Cheap flights to Fez from £43

Fez overview

Fez is the third-largest city in Morocco, and also one of Morocco’s most traditional cities. As the oldest of the three imperial cities (Rabat and Marrakech are the other two), Fez is often referred to as the cultural and spiritual centre of Morocco.

The Medina of the city (also known as the old part of the city) is one of the city’s main attractions. Today, Fez is packed full of culture from the tribal people dressed in colourful robes and textiles to veiled women and street sellers. The Medina of Fez is one of the oldest medieval cities in the world and still embraces the lifestyle of centuries past. Make sure to arrange for a tour guide to take you through the traditional city, as many first time visitors can become overwhelmed by the bustling city, its narrow streets and mysterious alleys. No trip to Fez is complete without a stop at the one of the famous tanneries.

Travellers who take a flight to Fez in search of solitude should take a hike to the Merenid tombs. From the top of the hill you’ll see the best views of the city, including palaces, Mosques and the thousands of people who call this place their home.

Fez climate

Fez enjoys blistering hot summers and chilly winters. In July and August the mercury can hit the low 40s, while temperatures in December may dip to 4 degrees. Spring and autumn are very pleasant times to visit. Average temperatures are in the 20-degree range.

Getting around Fez

Getting around in Fez can be a challenge. The streets are arranged in a gridless maze and public transport is cheap but not recommended. Your best bet is flagging down taxis, which calculate rates on meters. Ville Nouvelle and Batha are easy places to catch a cab, but they can be picked up anywhere around the city. Save yourself the hassle and give the driver your destination after you’ve been driving a few seconds. Most drivers don’t like to take passengers short distances. 

Get your walking shoes ready for the rest of the time. Many of Fez’s winding streets are easier to travel on foot; there are colour-coded walking paths as well as tour guides available to direct you. 

Tickets for the local bus are cheap, but the buses are unreliable, unsafe and overcrowded. Pickpockets and accidents strike frequently. Bus shuttles between the airport and the main train station operate regularly, but a taxi will get you to your destination much quicker and more comfortably.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Visitors on a flight to Fez will land at Saïss Airport (FEZ), which is located 8 miles (14km) south of the city. Taxi is by far the most comfortable way of getting to your hotel, but there are regular bus services from the airport to the main train station.

What is good to know if travelling to Fez?

• Walking around the Medina is one of the best ways to get a sense of the old city. The small alleyways, with shafts of sunlight breaking through the roofs, are a fascinating route of market stalls and food. They are also like an underground maze, and it is extremely easy to lose your bearings. Don’t panic and – unless you wanted to be parted with lots of money – don’t accept anyone’s offer of helping you find the way out. Eventually, you will resurface in the open air; just wandering aimlessly is one of the most enjoyable things to do in this vibrant city.
• Moroccan cuisine has become seriously popular in the West recently. Prices and quality vary widely in Fez, however. In order to get the tastiest meals and to avoid paying tourist prices, head a little away from the more popular areas. Unmissable dishes include couscous, tagines (stews, slowly cooked in the distinctive peaked ceramic dish) and dried fruits.
• Shopping is a popular and tempting pastime for visitors to the city. Moroccan specialities to look out for include ceramics and pottery, carpets, jewellery and of course the ever-popular babouche or Moroccan slipper. Fez’s speciality is complex embroidery, often to decorate tablecloths or djellebas, and leather goods. 
• As with most African countries, if you’re planning on buying something, haggle, haggle, haggle. Expect to pay no more than half the original price you’re given (a third would be possible, depending on how much time you’ve got to spare…)