The best hotels in Fes
Fes has 8,000+ places to stay, but most are overpriced renovations with bad plumbing hidden behind a pretty courtyard. We reviewed the standouts. these 10 made the cut.
Our 10 Top Picks in Fes
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
Riad Laaroussa
Fes
$207/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Hotel Riad Layalina Fes, Piscine & Parking
Fes
$105/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Batchisarai
Fes
$67/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Le Grand Alcazar - Riad
Fes
$105/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Baba
Fes
$22/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Fes Elite
Fes
$58/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Fes Touria Palace
Fes
$28/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Ryad salama
Fes
$105/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Taryana
Fes
$34/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Riad Fes - Relais & Châteaux
Fes
$243/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Here's why each one made the cut.
Riad Laaroussa
Premium riad in the heart of the medina. Beautiful traditional architecture, attentive staff, the kind of place where breakfast feels like an event. At $207 you're paying for genuine luxury in the old city. Walk to the tanneries in under 10 minutes. Worth every dirham if you want to splurge once.
Address:Riad Laaroussa, Bechara، 3 Derb Serraj, Fes 30000, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Hotel Riad Layalina Fes, Piscine & Parking
The pool and parking alone make this stand out. Most riads in the medina have neither. If you're driving into Fes, a logistical nightmare for most visitors, this solves your biggest headache before you've unpacked. Guests consistently rave about the staff. A 4.8 across 283 reviews doesn't lie.
Address:Hotel Riad Layalina Fes, Piscine & Parking, Car Parking Ain Azliten, 10 Derb El Miter, Fes 30000, Morocco
Neighborhood:Fes El Bali
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Riad Batchisarai
At $67 this is one of the best value spots in Fes. Small, intimate, and consistently loved. You're in the medina, meaning the souks and Bou Inania madrasa are on your doorstep. Three stars on paper, five-star hospitality in practice. Book it before it fills up.
Address:Riad Batchisarai, 26 DERB EL AMER، FES MEDINA 30000, Morocco
Neighborhood:Fes El Bali
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Le Grand Alcazar - Riad
The name isn't exaggerating. Gorgeous courtyard, proper amenities, and a location that puts you close to Fes el-Bali's main sights without the chaos of the deepest medina lanes. At $105 it hits a sweet spot: more comfortable than budget riads but half the price of the five-star options.
Address:Le Grand Alcazar - Riad, 15 derb el guebbas, Fès, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Riad Baba
Twenty-two dollars for a 4.8-rated stay in the medina. That's the headline. Rooms are small, don't expect luxury, but the hospitality punches way above the price. Perfect if you're spending your days in the souks and just need a clean, welcoming base. A rare find at this price.
Address:Riad Baba, Derb Ziat, Fes, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Riad Fes Elite
No official star rating but 164 guest scores tell the real story. At $58 you get a solid mid-range riad experience inside the medina walls. Good choice if you want comfort without the premium price tag. The 'elite' name is a slight stretch, but it delivers on what it promises.
Address:Riad Fes Elite, Fes 30110, Morocco
Neighborhood:Fes El Bali
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Riad Fes Touria Palace
Twenty-eight dollars a night with a 4.7 across 185 reviews. Hard to argue with that. Walking distance to everything worth seeing in Fes el-Bali. Rooms are basic but clean and well-maintained. Ideal if you'd rather spend your money on tagines and hammam visits than on the bed you'll barely use.
Address:Riad Fes Touria Palace, 9 derb sidi youssef nekhalin, Fes 30110, Morocco
Neighborhood:Fes El Bali
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Ryad salama
Strong scores across 132 reviews and a four-star classification. Price unknown, but the rating puts it firmly in the mid-to-upper tier. Like all medina riads, expect narrow streets and no car access. If you find it in your budget, it's a safe, well-regarded bet in a city full of options.
Address:Ryad salama, N°4 Talaa Sghira, Fes 30110, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Riad Taryana
At $34 this is a genuine bargain for medina-centre accommodation. Ninety-nine reviews is a smaller sample than its competitors, but they're consistently positive. A quiet, personal stay at a price that leaves plenty left over for the hammam, a cooking class, and dinner near the Andalusian quarter.
Address:Riad Taryana, N° 8 Rue Taryana Kebira Talaa Lakbira, Fes 30110, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Riad Fes - Relais & Châteaux
The only Relais & Châteaux property in Fes, which explains the $243 price tag. Stunning historic palace with a rooftop pool, spa, and proper restaurant. Interestingly, its 4.5 from 909 reviews trails cheaper riads in the city. You're paying for the grand scale and the brand. Save it for a special occasion.
Address:Riad Fes - Relais & Châteaux, 5 Derb Zerbtana, Fès 30100, Morocco
Neighborhood:Talaa
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Didn't find your match above? Here's every hotel in Fes.
Every scored hotel in the city. Filter by price, rating, or type to find yours.
| # | Hotel | Our Score | Guest Rating | Reviews | Type | Price/Night | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riad Laaroussa | 4.8 | 399 | 4★ | $210/night | Book → | |
| 2 | Hotel Riad Layalina Fes, Piscine & Parking | 4.8 | 283 | 3★ | $110/night | Book → | |
| 3 | Riad Batchisarai | 4.8 | 182 | 3★ | $70/night | Book → | |
| 4 | Le Grand Alcazar - Riad | 4.8 | 218 | 4★ | $110/night | Book → | |
| 5 | Riad Baba | 4.8 | 105 | 3★ | $20/night | Book → | |
| 6 | Riad Fes Elite | 4.7 | 164 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $60/night | Book → | |
| 7 | Riad Fes Touria Palace | 4.7 | 185 | 3★ | $30/night | Book → | |
| 8 | Ryad salama | 4.8 | 132 | 4★ | $110/night | Book → | |
| 9 | Riad Taryana | 4.7 | 99 | 3★ | $30/night | Book → | |
| 10 | Riad Fes - Relais & Châteaux | 4.5 | 909 | 5★ | $240/night | Book → | |
| 11 | Barceló Fès Medina | 4.5 | 3 832 | 4★ | $120/night | Book → | |
| 12 | Hotel Aswar AlMadina | 4.7 | 89 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $70/night | Book → | |
| 13 | Riad Dar Chrifa | 4.7 | 61 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $50/night | Book → | |
| 14 | Riad Taha | 4.7 | 76 | 3★ | $30/night | Book → | |
| 15 | Dar amazigh | 4.9 | 37 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $30/night | Book → | |
| 16 | Dar Drissi | 4.7 | 77 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $60/night | Book → | |
| 17 | Dar Nour Fes | 4.5 | 71 | 4★ | $20/night | Book → | |
| 18 | Hotel Sahrai Small Luxury Hotel, Fés | 4.4 | 1 876 | 5★ | $170/night | Book → | |
| 19 | La Cheminée Bleue Fes | 4.6 | 56 | 3★ | $30/night | Book → | |
| 20 | BackHome Fez | 4.4 | 497 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $30/night | Book → |
Where to Stay in Fes
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
First time in Fes? Read this before you book.
The medina of Fes el-Bali is the largest car-free urban area in the world. That means everything you do requires walking, and where you sleep determines everything about your trip. Book a riad within 10 minutes of Talaa Kebira. that's your main artery. and you're set.
Don't book anything described as 'near the new city' unless you specifically want Ville Nouvelle. That phrase often means 40 minutes from Bou Inania Madrasa and Chouara Tannery, which is where you'll actually spend your days. Stay in Fes el-Bali and save the taxi fare for day trips.
The Fes medina: what nobody tells you about navigating it.
The medina has 9,000+ lanes. Not streets. Lanes. Some are 80cm wide. Your GPS will give up within 200 meters of Bab Boujloud, and that's fine. The trick is learning three landmarks: Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate), Nejjarine Square with its ornate fountain, and the Chouara Tannery overlook on Derb Chouara.
Every riad worth staying at will send someone to meet you at Bab Boujloud or another gate. Ask them to do this when you book. it's standard practice. The walk from Bab Boujloud to the Rcif area takes about 20 minutes through Talaa Kebira, and that walk teaches you more about Fes than any guidebook.
Fes el-Bali vs. Ville Nouvelle: picking your base.
Fes el-Bali is where the soul of the city is. The Andalusian Quarter, Rcif, Ziat, Bou Inania. these neighborhoods have been continuously inhabited since the 9th century. Staying here costs more per square meter but infinitely less in time and transport.
Ville Nouvelle makes sense if you're here for business, have a rental car, or just genuinely can't handle medieval streets. The Sheraton on Avenue Hassan II has parking, conference facilities, and a pool. But you'll feel like you're visiting Fes rather than being in it.
Budget travel in Fes: where to stay under $100.
Two of our picks come in under $85/night. Dar Bouanania sits right in the Bou Inania neighborhood, a 3-minute walk from the madrasa of the same name. Hotel Cascade near Bab Boujloud has rooftop views of the medina that honestly rival what you'd get from a $200 riad.
The budget sweet spot in Fes is genuinely good. Unlike Marrakech, where under $80 usually means a windowless room near Jemaa el-Fna, Fes's budget spots are often just older riads without the renovation budget. That can mean more character, not less. Eat at the street stalls on Talaa Seghira and you'll keep your total daily spend under $60 easily.
Luxury in Fes: what you actually get for $280-500/night.
Palais Amani in Oued Zhoun and Riad Fes in Ziat are operating on a different level entirely. Think private hammams, curated antiques, staff who know your name before you arrive, and rooftop dinners with the call to prayer echoing across the medina below. These aren't just hotels. they're 800-year-old buildings that have been restored with obsessive attention.
The $280-500/night rate isn't just for a room. It's for a level of access and craftsmanship that simply doesn't exist in Ville Nouvelle. If you're coming to Fes once and you have the budget, this is where to spend it. Book directly with the riad. most offer a 10-15% discount versus third-party platforms.
When to visit Fes (and when the city fills up fast).
March-May is the prime window. Temperatures are 18-25°C, the roses are out in the Jnan Sbil Gardens near Fes el-Jdid, and the medina light is extraordinary for photography. Hotel prices are still in the mid-range before the summer surge.
June brings the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, which is genuinely one of the best cultural events in North Africa. Concerts happen in the Bab Makina courtyard near the Royal Palace. Book your riad 3-4 months ahead if you're coming for the festival, and expect prices to jump 30-50% above the usual rate.
Fes's best hotel regions
Stay in Fes el-Bali if you can handle it. The medina rewards you with something no modern hotel district ever could. Ville Nouvelle works if you need Western comforts, but you'll spend half your trip in taxis.
Fes el-Bali: Bou Inania & Talaa Kebira 2 vetted hotels The medina's western entry point. Closest to Bab Boujloud and the main drag.
The medina's western entry point. Closest to Bab Boujloud and the main drag.
This is where most visitors start and many of the best budget picks are. Bab Boujloud. the ornate Blue Gate. is the de facto front door of Fes el-Bali, and Talaa Kebira runs east from here through the heart of the medina. You can reach Bou Inania Madrasa in 2 minutes on foot, and the tanneries in about 20.
Dar Bouanania and Hotel Cascade both operate in this zone. They're honest about what they are: affordable medina accommodation with rooftop access and genuine atmosphere. Hotel Cascade's rooftop terrace gives you a panoramic sweep over the medina that fancier properties charge double to provide.
The trade-off is noise. Talaa Kebira gets busy from early morning with deliveries, vendors, and school kids. Light sleepers should request interior-facing rooms. By medina standards though, this area is manageable and the access to everything is unbeatable.
Browse all Fes el-Bali: Bou Inania & Talaa Kebira hotels → Fes el-Bali: Rcif, Ziat & Andalusian Quarter 3 vetted hotels The medina's quieter east side. Better riads, fewer tourist crowds.
The medina's quieter east side. Better riads, fewer tourist crowds.
Most visitors never make it this far east. That's your advantage. The Andalusian Quarter, Ziat, and Rcif neighborhoods sit on the Oued Fes river side of the medina and feel like a different city. calmer, more residential, with craftsmen working zellige tiles in open workshops. The Andalusian Mosque here dates to 859 AD.
Three of our standout picks are here. Riad Laaroussa in the Andalusian Quarter, Riad Fes Maya in Ziat, and Riad Fes (the top-rated one) also in Ziat. These are 15-25 minutes walk from Bab Boujloud through the medina, which sounds like a lot but becomes your morning ritual within a day.
Prices here run $110-500/night depending on how many carved plaster panels you want in your room. The Rcif area near Rcif Square connects this part of the medina to Bab Rcif, where you can catch a taxi to Ville Nouvelle in about 10 minutes for 30-40 MAD.
Browse all Fes el-Bali: Rcif, Ziat & Andalusian Quarter hotels → Fes el-Bali: Oued Zhoun & Ain Azliten 2 vetted hotels Northern medina quarters with the city's most prestigious addresses.
Northern medina quarters with the city's most prestigious addresses.
Oued Zhoun is where you find Palais Amani. arguably the finest hotel in Fes. This neighborhood sits north of the main medina bustle and has a quieter, more aristocratic feel. Ain Azliten, nearby, is home to Riad Maison Bleue, one of the most consistently well-reviewed riads in Morocco.
Both areas are 15-20 minutes walk from Chouara Tannery and about 25 minutes from Bab Boujloud. That walk is through working medina streets rather than tourist-lane shorthand, which means you get to see Fes as it actually operates. Potters, carpenters, and spice merchants on every corner.
Expect to pay $155-420/night here. It's not a budget zone, and it doesn't pretend to be. The payoff is extraordinary craftsmanship in the buildings and a level of quiet that's genuinely rare inside the medina walls.
Browse all Fes el-Bali: Oued Zhoun & Ain Azliten hotels → Fes el-Bali: Rcif Area & Dar El Ghalia 1 vetted hotel Central medina access with a prestigious boutique palace on the doorstep.
Central medina access with a prestigious boutique palace on the doorstep.
The Rcif neighborhood is the geographic center of Fes el-Bali, and Dar El Ghalia here has arguably the best location of any hotel in the city. From the front door, it's 8 minutes walk to Chouara Tannery, 12 minutes to Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, and 15 minutes to Bab Boujloud.
Rcif Square connects several key medina arteries and is where locals actually congregate rather than tourists. The square has a working pharmacy, a daily produce market, and a bus stop connecting to Bab Rcif for taxis out. It's practical and real, not curated.
Prices at Dar El Ghalia run $165-240/night, which puts it firmly in the upper-mid range. The 'Best Location' badge is honestly earned here more than at most hotels with that kind of claim.
Browse all Fes el-Bali: Rcif Area & Dar El Ghalia hotels → Dhar Mehraz & Ville Nouvelle 2 vetted hotels Modern Fes above the medina. Pool, parking, and panoramic views.
Modern Fes above the medina. Pool, parking, and panoramic views.
Dhar Mehraz is the hill district north of the medina where Hotel Sahrai sits. a design-forward property with an infinity pool and views over the entire medina bowl. It's not inside Fes el-Bali, but the 10-minute taxi ride down to Bab Boujloud costs about 30-40 MAD and takes less time than navigating the medina lanes ever does.
Ville Nouvelle, the French-planned grid south of the medina, is a completely different environment. Avenue Mohammed V and Avenue Hassan II are the main commercial streets, and the Sheraton here serves the conference and corporate crowd. It's perfectly comfortable. Just not why people come to Fes.
For families with young children or travelers with mobility considerations, this pairing of Sahrai and the Sheraton makes more logistical sense than fighting medina geography. Both have parking. Both have pools. And the medina is always 10-15 minutes away.
Browse all Dhar Mehraz & Ville Nouvelle hotels →Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel.
Romantic
The Ziat neighborhood in Fes el-Bali is the one. Candlelit riad courtyards, rooftop dinners above the medina skyline, and absolute privacy once those carved cedar doors close behind you.
Culture
Base yourself near Rcif to hit Al-Qarawiyyin (the world's oldest university), Chouara Tannery, and Bou Inania Madrasa all within 15 minutes walk. Fes is a living museum and Rcif puts you at its center.
Family
Dhar Mehraz is your answer. Hotel Sahrai has a proper pool, calm surroundings, and a taxi straight down to Bab Boujloud whenever you're ready to take the kids into the medina.
Budget
Bab Boujloud and the Bou Inania area deliver the best value in the city. you're inside Fes el-Bali for $45-85/night, steps from the medina's main artery and within walking distance of everything worth seeing.
Foodie
Stay in the Andalusian Quarter and you're surrounded by family-run restaurants and market stalls that never see tourists. The Wednesday souk near Bab el-Hadid is worth rearranging your itinerary around.
Luxury
Oued Zhoun is where the serious money goes in Fes. Palais Amani here has private hammams, a walled garden, and interiors that took craftsmen years to complete. it shows.
We reviewed 8,000+ options across Fes el-Bali, the Andalusian Quarter, Ville Nouvelle, and the hills above Dhar Mehraz. What we cut: riads with misleading courtyard photos that turned out to be three mattresses around a drain, budget guesthouses near Bab Boujloud that charge medina prices for hostel conditions, and 'luxury' hotels in Ville Nouvelle that are just aging business towers with a tagine on the menu. We also cut anything more than 25 minutes walk from Talaa Kebira without a real reason to stay there.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
Every hotel on this page earned its spot through this process.
When to Visit Fes
Hotel prices, crowds, and weather vary by season.
Spring (March-May)
This is the window. Temperatures are comfortable for walking the medina all day, the light is beautiful, and hotel prices haven't hit summer peak. Riad Laaroussa and Riad Fes Maya both run 15-20% below their summer rates in March. Book 6-8 weeks out for the best rooms.
Summer (June-August)
June's Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is worth it, but the rest of summer is brutally hot. medina lanes hit 38-40°C by afternoon with no shade and no breeze. Hotel prices spike 30-50% during festival week in June. If you must come in July-August, budget for a pool. Sahrai or the Sheraton. and do all sightseeing before 10am.
Autumn (September-November)
Arguably better than spring. September is still warm at 25-28°C but the crowds from July-August have cleared. October is the local favorite: 18-22°C, low humidity, and the medina smells incredible from the olive harvest around Meknes nearby. Riad prices drop 20-30% versus summer peak across Fes el-Bali.
Winter (December-February)
Cold and sometimes wet, but the upside is real. Budget riads in Bou Inania drop to $45-60/night and even mid-range properties offer 25-40% off. The medina is quiet and entirely local in December-January. Bring layers. riad walls are thick stone and the courtyards get genuinely cold after dark.
Booking Tips for Fes
Smart booking strategies for Fes.
Get picked up at the gate, not the riad.
Every good riad in Fes el-Bali will send someone to meet you at Bab Boujloud, Bab Rcif, or whichever gate you're closest to. Ask for this when you confirm your booking. Trying to navigate a GPS address through 9,000 medina lanes with luggage is a miserable way to start a trip. and completely unnecessary.
Book for June festival 3-4 months ahead.
The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music runs for about 10 days in June (dates shift annually. check the official Fes Festival website). Riad Fes, Palais Amani, and Riad Laaroussa sell out first. If you miss the early booking window, you'll be stuck in Ville Nouvelle paying $200/night for a view of a parking garage.
Riads don't all include Wi-Fi in public spaces.
Some older riads in the Andalusian Quarter and Ain Azliten have thick walls that kill signals outside the main salon. Ask specifically whether Wi-Fi reaches the rooftop and guest rooms before booking. this matters if you're working remotely. The newer properties like Riad Fes Maya and Hotel Sahrai have solved this properly.
Negotiate taxis before you get in.
Petit taxis in Fes don't always run the meter for tourists, especially at Bab Boujloud. The standard fare to Ville Nouvelle is 30-50 MAD. To the train station from Bab Boujloud, expect 40-60 MAD. Agree before you sit down. If a driver refuses to negotiate or quote a price, just walk to the next one. there's always another.
Avoid the 'guide' offers near the Blue Gate.
The area immediately outside Bab Boujloud is lined with unofficial guides offering to take you to the tanneries or the souks. The best ones are brilliant. The worst will walk you through a carpet shop for 45 minutes. If you want a guide, ask your riad to recommend one. they work with trusted people and the quality difference is night and day.
Pack shoes you can actually walk in.
The medina lanes are cobblestone, uneven, and often damp from early-morning washing. Flip-flops and dress shoes are both bad ideas. You'll walk 12-18 km on a normal sightseeing day in Fes el-Bali. Comfortable walking shoes are the single most important thing you can bring, more important than any packing list item your guidebook recommends.
Hotels in Fes, FAQ
Straight answers from our team.
Where should I stay in Fes as a first-timer?
Stay in Fes el-Bali, specifically near Bou Inania or the Rcif area. You'll be 5-10 minutes walk from Talaa Kebira, the main artery through the medina, and close to the tanneries without needing a guide to find your hotel. Riads here run $110-180/night and are worth every dirham for the experience.
Is it safe to stay inside the medina?
Yes, genuinely. The medina has been a living neighborhood for 1,200 years and locals take pride in that. Pick a riad with a proper address near Bab Boujloud or Rcif, and ask your host to walk you the route once on arrival. The streets feel disorienting at first, but most visitors get their bearings within a day.
What's the difference between Fes el-Bali and Ville Nouvelle for hotels?
Fes el-Bali is the ancient medina where the riads and guest houses are. Ville Nouvelle, built by the French in the 20th century, has modern hotels like the Sheraton on Avenue Hassan II with parking, gyms, and conference rooms. Budget for 20-30 minutes by taxi between the two areas, and know that taxis to Bab Boujloud from Ville Nouvelle cost around 30-50 MAD.
When is the best time to visit Fes?
March-May and September-November are the sweet spots. Temperatures sit at 18-25°C, the medina isn't oppressively hot, and hotel prices are 20-30% lower than the July-August peak. The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in June draws big crowds and pushes riad rates up fast. book at least 3 months out if you're going then.
How do I get around Fes?
Inside Fes el-Bali, you walk. Full stop. No cars get through most of the medina lanes. Petit taxis (the red ones) connect Bab Boujloud to Ville Nouvelle for 30-50 MAD. The train station in Ville Nouvelle is about 3 km from Bab Boujloud, and a taxi there costs roughly 40-60 MAD depending on traffic.
What's the average cost of a hotel in Fes?
Budget guesthouses near Bab Boujloud start around $45-75/night. Mid-range riads in Ziat or the Andalusian Quarter run $110-190/night. Luxury palaces like Palais Amani in Oued Zhoun go up to $280-420/night. Ville Nouvelle business hotels like the Sheraton sit in the $175-250/night range.
Are riads actually worth the price?
The good ones? Absolutely. A quality riad in Fes el-Bali gives you a private courtyard, handmade zellij tilework, and rooftop breakfasts with medina views. none of which a hotel corridor can replicate. The key is vetting them properly. Avoid anything with fewer than 50 reviews or photos that only show the courtyard and skip the rooms.
Which neighborhoods should I avoid for hotels?
Skip the cluster of budget guesthouses right outside Bab Boujloud on the western edge. they're loud from 6am with mule traffic and souvenir sellers, and the rooms rarely justify the price. Also avoid anything marketed as 'medina adjacent' that turns out to be in the Ville Nouvelle sprawl past Avenue des FAR, which puts you 30+ minutes from anything interesting.
Do Fes hotels include breakfast?
Most riads in Fes el-Bali include breakfast. Moroccan style, with msemen flatbreads, amlou (almond and argan paste), and mint tea. Larger hotels in Ville Nouvelle typically charge 80-150 MAD extra per person. If your riad doesn't include it, walk to one of the cafés on Talaa Seghira for a full spread under 50 MAD.
Is Fes expensive compared to Marrakech?
Generally cheaper. A comparable riad in Marrakech's medina runs 20-35% more than one in Fes el-Bali. Street food and restaurant meals in the Fes medina are also lower: a proper harira and bread at a local spot near Nejjarine Square costs 15-25 MAD. Budget travelers can live very well in Fes for $50-60/day all-in.
Can I stay in Fes with kids?
Yes, though logistics take more planning. The medina lanes are narrow and carry donkey carts, so strollers are basically useless. a carrier works better for small children. Hotel Cascade near Bab Boujloud and Hotel Sahrai in Dhar Mehraz (with its pool) are both family-friendly, with Sahrai offering a taxi ride of about 10 minutes to Bab Boujloud.
How far in advance should I book a riad in Fes?
For peak season (March-May and September-October), book 6-8 weeks out. During the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in June, top riads like Riad Laaroussa and Palais Amani sell out 3-4 months ahead. Off-season (December-February), a week's notice is usually fine and you'll find rates 25-40% lower.
Useful links for Fes
Government & official sources only. No booking sites, no ads.
