Morocco · Stays via Expedia
Anniversary Getaway in Fes
Planning a anniversary getaway in Fes? Compare hotels and vacation rentals on Expedia — a boutique hotel for two or a private home with a view, whatever makes the trip. Celebrate the years with a trip that feels like a gift.
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Planning a anniversary getaway in Fes
Medieval medina, leather tanneries, mosaic courtyards, tagines slow-cooked on charcoal. For two, decide between a hotel with service and a private rental with space — Expedia lists both in Fes, so you can weigh price, location and reviews in one search.
What to eat in Fes
Pastilla belongs to Fez: pigeon or chicken layered with almonds and cinnamon under warqa pastry, dusted with icing sugar, savoury and sweet in the same mouthful. Breakfast is bissara, a thick fava soup ladled at hole-in-the-wall counters with olive oil and cumin for a few dirhams. Khlii, meat preserved in fat, gets fried with eggs. R'cif market handles produce and Talaa Kebira the grilling.
Fes after dark
Fez does not have a night out. Medina lanes empty around ten and the shutters come down, leaving cats and the occasional handcart. What exists sits along Avenue Hassan II in the Ville Nouvelle, mostly male-dominated cafes and a couple of hotel bars. Riads serve set dinners to their own guests. The exception falls in June, when the Festival of World Sacred Music puts concerts in Bab Makina.
What's actually worth your time in Fes
Fes el-Bali is the point: roughly nine thousand lanes with no cars in any of them, a scale no other Moroccan medina matches. Bou Inania Madrasa is the one religious building non-Muslims may enter, and its carved stucco justifies the ticket on its own. Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859, can only be glimpsed through doorways. The brass doors of the Royal Palace in Fes el-Jdid are purely a photograph.
When the weather turns in Fes
Sitting inland at four hundred metres, Fez has properly cold, wet winters, unlike the coast. The medina's worn paving turns slick underfoot in rain, so wear grip. The Nejjarine museum and Dar Batha are both roofed and worth taking slowly. Better still, book a hammam or a class at Cafe Clock on Derb el Magana, then wait the weather out over a bowl of bissara.
What first-timers get wrong in Fes
Hiring a badged official guide for half a day is one of the few places in Morocco where it saves money rather than costs it, because Fes el-Bali genuinely defeats phone navigation. Your riad will not be reachable by car; a porter with a handcart carries the bags in, and the fee should be agreed at the gate. On the tannery terrace the mint sprig is free, the sales pitch afterwards is not.
When to go to Fes
| Best months for anniversary getaway | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| November | 23°C / 73°F | 4 days |
| October | 28°C / 82°F | 5 days |
| February | 20°C / 68°F | 6 days |
The month to avoid is July — around 38°C (100°F) with roughly 0 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: November is the sweet spot, July the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Fes
- Fes el-Bali — Old medina — tanneries, Al-Quaraouiyine mosque, the labyrinth core.
- Fes el-Jdid — New medina — the Mellah Jewish quarter, royal palace gates, market lanes.
- Ville Nouvelle — French colonial new town — boulevards, cafés, the train station.
Common questions
What's the best stay for an anniversary?
For two, a romantic boutique hotel or a private whole-home rental with a view, a hot tub, or a great terrace makes the trip. Choose somewhere central so you can walk to dinner without a car.
How do we make it special?
Book a place with a standout feature — a plunge pool, a sea or skyline view, a fireplace — and pick a walkable neighbourhood near the restaurants and sights you want. Mention the occasion; many hosts and hotels add a small touch.
When should we book?
Two to three months ahead for weekends; sooner for peak season or a specific view. Free-cancellation listings let you hold the date and adjust if plans change.
Where should we stay for a anniversary getaway in Fes?
In Fes the areas worth basing yourself in are Fes el-Bali (old medina — tanneries, al-quaraouiyine mosque, the labyrinth core); Fes el-Jdid (new medina — the mellah jewish quarter, royal palace gates, market lanes); Ville Nouvelle (french colonial new town — boulevards, cafés, the train station). Medieval medina, leather tanneries, mosaic courtyards, tagines slow-cooked on charcoal. On Expedia, compare hotels and whole-home rentals side by side, sort by guest rating, and check free-cancellation terms before booking.
When is the best time for a anniversary getaway in Fes?
November (around 23°C, ~4 rain days), October (around 28°C, ~5 rain days), February (around 20°C, ~6 rain days) rate best on Fes's 5-year climate normals. July is the month most groups skip.