue Gate

Most visits begin at Bab Boujloud, the ornate blue-and-green tiled gate that marks the main entrance to the old medina. Its mosaics set the tone for the architecture you will see throughout Fes el-Bali — a city built for pedestrians and pack animals long before cars existed.

The Chouara Tannery

The Chouara Tannery, in operation since the 11th century, is one of the oldest working tanneries in the world. Hides are still dyed by hand in stone vats using the same traditional methods practiced for a thousand years — a working piece of history rather than a museum piece.

University of al-Qarawiyyin

Fes is also home to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 857 AD and recognized as the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in the world — older than any university in Europe. Its library and mosque remain active centers of learning today.

Getting to Fes

Fes sits naturally on routes connecting the north (Chefchaouen and Tangier) with the Sahara at Merzouga, which makes it a common stop rather than a standalone destination. Our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Fes to Marrakech and the wider set of tours from Fes both route through the old imperial city.