Where to Stay in Fes: Best Riads and Hotels in the Medina and New Town
Fes el-Bali riads near the Blue Gate, Batha and R'cif, or modern hotels in the Ville Nouvelle: the best areas and places to stay in Fes.
Fes el-Bali is the largest car-free medieval city in the world, a labyrinth of more than 9,000 lanes where donkeys still carry goods past mosques, madrasas and tanneries. Staying inside it in a restored riad is one of the great experiences of Morocco. If you prefer pools, parking and easy taxis, the Ville Nouvelle has excellent modern hotels. This guide explains where to stay in Fes and the best places in each area.
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Where to stay in Fes at a glance
- For atmosphere and first visits: Fes el-Bali, the old medina
- Easiest medina location: near Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate) and Batha
- For pools, parking and modern comfort: the Ville Nouvelle
- How long: 2 to 3 nights
Fes el-Bali: sleep inside the medina
The old medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where you will find most riads and dars, traditional houses arranged around a central courtyard, many beautifully restored with zellige tiles, carved plaster and cedar wood. You can walk to the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and the Chouara tannery.
The most convenient area is around Bab Boujloud, the famous Blue Gate, and the Batha quarter, where taxis can drop you close to the door. Riads deeper in the medina, around R’cif, are quieter and closer to the tanneries, but harder to find on arrival.
Dar Hafsa
Budget · Near Batha · terrace
A small, very well-reviewed bed and breakfast in the medina, with air-conditioned rooms, a terrace, a shared lounge and a breakfast that guests love. Excellent value.
Riad Al Makan Fes & Spa
Mid-range · 3 minutes from the Blue Gate
A riad in the Batha area, a three-minute walk from Bab Boujloud, with a restaurant, a wellness area and rooms with baths and kettles. An easy, central first base in the medina.
Riad Alassala Fes
Mid-range · Batha · sun terrace
An elegant riad close to Batha with a sun terrace, restaurant and bar, and air-conditioned rooms with balconies. Guests praise the staff and the breakfast.
Riad Fes Aicha & Spa
Great value · R’cif · spa
A riad near Bab R’cif, a two-minute walk from the central market, with a spa, terrace and rooms mixing modern and Moroccan décor. Breakfast is served in the patio.
Riad Rcif Alif Suite & Spa
Upscale · Restored palace · indoor pool
A restored palace with Andalusian-Arab interiors, an indoor pool, a spa and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the medina, where home-cooked Moroccan dinners are served.
The Ville Nouvelle: modern Fes
The new town, built in the 20th century, has wide avenues, cafés, shopping and most of the city’s large hotels, many with pools and parking. It is about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from the medina gates. Choose it if you are travelling by car, with young children, or if you simply want a quiet room after a busy day in the souks.
Hôtel Royal Urban Concept
Budget · Ville Nouvelle
A modern, well-priced hotel with family rooms, a sun terrace, a lounge and a coffee shop. A practical base close to the train station area and the city’s cafés.
Royal Mirage Fes Hotel
Mid-range · Pool · spa
A large, central hotel on Avenue des FAR with an outdoor pool, a spa, a restaurant, a bar and free parking. Spacious rooms and suites suit families.
Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Upscale · Gardens · pool
A 5-star hotel set in gardens in the new town, with an outdoor pool, fitness centre, sauna and several restaurants. Rooms have balconies, some overlooking the gardens or the pool.
Getting there and around
Fes-Saïss Airport is about 15 kilometres south of the city; book a fixed-price transfer with Kiwitaxi or Welcome Pickups, and ask the driver to bring you to your riad door or the nearest gate. Trains connect Fes with Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech. Red petits taxis run between the Ville Nouvelle and the medina gates. Inside the medina, everything is on foot, and porters with handcarts can carry your bags.
Do it like a Moroccan: local tips
- Take a guide on day one. An official guide helps you understand the medina and find your way. Your riad can arrange one, or book a guided medina tour on GetYourGuide.
- Save your riad’s location. Drop a pin on your phone map before you go out. A Morocco eSIM from Airalo keeps your maps working.
- Visit the tanneries in the morning. The colours are brightest and the smell is lighter early in the day.
- Pack warm clothes in winter. Fes gets cold between December and February, so ask about heating.
Planning your visit? Read our Fes travel guide, or plan your route with the free Moroccanly trip planner.
Cover photo: Kyle Frost on Unsplash
Questions and tips
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