FES, MOROCCO
Fes is the type of place you picture in your head when you envision a Moroccan bazaar. It is very busy, there is a lot going on, and the medina is hard to navigate. You didn’t come to Morocco expecting a calm, boring walk in the park though, did you?
Attractions:
Fes el-Bali: This is the old medina and main place to go in Fes. You will find markets, food, souvenirs, atmosphere, everything here! It is very busy, hard to find your bearings, and full of hustle and bustle - but would you want it any other way?! This is Morocco at its best!
Blue Gate (Bab Boujeloud): This is a nice photo opp. This gate leads into the old medina and is very famous.
Café Clock: Within the old medina, you can find this restaurant. Although I always advocate for eating street food (because you’ll never find food less expensive and more authentic), it was hard for me to find something that fit my dietary needs in the old medina. This cozy spot is hard to locate but is a tourist favorite. Not overly expensive (I ate here for 60 MAD), you can find all Moroccan cuisine here (vegan-friendly, too)!
Meknes Day Trip: This tour will take you into Volubilis (Berber and Roman ruins that date back to the 3rd Century B.C.), drive you past Moulay Idris (considered the holiest town in Morocco), and into Meknes (one of the four imperial cities of Morocco). The tour costs 300 MAD (I had to pay an additional 70 MAD to get into the site of Volubilis).
There are three tanneries in Fes; the main tannery is Chouara. If you are into leather or colorful dyes, this is a spot you may want to go. If you’ve ever seen the photos of pots filled with bright-colored powders in Fes, those are found here. The smell is pretty awful though (leather is animal skin after all)!
Other spots to check out include: Al-Attarine Madrasa, Parc Champ de Course, Royal Palace of Fes, Bou Inania Madrasa, and Zaouia Moulay Idriss II.
Accommodation:
Funky Fes: This hostel has a nice common area, a rooftop with a solid view, and serves dinner every night for 50 MAD. The facilities are nothing special but I would stay here again. I paid 60 MAD/night here.
Transportation:
Meknes is 1 hours by bus from Fes and costs 25 MAD.
Rabat is 3 hours by bus from Fes and costs 75 MAD.
Chefchaouen is 4 hours by bus from Fes and costs 75 MAD.
Casablanca is 4.5 hours by bus from Fes and costs 95 MAD.
Tangier is 6 hours by bus from Fes and costs 120 MAD.
Marrakech is 7.5 hours by bus from Fes and costs 195 MAD.
Merzouga is 10 hours from Fes and costs 180 MAD.
There are no direct routes to Essaouira, Ouarzazate, etc. First, you must take a bus to Casablanca or Marrakech and then transfer.
The photo of me under the ruins was taken by a random passerby whom I handed my phone to - thanks, person!