12 Family-Friendly Activities in Fes

The Fes medina — the largest car-free urban area in the world — is a labyrinth of 9,400 streets that is thrilling to explore with a guide who can frame it as an adventure for children. Turn the medina walk into a treasure hunt: can they spot a specific tile pattern? Count the number of donkeys? Find the fountain with the most mosaic? A good guide will tailor the experience to children's ages: showing them the scariest-looking tanning vats, letting them handle raw wool and silk, pointing out the cats sleeping on fabric bolts, and finding the best street food stalls. The narrow lanes, the unexpected turns, the sounds (hammering, singing, donkeys braying, the call to prayer) — the medina is an immersive experience unlike anything children have encountered. Hiring a licensed guide is essential with children — you'll never get lost, and the guide knows which workshops welcome kids.

The Chouara tanneries — where leather has been dyed using medieval methods for nearly 1,000 years — are Fes's most dramatic sight and a hit with children. The view from the surrounding terraces (leather shops invite you up for free, hoping you'll buy) reveals a vast array of stone vats filled with vivid dyes — red, yellow, orange, white, brown — and workers waist-deep in the liquids. The smell is intense (you'll be given fresh mint to hold under your nose), which children find hilariously disgusting. The process is fascinating: raw animal hides are cleaned in lime and pigeon guano, then soaked in natural dyes (saffron for yellow, poppy for red, mint for green, indigo for blue). Children are mesmerised by the scale, the colours, and the fact that this process hasn't changed in centuries. The best viewing is from the terrace shops on the east side, which have the most complete panorama.

The Bou Inania Madrasa — a 14th-century Islamic school — is one of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco and accessible to non-Muslim visitors. The interior is a masterpiece of Islamic art: carved cedar wood, sculpted plaster, zellige mosaic, marble floors, and a serene central courtyard with a fountain. For children, the building is fascinating because it was a school: students lived in the small rooms on the upper floors and studied in the courtyard below. Older children can appreciate the incredible detail of the carved plaster (point out the different patterns — no two panels are identical) and the mathematics behind the geometric tile patterns. The courtyard acoustics are remarkable — a whisper in one corner carries clearly to the opposite side. The madrasa is small enough that young attention spans can handle it (15–20 minutes). The adjacent water clock (a medieval timekeeping device) is also interesting for children.

Since no cars can enter the Fes medina, all goods are transported by donkey and mule. Children can take short donkey rides through the medina lanes — an experience that is both practical (resting tired legs) and thrilling (navigating narrow streets on a donkey, dodging pedestrians and other animals). Your riad or guide can arrange a donkey ride for children. The rides are short (15–30 minutes) but memorable — the donkeys are sure-footed and the handlers are experienced. Children ride while parents walk alongside. The experience gives kids a unique perspective on the medina — seeing the lanes from the height of a donkey, being part of the traditional transport system, and understanding how a city functions without cars. Tips: the donkeys can be stubborn (which kids find funny), the lanes are narrow (stay close to your child), and it's customary to tip the handler (50–100 MAD).

The Nejjarine Fountain — one of the most beautiful fountains in Morocco, covered entirely in zellige mosaic — sits in a small square surrounded by the woodworking souk. The adjacent Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts (housed in a restored caravanserai) displays traditional Moroccan woodwork: carved doors, painted ceilings, musical instruments, and furniture. For children, the museum is engaging because the objects are tangible and familiar (doors, chairs, boxes) rather than abstract. The caravanserai building itself — with its central courtyard, tiled walls, and rooftop terrace café — is beautiful. The woodworking souk around the square is fascinating: children can watch carpenters carving cedar using traditional tools, inhale the sweet cedar scent, and see how the museum pieces connect to living craft traditions. The rooftop café has views over the medina. Allow 45 minutes.

Fes has some of the best street food in Morocco, and exploring it with children turns eating into an adventure. The best spots for families: Talaa Kebira (the main medina street — try sfenj/Moroccan doughnuts, fresh from the fryer, at the stalls near the top), Rcif Square (grilled meat sandwiches and fresh juice), and the neighbourhood bakeries (watching bread being baked in wood-fired ovens). Child-friendly Fassi specialities include: sfenj (doughnuts — every child loves them), msemen (flaky flatbread with honey), freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, brochettes (grilled meat skewers), and chebakia (honey-and-sesame pastries). The adventure is in the tasting: try a small amount of everything, discover new flavours together, and let children choose what they want to try next. Bring hand sanitiser and wet wipes. A guided food tour (available through riads) takes the guesswork out of food safety.