Fez Walking Tour: Old Medina, Tanneries & Fassi Food Tasting

Summary

Wander Fez’s old medina streets, taste Fassi flavors, meet artisans and see the world’s oldest university in just three hours

You’ll wind through Fez’s twisting medina streets with a local guide, see tanners at work (mint sprig included!), sample real Fassi food and catch sunlight on ancient tiles. The city feels alive in every sense — you’ll leave with stories stuck to your shoes.

What’s the experience like?

We ducked under Bab Bou Jeloud’s blue arch just as a vendor was stacking oranges outside his stall — I could smell them before I saw them. Our guide, Hassan, waved us over with a grin and started leading us into the medina. It’s loud in there, honestly — voices bouncing off stone walls, the clang of metalwork echoing from somewhere deeper. At first I tried to keep track of our turns but gave up after the third alley; it’s a proper maze. Hassan kept pointing out things I’d never have noticed: a carved cedar door here, someone baking bread in what looked like an old closet. He said this part of Fez is older than most countries — which made me laugh but also kind of blew my mind.

We stopped at the tanneries and wow — that smell hits you before anything else. Pungent but not as bad as people say (maybe because we got sprigs of mint to hold under our noses). Watching men work those vats, all those earthy colors swirling together, felt almost hypnotic. I tried to ask one of them how long he’d been doing this job; he just smiled and shrugged, hands stained every shade of brown. After that we wandered past stalls selling everything from brass lamps to piles of olives so green they looked fake. There was this moment near Nejjarine Square when sunlight hit the tiles just right and for a second everything went quiet — or maybe I just zoned out.

Lunch was simple but perfect: fassi bread warm from the oven, something spicy with chickpeas (I forgot the name), and mint tea poured so high it nearly splashed out of the glass. Hassan teased me about my clumsy “shukran” — Li laughed too — but it felt good to try anyway. We ended near Al-Karaouine University; he told us it’s the oldest degree-granting university in the world and pointed at students slipping by in silence. Three hours went fast. I still think about that bread sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Fez's historic sites and culture

• Visit Bab Bou Jeloud gate
• Tour Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts
• See University of Al-Karaouine
• Walk through old town maze
• View tanneries and colorful doors
• Taste traditional Moroccan Fassi cuisine

Top questions

How long does the Fez walking tour last?

The tour lasts about 3 hours in total, including travel time.

Is bottled water included on this Fez walking tour?

Yes, bottled water is included for all participants.

Are infants or small children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join and ride in a pram or stroller.

Is this Fez walking tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout.

Does the tour include food tasting?

Yes, you’ll get to try real Moroccan Fassi cuisine during the tour.

Which main attractions are visited on this walking tour?

You’ll visit Bab Bou Jeloud gate, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, Al-Karaouine University, and the tanneries.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this walking tour.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the starting point.

What’s included

Your day includes wandering with a local guide through Fez’s old medina for about three hours (with plenty of stops), bottled water along the way to keep you going, chances to taste traditional Fassi food during lunch or snack breaks, and visits inside historic sites like Bab Bou Jeloud and Nejjarine Museum before finishing near Al-Karaouine University.