Things to Do in Fes With Kids

Things to Do in Fes With Kids: What to See

There is no shortage of things to do in Fes with kids, from a hands on pottery village to the famous leather tanneries and sweeping views over the old medina. Here are the stops our family loved most.

There are many things to do in Fes!  I am sure we only scratched the surface during our four days here.  So many places with incredible views, so much vibrancy throughout the medina shown through craftsmanship, the character of the locals and most of all, so much history!

Visit the pottery village

For some hands on fun!  Fes, as well as many parts of Morocco, is know for their pottery work.  Our guide took us to Art D’Argile for a peek at the incredible process and methodical, time consuming efforts that go into making the final products.  Each tile is cut by human hand, no machines here!

Viona was invited to try her hand at pottery making.  She thought it was the best thing ever!!  She did not make a masterpiece but walked away with a very cool experience.

You can also purchase any of the goods you see here or have them make you a custom piece.  They are able to ship it home for you if it is a larger item.  They make everything from elaborate garden fountains to mini tagines!

Art D’Argile can be found at N 41 Hay Lalla Yacout rue N3 ain nokbi, Fès, Morocco

The Leather Tannery

Visiting the tannery is one of the more popular things to do in Fes, and is said to be the second largest tannery in the world.  We figured we better not miss out.  Warning: the smell at the tannery is pungent, like a roadkill and durian smoothie left in a hot car.  If you have a sensitive nose, perhaps you skip this one?  We all managed fine, but Viona was a bit more dramatic about it.  In my opinion, it was worth it to see something so unique.  It is an interesting process that I had no idea about and had never seen, especially on such a grand scale.

A man that worked at the tannery explained the process to us in detail as we watched from this birds eye viewpoint.  He told us what was in each of the vats and which vats the leather starts in before working its way to being colored.  If you are wondering why the smell is so putrid, some of the vats contain pigeon poo and cow urine.  Yumm!!!  The mixture helps break down the leather to allow for better color absorption.

It was all so very interesting.  Watching the workers jumping into the vats to stir things around gave me a new appreciation for the efforts that go into leather goods.  Certainly not a job I am vying for.

Of course while you are here you can shop through floors and floors of leather goods.  While the options here are more expansive, the prices are much steeper.  You are probably better off haggling with a smaller shop owner in the souks.  Check out our Where to Shop in Fes page for all sorts of good finds!

The Marinid Tombs

If sweeping view is at the top of your list for things to do in Fes, this one’s for you! The Marinid Tombs house the remains of past sultans and other royals.  It is at the top of a hill, to the North-West of the medina, offering incredible views of the city.  You can hike up to the top if you are looking for some exercise.  With little legs in tow, we opted to have our guide Boujeema drive us to the top.

The drive up was beautiful.  The rolling golden hills are lined with white gravestones.  We drove up on a Friday which happens to be their “day of rest” and the day they pay respect to their dead.  So we past many locals making their way to visit passed loved ones.  Random fact: Friday is also a big day for giving so you will see more people out and about asking for handouts, and the locals are happy to give and share.

Kaida, our horse lover, found a police horse relaxing in the tombs.  So I snapped a quick photo, then got scolded by the officer as he rounded the corner.  FYI, police in Morocco DO NOT like to be photographed.  I snuck one shot in before that as he was riding around.  It made for a beautiful picture, but I did not try to take any more after learning that lesson.

I think this is definitely worth carving out time for when in Fes.  The panoramic views are beautiful and the setting amongst the tombstones is serine.

The Royal Palace

Don’t get too excited, you are not getting a tour of the palace.  You are only allowed to see the doors, but THOSE DOORS!  They really are beautiful, and make for some great photos.  Just set your expectations for only seeing some doors and you won’t be disappointed.  It is also a very quick stop, so perfect to do on your way to or from something else on your agenda.

The King happened to be staying in Fes while we were there so there were a lot more guards and military about.  I couldn’t get any wider views with my lens without them thinking they were in my shot.  And now we know they do not like to be photographed!  There is also a pretty fountain, which Kaida was thrilled about.  The guards, while they don’t like to be photographed, are friendly.  They enjoyed laughing at the girls running back and forth for mom to get the perfect shot.

Take a day trip to Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

Volubilis is an UNESCO world Heritage site about and hour and half drive from Fes.  It is the Southern most ruins from the Roman empire.  It is impressive to see what remains considering the time period it was built.  If you are into history, you will surely enjoy yourself.  To read all about our day excursion to Volubilis and what else to see while you are there, visit our Volubilis & Moulay Idriss page.

The Southern Tower

The Southern Tower is also another great site to drive to, the walk from the medina is a bit too far. The views are worth a visit! It was built in the 1500’s during the fortification of Fes as a lookout tower over the old medina.  While it is no longer used as a military lookout, it is now primarily visited by those who want unobstructed views of the medina from the South.

You cannot go in the tower, just to set your expectations.  The fortified building is neat from the exterior, but really you are there for the views.

Jnan Sbil Gardens

The Jnan Sbil Gardens sit between Fes el-Jdad (the newer part of the city) and Fes el-Bali (Mostly the Medina).  It was supposedly created in the 19th Century for royal elites with an underground tunnel system that connected the gardens to the palace.  In the early 1900’s it was opened to the public and currently remains a popular leisure spot for locals.  It is a nice oasis of water features and around 3000 plant species in the approximately 7.5 hectares space.

Since we were there during covid, the water features were off so we did not get the full experience, but the girls didn’t seem to mind and enjoyed running around exploring the beautiful flowers and fauna.

Mosque and University Karaouiyn

Believed to be one of the oldest universities in the world, built in 859 BC.  The structure is now a mosque that cannot be entered by non-muslims.  However, if you time it right, you can walk by at prayer time when the doors are open and see a peak of the inside like I did.

If you are into history, I recommend looking up this university on wikipedia. It has a very interesting and long history, much too complex for me to write about.  There is also a library on the other side of the southern wall that other bloggers have said is open to the public (it was not open when we were there during covid so I cannot attest to this).  Some site this library as the world’s oldest library that is still open, built in 1349.  I have seen photos of the interior and if it is accessible during your visit, I highly recommend you stop in to appreciate the history and architectural beauty.

Wander the Souks

Of all the things to do in Fes, this is probably my favorite.  Seriously, take a few hours hours to wander the souks aimlessly.  You are sure to see some incredible things and possibly find treasures, among the many smiling faces of shop owners and locals.

The Fes medina is vibrant and full of bustling people going about their day.  If you are wondering where to stay in Fes, the answer is definitely the medina.  Take alleyways off the beaten track and you may find colorful surprises like the photo below.  Of course, don’t forget to make way for donkeys!  If you hear “BELEK” it means, move out of the way!

Embrace getting lost in the souks.  It is the most common of things to do in Fes, intentional or not.  Tourists always get lost…but not forever.

For tips on traversing this incredible city visit our Tips & Essentials for Fes page.

Planning Things to Do in Fes With Kids

A few habits made sightseeing in Fes easier with our girls. We front loaded the big outdoor stops like the Marinid Tombs and the pottery village in the cooler morning hours, then slowed down in the shady souks and gardens after lunch. The medina is a maze, so we treated getting a little lost as part of the adventure and always kept our riad card in a pocket.

Before you go, browse our full Fes with kids travel guide, sort out your base with our where to stay in Fes picks, and see where we ate on our where to eat in Fes with kids page.