Fes Medina Walking Tour

Navigate the world's largest car-free urban area with an expert local guide on this immersive walking tour of Fes el-Bali, the ancient medina that has been the spiritual and intellectual heart of Morocco for over a thousand years. With more than 9,000 alleyways, getting lost is almost inevitable without a guide, and this tour ensures you discover the most significant sites while also stumbling upon hidden treasures.

Your guide will lead you through the labyrinthine streets to the iconic Chouara Tannery, where leather has been produced using traditional methods for nearly a millennium. From the elevated terraces of surrounding shops, you will gaze down on the honeycomb of stone vats filled with vivid natural dyes. The tour continues to the Bou Inania Madrasa, one of the finest examples of Marinid architecture, with its intricate carved stucco, zellige tilework, and towering cedar screens.

The walk passes through the different artisan quarters of the medina, each dedicated to a specific craft: the coppersmiths who hammer intricate designs into brass trays, the woodworkers who carve elaborate moucharabieh screens, and the weavers who produce silk brocades on hand looms. Your guide will introduce you to master artisans and explain the techniques that have been passed down through families for generations.

The tour includes a visit to the al-Qarawiyyin University complex, founded in 859 AD and recognized as the oldest existing educational institution in the world. A traditional lunch in a hidden riad restaurant provides a welcome break and a taste of authentic Fassi cuisine. The tour concludes at the iconic Bab Bou Jeloud, the ornate blue gate that serves as the main entrance to the medina.