2 Days in Fes: A Step-by-Step Itinerary (2026)
Two days is the right amount of time for Fes — long enough to absorb the medina’s density without burning out, short enough to keep your energy fresh. This itinerary uses Day 1 with a guide for orientation and the major sights, and Day 2 for slow wandering, the Borj Nord viewpoint, and a half-day to Volubilis if you want to escape the medina’s intensity for an afternoon.
Reverses cleanly if you’re arriving on a Friday afternoon (when Bou Inania closes for prayers). Last reviewed May 2026.
⚡ Itinerary at a glance
- Total time: 2 days / 2 nights
- Walking distance: ~5–7 km per day inside the medina
- Budget: ~€90–150 per person/day (entries + meals + guide on day 1)
- Best for: First-time Fes visitors, history-curious travellers
- Best season: March–May, September–November
- Last reviewed: May 2026
Overview & how to use this
The principle behind this 2-day plan: Day 1 is for the “you have to see them” sights with a guide who explains the layout, the etiquette of haggling, and the history; Day 2 is for what you find on your own, with one major destination (Borj Nord viewpoint at sunset, or a half-day excursion to Volubilis) to break up the medina hours.
You can swap days if needed. Friday morning the Bou Inania medersa is closed for prayers — if you land Thursday night, you can do Day 2 first and Day 1 on the Saturday.
Pre-book Day 1's guided medina tour Half-day guided tours that cover this exact route - Bab Boujloud → Bou Inania → Karaouiyine → Chouara Tannery - with a licensed English-speaking guide.
- Fes medina half-day private guided tour
- Fes medina full-day with cooking class
- Fes airport private transfer to riad
Affiliate disclosure: CityQuest Morocco may earn a small commission if you book through these links — at no extra cost to you. We only link to operators we’d use ourselves.
Day 1 — Bab Boujloud → Tannery → Bou Inania
1. Breakfast at your riad rooftop
Most Fes riads serve a traditional Moroccan breakfast on the rooftop — msemen, beghrir, eggs, fresh juice, mint tea. Eat slowly and watch the medina wake up. Best free first hour of your day.
2. Guided medina tour
Meet your licensed guide at your riad door. Half-day route covers: Bab Boujloud (orientation point), Talaa Kebira walk down with stops at Medersa Bou Inania, Souk el-Attarine (perfumes), Place Seffarine (coppersmiths), Karaouiyne mosque exterior + Attarine Madrasa interior, ending at Chouara Tannery with terrace view.
→ Cost: €30–50 for half-day private guide. Book through your riad. Tips €5–10 at end.
3. Lunch at The Ruined Garden or Café Clock
Two reliable options after a morning of medina intensity. The Ruined Garden (lunch only, near Pasha Baghdadi) — restored riad garden, slow food, salads and seasonal tagines, €25–40. Café Clock (Talaa Kebira) — the original culture café, camel burger, terrace, €10–18.
4. Souk shopping (selectively)
Now you have the orientation, return to the workshops your guide showed. Best Fes-specific buys: brass and copperware (Place Seffarine), traditional slippers and leather goods (around the tannery), natural cosmetics (Souk el-Attarine), woven textiles (Talaa Kebira workshops). Less crowded after 3pm.
5. Dinner at Dar Hatim or in your riad
For a proper Fes meal, book a set dinner at Dar Hatim — family-run dar where you eat in a restored 14th-century home. Set menu, advance booking required, €30–45 per person. Or take the dinner option at your riad — most riads serve a 4-course traditional dinner for €20–35 that’s genuinely good and saves the medina-at-night navigation.
Day 2 — Solo wander + viewpoint + dinner
1. Breakfast + slow medina wander
Late, slow start. After breakfast, leave the riad with no particular destination. Today you have your own mental map — wander Talaa Sghira (the smaller parallel main street) and the side derbs you didn’t reach yesterday. Stop into workshops that catch your eye.
2. Quartier El-Andalous (the other half of the medina)
Most travellers never leave the western (Karaouiyine) half of the medina. The eastern Quartier El-Andalous — settled by Andalusi refugees in the 9th century — is quieter, more residential, has its own grand mosque and the small Andalous Madrasa exterior. Cross the river via the small bridges off Place Rcif. Different rhythm, fewer tourists.
3. Lunch at a local rotisserie
Step outside the tourist circuit. Around Place Rcif are several small rotisseries serving grilled lamb skewers, salads, fresh bread for €5–10 per person. The food is what Fassis (Fes residents) actually eat at lunchtime.
4. Borj Nord viewpoint at sunset
Take a petit taxi (~25–30 MAD) up to the Borj Nord 16th-century Saadian fortress for the best panoramic view of the medina. Watch the city light up as evening prayers begin from a hundred minarets at once. The Marinid Tombs viewpoint above offers the same panorama and is free, but exposed.
→ Walk down (steep, 25 min) or take a return taxi.
5. Dinner + traditional music
Two angles: a final medina dinner at Nur Restaurant (modern Moroccan, €40–60) or a music night at Café Clock (Sunday-Thursday) for a more relaxed end. Walk back to your riad together if you’ve made friends; otherwise riad reception will arrange a guide for the night walk (€3–5).
Alternatives & extensions
- Add a day for Volubilis (Roman ruins, 1h drive): Day 3 morning trip, returns by 5pm. Combines well with the holy town of Moulay Idriss. ~€40–60 per person on a group tour.
- Swap Day 2 morning for a cooking class: Café Clock and several riads offer 4-hour classes including market visit. €40–70.
- Add a hammam: the traditional Fes hammam (Hammam Mernissi or Riad Salam) is the local equivalent of Turkish bath. €30–60 with full massage. Schedule for late afternoon when you need recovery from medina walking.
- Day trip to Chefchaouen (the blue town, 4h drive): doable as a long day or better as an overnight stop on the way to Tangier.
Add a Day 3 — Volubilis Roman ruins If you can extend to a third day, the half-day Volubilis trip combines the best Roman ruins in Morocco with the holy town of Moulay Idriss.
Affiliate disclosure: CityQuest Morocco may earn a small commission if you book through these links — at no extra cost to you. We only link to operators we’d use ourselves.
Practical tips for this itinerary
- Wear comfortable shoes — the medina paving is uneven, occasionally wet, and you’ll do 5+ km daily.
- Carry small notes — most workshops, food stalls, and taxis can’t make change for big bills.
- Pre-book dinners — the best Fes dinners (Dar Hatim, Nur, Ruined Garden) need at least 24h notice.
- Mosque/madrasa modest dress — shoulders and knees covered. Carry a light scarf.
- Friday adjustment: Bou Inania closes for prayers Friday morning. If your day 1 falls on Friday, swap with day 2.
- Skip on a 2-day visit: the Royal Palace exterior in Fes el-Jdid (closed to visitors, only the brass doors are interesting), the Mellah (interesting if you have a third day, skip if you only have two).
📱 Stay connected in Morocco
Get a Morocco eSIM before you fly — instant activation, no roaming, around €5–15.
Affiliate link.
FAQ — 2 days in Fes
Are 2 days enough for Fes?
For most travellers yes. Two days hits the major sights (Bou Inania, Karaouiyine, the tannery, Borj Nord viewpoint) and gives you one slow day to actually experience the medina. A third day adds Volubilis or a cooking class but isn’t essential.
Should I do this on weekdays or weekend?
Weekdays. Friday morning the Bou Inania medersa is closed for prayers; many shops close early Friday afternoon. Saturday is busier in the souks. Tuesday-Thursday is the cleanest window.
How long is the train from Casablanca to Fes?
3 hours 30 minutes by direct train (ONCF, hourly). €15–30 second class, €25–40 first class. Book on oncf.ma. From Tangier it’s 4 hours via the Al-Boraq high-speed line.
Do I need a guide for both days?
For day 1 yes — the medina disorientation is real. For day 2 you should wander solo. Most riads can also arrange an evening “walk-back” guide for €3–5 if you don’t want to navigate the night medina alone.
Can I see the tanneries without being pressured to buy leather?
Yes. Walk to the Chouara tannery itself rather than following “tannery viewpoint” touts (who funnel you to a high-pressure shop). At the tannery, leather sellers will offer you their roof terrace for the view in exchange for a 10–20 MAD tip — no obligation to buy.
What if I have only 1 day in Fes?
Compress Day 1 of this itinerary: skip the souk shopping, hire a 3-hour morning guide instead of half-day, do lunch at Café Clock, then Borj Nord at sunset before dinner. You’ll miss Day 2’s solo wander but you’ll cover the must-sees.
Where should I stay during these 2 days?
Inside Fes el-Bali, ideally near Bab Boujloud or off Talaa Kebira. See our Best Riads in Fes Medina guide for 8 picks across budgets.