3 days in Fez Morocco

A last minute trip through a very old city.

3 days in Fez Morocco

Not long ago, I was wandering through Europe with some friends when on a whim we decided to head south to Fez for a few days. We landed in the heat and chaos of Morocco, and two things became immediately clear. First, we’d arrived in the middle of Ramadan, meaning the city’s Muslim residents were fasting, no food, water, or cigarettes from sunrise to sunset. Second, snapping photos without permission was a quick way to stir up trouble. In Fez, many people dislike being photographed, something that seemed even more personal during Ramadan, when hunger, thirst, and exhaustion run high.

Fez is the kind of place where you half expect to see Indiana Jones stumble out of a smoky back room, minus a pinky finger after a poker game gone sideways. It’s old, ancient really. The Medina feels like a living relic, a city within a city, where narrow alleyways twist and turn like veins in some sprawling organism. Shops overflow with goods, rugs, spices, leather, and hustlers line the streets, eager to guide you to “the best” whatever-you’re-looking-for.

The place smells like history: dust, cumin, and a faint whiff of decay. They say Fez dates back to the 8th century, and it shows. Crumbling walls and faded mosaics speak of centuries of wear, yet the city still stands.

A panoramic view of Fez, Morocco, showcasing a dense cluster of old, weathered buildings. In the foreground, workers are drying yellow-dyed leather on the rooftop, a traditional craft in the city’s tanneries.
A street vendor in Fez, Morocco, sits in a small shop overflowing with tangled wires, electrical components, and old sockets, surrounded by the organized chaos of his trade.
A craftsman in Fez, Morocco, sits at the entrance of his workshop, wearing a traditional Moroccan robe and a red fez, gazing into the distance while his hands rest on a metal plate.
Merchants in Fez, Morocco, dramatically display handwoven Berber rugs to potential buyers in a busy traditional carpet market, where intricate patterns and rich colors cover the floors.
An elderly man in Fez, Morocco, leans against a column inside a mosque, lost in thought, as the vibrant red carpets and intricate tilework surround him in quiet solitude.
Two boys stand in the winding alleyways of Fez, Morocco, one resting against a wall while the other leans on his bicycle, embodying the youthful energy of the historic Medina.
A man stands at the edge of a rooftop in Fez, Morocco, looking over the sprawling Medina, where satellite dishes and worn buildings create a textured urban landscape.
A glimpse inside a Fez, Morocco, riad shows a cozy sitting area with Moroccan tilework and cushions, as a man sits at a low table, captured through the patterned bars of a staircase.
A wall of neatly stacked colorful silk threads in Fez, Morocco, showcases the variety of hues available for traditional Moroccan weaving and embroidery.
Workers in Fez, Morocco’s famous Chouara Tannery handle raw hides, dipping them into massive vats of natural dyes, as two young boys carefully balance while navigating the rugged pathways.
A woman in a dark blue djellaba walks through a narrow alleyway in the old medina of Fez, Morocco, carrying plastic bags filled with goods. Sunlight filters through the passage, casting a dramatic contrast on the textured walls.
A group of children play soccer in a dimly lit archway in Fez, Morocco. Their silhouettes stand out against the bright background, capturing a moment of youthful energy in the historic medina.
An elderly woman in a black robe and white headscarf sits alone on a wooden bench against a textured wall in Fez, Morocco. She leans on her cane, gazing downward, as her shadow blends with the earthy tones of the ancient wall behind her.