What to see in Fez in 1 day
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Time seems to stand still in an age-old city such as Fez, which retains the largest medina in the world, with a host of narrow streets, squares and labyrinths in which you can wander at will.
If you only have one day to spend here, the best plan is to spend the whole morning being borne along by the rhythm of Fes el Bali, the old quarter, to feel the pulse of city that never seems to sleep.
You won’t want to miss seeing the Royal Palace and its doorways, or the experience of buying slippers, metal boxes or spices in one of the souks arranged by guild. Remember that it is the custom to haggle and smile to lower the price and leave the trader happy.
Itinerary day 1
19.30 - 21.00
Merinid Tombs
It is one of the most magical places in Fez, especially at sunset. The necropolis of the royal family of this Merinid dynasty have become a very popular viewpoint over the old city. The ancient chronicles tell that they were made of marble and very colorful, but now there are only a couple of ruined buildings where you can see some of the remains of this royal necropolis.
10.00-14.00
Fes de Bali
Setting aside four hours to wander through the medina is the least we can do to discover the spirit of this historic city. If we do not want to miss any detail or monument, no matter how small, it is best to hire a guide. But if we prefer the destination to guide us, it is best to help him going up one of the two main streets, Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sheguira, and lend a hand to locate us at all times. Starting from the Blue Gate will help us to focus. After that, the adventure: gates that open onto the wall, souks of different guilds, mosques and madrasas suddenly appear between narrow streets and small squares. Most of the religious buildings are closed to non-Muslims, but those that are open we can not fail to visit them to understand the importance of their architecture and decoration. The road has to pass by the Seffarine Square, one of the most important in the medina for hosting the guild of coppersmiths, whose work can be heard before even stepping on it, and plant us in front of the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, the oldest university in the world.
14.00 - 15.30
Restaurante Sekaya
This place inside Fes el Bali (87 Zkak lahjar) has incredible views from its rooftop over the heart of the city. At dusk, the game of lights and shades create a unique vision that is worth enjoying. The food is rich and plentiful.
16.00 - 17.00
The Royal Palace and the Jewish quarter
The Royal Palace is some distance from Fes el Bali, so in this case, we would recommend taking a taxi to avoid a long walk. But it is well worth a visit. The Palace is not open to the public, but its doorways are an outstanding sight. From there, you can go through the various entrances to reach the Jewish quarter. This is a more isolated area, but it shows the important place this community once held in Fez, and you can appreciate the architectural contrasts with the rest of the medina, as the Jewish houses have outward-facing balconies.
17.30 - 18.00
The Chouara Tannery
Returning to the old part of the city, either on foot or by taxi, you should not miss a visit to one of Fez’s great spectacles: the Chouara Tannery, the city’s biggest tannery. The best way to see it is from the rooftop of one of the shops selling leather goods that stand around the square. If you don’t buy anything, it’s best to tip the shopkeeper, who will do you a great favour — by giving you at the start of your visit a bunch of mint to counteract the overpowering smell.
19.00-20.00
The Marinid Tombs
After visiting the tannery, we can continue our ascent (on foot or in a taxi, which would cost very little) to the Merinid Tombs, a magical place, especially at sunset, because of the visits and their symbolic significance. Only two buildings remain standing from the necropolis built on this hill by the Merinid dynasty that ruled Fez in the 13th century. However, this place is one of the most visited spots in the city when night falls because the medina is painted in ochre colours and shades of light and shadow until it is illuminated by the houses and street lamps.
20.30 - 22.00
Barceló Fes Medina Restaurant
If we want to have dinner in the medina, we can go back through one of the northern gates that crosses the wall, but if we want to eat well and rest in a unique atmosphere, we can go to the Barceló Fes Medina restaurant for dinner. The best thing to do in this case is to take a taxi to the door. In addition to the delicious Moroccan food they serve, the hotel has a jazz bar where you can have a cocktail or any other cocktail and relax after a long day in Fes.