Walking Tour Old Medina Fez: Bou Inania Madrasa & Souks

Four hours through the maze: Blue Gate, tanneries, markets, and a 14th-century madrasa

A guided walking tour through Fez's UNESCO-listed Old Medina with an official guide, covering the Blue Gate entrance, Kairaouine Mosque, Chouara Tannery, and Bou Inania Madrasa. The tour runs 4 hours and includes bottled water and a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony. Entrance fees to attractions are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bab Bou Jeloud13m
2. Kairaouine Mosque10m
3. Medina of Fez3h
4. Bou Inania Madrasa10m

Explore Fez Old Medina highlights

• Visit Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate)
• See Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University
• Tour Bou Inania Madrasa
• Explore Chouara Tannery
• Wander through Fes el Bali souks and streets

The experience

You start at Bab Bou Jeloud, the Blue Gate: the main entrance to Fes el Bali and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The horseshoe arches and geometric tilework in blue and green announce what's ahead: a maze of narrow alleys that twist through centuries of Moroccan history. Your guide leads you past the Kairaouine Mosque, founded in 859 CE and still one of the world's oldest continuously operating educational institutions, then down into the tanneries where leather has been dyed and treated the same way for over a thousand years. The Chouara Tannery is the most famous. You'll see the stone vats filled with dyes from a terrace overlooking the work, the colors arranged like a mosaic below.

The souks come next: the spice market where vendors sell saffron, cumin, and cinnamon in loose piles, then the textile stalls and leather goods. This is where you move at the guide's pace through the crowd, stopping to watch artisans at work and to talk with shopkeepers who've run the same stall for decades. The Bou Inania Madrasa, built between 1350 and 1357, sits in the heart of the medina: a prayer school with a central courtyard, carved cedarwood galleries, and a minaret, which is rare among Moroccan madrasas. The tilework and stucco inside show the skill of Marinid craftsmen at their peak.

A traditional Moroccan tea ceremony happens during the tour, and you get bottled water throughout. The walk covers the main historic sites and the living market, so you're not just seeing monuments. You're moving through the daily rhythm of the medina. Entrance fees to individual attractions are paid separately. The guide handles the route and the context.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the walk.
• an official guide for the full 4 hours.
• a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony.
• access to the main historic sites and souks of the Old Medina, including the Blue Gate, Kairaouine Mosque, Chouara Tannery, and Bou Inania Madrasa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by CASACADO VOYAGEURS

Is this one for you?If you're arriving in Fez without a car or staying in a hotel outside the medina, this tour picks you up at the Blue Gate and handles the navigation through the maze: no need to figure out which alley leads where or negotiate with vendors alone. The guide's pace and local knowledge settle the day so you see the main sites without the confusion of finding them yourself.

Traveler reviews

4.91★★★★★★★★★★

79 verified traveler reviews

5 ★76

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★2

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 6).

What is the Bou Inania Madrasa and why is it different from other madrasas in Morocco?

Bou Inania Madrasa is a 14th-century prayer school built by the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris between 1350 and 1357. It's unique because it has a minaret, most Moroccan madrasas don't, and it features a central courtyard with a fountain, carved cedarwood galleries, and a prayer hall with intricate tilework and stucco work that represents the height of Marinid design.

How old is the Chouara Tannery and what will I see there?

The Chouara Tannery dates back to the 11th century, making it one of the oldest tanneries in the world. You'll see the distinctive stone vats filled with dyes of different colors from a terrace overlooking the site, where leather is still treated and dyed using traditional methods passed down through generations.

What is Bab Bou Jeloud and why does the tour start there?

Bab Bou Jeloud, known as the Blue Gate, is one of Fez's most iconic landmarks and one of the main entrances to the Old Medina. Built in the early 20th century, it features horseshoe arches and intricate tilework in blue and green, and it marks the gateway into Fes el Bali, the UNESCO-listed heart of the city.

Is the Kairaouine Mosque open to visitors during the tour?

The tour passes the Kairaouine Mosque, which was founded in 859 CE and is one of the world's oldest continuously operating educational institutions. Access to the interior may be limited. Your guide will show you the exterior and explain its historical and architectural significance.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes bottled water, a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony, and the official guide for 4 hours. Entrance fees to attractions like the Bou Inania Madrasa and the tanneries are paid separately, typically 20 to 40 dirhams per site.

How narrow are the streets in the Old Medina, and will I get lost?

The Old Medina is a labyrinth of narrow, winding alleys designed centuries ago. Your official guide navigates the maze and keeps the group together, so you experience the authentic layout without the risk of getting separated or losing your way.