Fez (Fes), the oldest of Morocco’s four historic Imperial Cities, is the spiritual and intellectual capital of the country. Home to the world’s largest car-free urban area, Fez feels like a living medieval museum where artisans still hand-craft leather, copper, and textiles using methods passed down through families for over a thousand years. Here is your ultimate guide to Fez!

1. The Landmarks You Can’t Miss

• The Chouara Tannery: The iconic, world-famous sight of Fez. Look down from the surrounding leather shop balconies to see rows of massive stone vessels filled with vibrant natural dyes, where local men stand waist-deep treating animal hides exactly as they did in the 11th century.
• The Bab Bou Jeloud (The Blue Gate): The spectacular, grand Moorish gateway that serves as the main entrance to the old city. The outside of the gate is covered in beautiful blue tiles (the historic color of Fez), while the inside is covered in green tiles to represent Islam.

2. Fez Fun Facts

• The World’s Oldest University: Fez is home to the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, founded all the way back in the year 859 AD! Remarkably, it was founded by a wealthy Muslim woman named Fatima al-Fihri and is officially recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest continuously operating university on earth.
• A Car-Free Empire: The historic core of the city, Fes el-Bali, is a sprawling maze of over 9,400 tight stone alleyways. It is officially the largest urban pedestrian zone in the world—no cars can physically fit inside, meaning all goods, foods, and luggage are transported through the city using donkeys and handcarts.

3. The Food Scene

• Fassi Pastilla (B’stilla): Fez is the absolute home of this legendary Moroccan dish. It is a spectacular, sweet and savory pie made of paper-thin layers of crispy pastry stuffed with slow-cooked shredded chicken (traditionally pigeon), almonds, saffron, and cinnamon, heavily dusted with powdered sugar on top.
• Harira Soup & Dates: Stop at a cozy local diner inside the medina to enjoy a bowl of Harira—a rich, comforting tomato-based soup packed with chickpeas, lentils, meat, and fragrant cilantro, traditionally served alongside sweet, sticky local dates.

4. Practical Travel Tips

• Take a Fresh Mint Sprig at the Tanneries: When you visit the viewing balconies overlooking the Chouara Tannery, the local vendors will hand you a sprig of fresh mint. Make sure to hold it directly under your nose—the natural pigeon droppings used in the historic leather softening process create an incredibly intense, pungent smell!
• Hire an Official Guide for Day One: Because the old medina of Fez is even more confusing and maze-like than Marrakech, it is highly recommended to hire an official, licensed guide through your hotel or tourist office for your first morning. It allows you to learn the history in peace without worrying about getting lost in the deep alleys.