Fez is a fabulous city and one of the must-see places in Morocco. The old Medina is very atmospheric with countless small shops and bazaars as well as services such as barbers who give an amazing shave together with massage. You’ll never get a better shave than this.
Also in the Medina, your nose will lead you to the world renowned leathery tannery and dyeing plant. Here, for a few coins you’ll be given a guided tour of the pits where the leather is left to colour. If you can stand the smell, the photo opportunities are incredible.
Fez Mini Guide
The walled city of Fez is one of the most famous in Morocco and an appealing tourist destination. This is the best preserved old city in the Arab world making Fez a gem for both religious pilgrims and sight seers alike.
There are three main options for arriving there. If you travel with low cost carrier Ryanair then you can fly to Fez from major European cities such as Milan (Bergamo), Marseille, Barcelona (Girona) and Frankfurt. If you are coming from Paris you will fly on Jet4You which also has a connection between Fez and Marrakech.
Your other option from Paris is to use Royal Air Maroc, and this airline also comes to Fez from the Moroccan city of Casablanca. Rhino Car Hire representatives can meet you at Fes-Saiise airport and show you to your vehicle while giving you travel advice and hints and tips on driving in Morocco.
Having a car will save you a fortune on taxis and spare you from having to haggle over the fare or watch your meter. It also gives you the freedom to explore Morocco at your own convenience. For instance, you can get from Fez to Casablanca in about four hours and the roads, which take you past Rabat (also worth seeing) are in good condition. Everything is well sign posted and you will find the locals helpful if you get lost, though it is worth knowing some basic French or Arabic in order to communicate effectively.
A good place for gifts or souvenirs is within the Fez medina where there are many tanneries so you can pick up leather goods cheaply. Be prepared to be hassled over your purchase however. You should be aware that it is very easy to get lost in the mazy streets of old Medina but don’t panic, the worst that will happen is you will end up purchasing a whole host of local food and crafts.
See the Merenid tombs and the Bou Inania Madersa while you walk around Fez. The former are a good way of getting a view over the city in relative peace while the latter is an incredible old Arab religious college. If you are a Muslim you can visit the Moulay Idriss shrine II which is where the founder of fez was laid at peace while the al-Tijani mosque is an example of Islamic architecture at its best.
Fez has accommodation to meet the needs of travellers on all budgets while also being a city in which you can dine on whatever you want.
Rhino is one of the only car hire Fez companies which allows you to drop the vehicle off in another location apart from Fez if that is easier.
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