Region
Fès-Meknès
فاس مكناسⴼⴰⵙ-ⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ
Fès blue pottery, yellow light, zellige green
At a glance
- Recommended stay
- 3 to 5 days
- Best season
- March to May and October to November
- Population
- 4,467,911 (2024)
- Best for
- Medieval car-free medinas · Traditional leather & pottery crafts · Roman ruins at Volubilis
- Key landmarks
- Fès el-Bali medina (UNESCO World Heritage)Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and the Chouara TanneryBab Mansour and the Heri es-Souani granaries in Meknès (UNESCO)Roman Volubilis (UNESCO)Moulay Idriss ZerhounIfrane and the Azrou cedar forestTazekka National Park and the Friouato cave
The imperial heartland: the Fès medina, Meknès, Roman Volubilis and cedar forests around Ifrane.
Getting there
Fès–Saïss Airport (FEZ) and hourly ONCF mainline trains from Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier
The Intellectual and Spiritual Cradle
Fès-Meknès is the historical crucible where Moroccan civilization, scholarship, and artisan guilds reached their highest refinement. The region unites two storied imperial capitals: medieval Fès, home to the world’s oldest continually operating university at Al Quaraouiyine, and monumental 17th-century Meknès, built with colossal gates and granaries by Sultan Moulay Ismail.
Ancient Ruins and Middle Atlas Forests
Beyond the great imperial cities, the region extends across fertile rolling plateaus to the remarkably preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis and the sacred hill town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. To the south, the terrain rises into the temperate Middle Atlas mountains, where Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou shelter endangered Barbary macaques and crisp alpine streams.
Weather and climate
Climate by month
Average low and highRainy days
| Month | Average low and high | Rainy days | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4°C – 16°C39°F – 61°F | 8 | — |
| Feb | 4°C – 17°C40°F – 63°F | 9 | — |
| Mar | 7°C – 20°C44°F – 68°F | 9 | — |
| Apr | 8°C – 22°C47°F – 72°F | 9 | — |
| May | 12°C – 26°C53°F – 80°F | 6 | — |
| Jun | 15°C – 31°C59°F – 88°F | 3 | — |
| Jul | 18°C – 35°C64°F – 95°F | 2 | — |
| Aug | 18°C – 35°C65°F – 95°F | 2 | — |
| Sep | 16°C – 30°C60°F – 87°F | 4 | — |
| Oct | 13°C – 26°C55°F – 79°F | 7 | — |
| Nov | 8°C – 20°C47°F – 68°F | 8 | — |
| Dec | 5°C – 17°C41°F – 63°F | 9 | — |
Source: Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, 1991-2020 normals for Fès (regional capital), via WMO. Updated November 7, 2026. worldweather.wmo.int
Suggested itinerary
Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 7, 2026
Day 1 Fès el-Bali
- Morning
- Enter by Bab Bou Jeloud with a licensed guide and visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, then walk down the Talaa Kebira.
- Afternoon
- Al-Attarine Madrasa, the doorways of the Qarawiyyin and a leather shop terrace above the Chouara Tannery.
- Evening
- Sunset from a rooftop or the Borj Nord side of the valley, then dinner at your riad.
Day 2 Meknès, Moulay Ismail's capital
- Morning
- Train from Fès to Meknès (under an hour). Start at Bab Mansour and Place el-Hedim.
- Afternoon
- Walk to the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the vast Heri es-Souani granaries and stables.
- Evening
- Evening on Place el-Hedim with grilled snacks, then sleep in Meknès or take the train back.
Day 3 Volubilis and Moulay Idriss
- Morning
- Grand taxi from Meknès to Volubilis (about 30 km) and see the mosaics early, before the heat; the site has little shade.
- Afternoon
- Walk or taxi to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and climb to a viewpoint over the holy town's two hills.
- Evening
- Return to Fès or Meknès by grand taxi before dark.
Day 4 Middle Atlas: Ifrane and Azrou
- Morning
- Bus or grand taxi from Fès to Ifrane (about an hour), the Alpine-style town at about 1,650 m.
- Afternoon
- Continue to the cedar forest near Azrou to see Barbary macaques in the wild, then Azrou's small artisan market.
- Evening
- Back to Fès, or stay in Ifrane in winter when snow can close the roads.
Tips
- Many travellers on r/Morocco and r/solotravel recommend Meknès as a calmer base than Fès, with Volubilis an easy half-day away.
- Book a licensed guide for your first Fès morning; touts near the tanneries may claim streets are closed to lead you to shops.
- Do not feed the Barbary macaques near Azrou: it harms an endangered species and they can bite.
- Summer afternoons in Fès and Meknès regularly pass 35 °C. Plan outdoor sites like Volubilis for early morning.
Getting around
- ONCF mainline trains link Fès and Meknès with Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier through the day; Fès to Meknès takes under an hour.
- Fès-Saïss Airport (FEZ) is about 15 km south of Fès, with domestic and European flights.
- Volubilis and Moulay Idriss are reached by grand taxi from Meknès; a taxi hired for the day from Fès is a common shortcut.
- CTM and local buses serve Ifrane, Azrou and Taza. In winter, check road conditions in the Middle Atlas.
Etiquette
- Non-Muslims cannot enter working mosques or the Moulay Idriss shrine; madrasas and the Moulay Ismail mausoleum courtyards are open to visitors.
- Dress modestly, especially in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, one of Morocco's holiest towns.
- Ask before photographing artisans and tannery workers; buying something small or tipping is customary if they pose.
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