Fes, Morocco Travel Guide: The Ancient Capital, Planned Properly
Fes is easy to reach by train, and the old medina rewards a plan. This guide gives the train times and prices, the airport taxi fares and the day trips, using official sources. For the wider route see the Morocco itinerary and for budgets the Morocco travel cost guide.
Sources checked 2026-10-23: live searches on oncf-voyages.ma, ctm.ma and supratours.ma for Wednesday 4 November 2026 (1 adult, 2nd class), and ONDA’s official taxi tariff for Fes-Saiss airport. We found no official ticketing page for Bou Inania or Attarine, so we give no price for them.
Getting to Fes
Fes sits at the end of the northern rail line, and most visitors arrive by train. All trains below are direct on the date we searched.
| From | Time | Price seen |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | about 7h | 260 DH |
| Casa Voyageurs | 3h55 to 4h05 | 59 to 130 DH |
| Rabat Ville | 2h53 to 3h12 | 75 to 105 DH |
| Meknes | 34 to 39 min | 22 to 35 DH |
Marrakech to Fes costs the same on almost every train, while Casablanca to Fes moves with demand and showed limited seats on every departure. See the Marrakech to Fes train guide for the full timetable.
From Chefchaouen, the coach is the way. CTM ran four departures a day from Fes at a flat 145 DH, in 4h10 to 4h50. Supratours ran two a day at 255 to 275 DH and 6h32, so book the CTM.
From the airport
ONDA, the airports authority, publishes fixed taxi fares for Fes-Saiss airport, with a taxi station at the arrivals esplanade, open every day. The table lists Fes city at 120 DH. Some short trips in the table are priced as round trips, so confirm at the station whether your fare is one way. We found no bus on the airport’s page.
Day trips by taxi
ONDA’s fixed fares also help you price a day out of Fes. They are listed as round trips:
- Meknes: 400 DH
- Volubilis and Moulay Idriss: 500 DH
- Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes in one tour: 800 DH
- Sefrou and Bhalil: 400 DH
- Sidi Harazem: 300 DH
- Middle Atlas: 800 DH
These are per car, so they work out cheaper when you share. Prices are posted at the taxi station, so check there. Meknes is also easy by train, at 22 to 35 DH each way, every 30 to 60 minutes, which is the cheapest option by far.
The medina
The old medina is a maze, and no cars enter it. Most riads will tell you which gate to be dropped at, so ask before you arrive and send your arrival time.
Main stops that visitors build a day around are Bab Boujloud (the blue gate), the Bou Inania Madrasa, the tanneries and the craftsmen’s quarters. Karaouiyine, the old mosque and university, is an active place of worship. Secondary sources say it is not open to non-Muslims inside, so plan to see it from the doors, not through a ticket. We found no official ticket page for Bou Inania or Attarine, so ask at the entrance for the price.
If you hire a guide, agree the fee and the route before you start, and make sure the guide is licensed. If you walk alone, keep the main streets in view and follow the gates and minarets as landmarks.
How long to stay
Two days is a sensible minimum: one for the medina, one for Meknes and Volubilis by train and taxi, or for a slower second pass. The Morocco itinerary shows where Fes fits between Marrakech and the north.
Why the medina is protected
The Medina of Fez was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1981 (280 hectares, listing 170 on whc.unesco.org). UNESCO says Fez was founded in the 9th century and reached its height in the 13th and 14th centuries under the Marinids, when it replaced Marrakesh as the capital of the kingdom. The madrasas, fondouks, palaces, residences, mosques and fountains of the medina date from that period.
Weather in Fes
Source: World Weather Information Service (WMO), monthly averages for 1991-2020 supplied by Morocco’s national weather service, worldweather.wmo.int.
| Month | Low (C) | High (C) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.7 | 16 | 60.1 |
| Feb | 4.4 | 17.3 | 54.3 |
| Mar | 6.6 | 19.9 | 59.3 |
| Apr | 8.3 | 22 | 54.7 |
| May | 11.5 | 26.4 | 38.2 |
| Jun | 14.9 | 31.2 | 11.1 |
| Jul | 17.9 | 35.1 | 1.1 |
| Aug | 18.3 | 35.1 | 4.9 |
| Sep | 15.6 | 30.3 | 22.6 |
| Oct | 12.6 | 26.1 | 53.9 |
| Nov | 8.1 | 20.2 | 65.6 |
| Dec | 5.2 | 17.2 | 62 |
On these averages, the hottest month is July and August (average high 35.1 C) and the coolest nights are in January (average low 3.7 C). The wettest months are November (65.6 mm) and December (62 mm), and the driest is July (1.1 mm). Averages hide single hot or rainy days, so check a forecast before you go. For choosing a season, see the best time to visit Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Marrakech to Fes?
About seven hours, direct, for 260 DH in 2nd class on the date we checked.
Is there a train from Fes to Meknes?
Yes. Direct trains run every 30 to 60 minutes, take 34 to 39 minutes and cost 22 to 35 DH.
What is the airport taxi fare in Fes?
ONDA lists 120 DH to the city. Check whether the fare is one way at the taxi station.
How do I get from Fes to Chefchaouen?
By CTM coach: 145 DH and 4h10 to 4h50 on the date we checked.
Can I visit the Kairaouine Mosque?
Sources we found say it is not open to non-Muslim visitors inside.
Sources
- CTM (coach timetables and fares)
- Supratours (coach timetables and fares)
- UNESCO World Heritage List
- WMO World Weather Information Service (climate normals)
- ONDA, Moroccan airports authority
Last checked: 24 October 2026. Operators update fares and times often. Check their site for the current price before booking.
