Volubilis With Kids

Visiting Volubilis With Kids: Roman Ruins Near Fes

Volubilis with kids is the rare ruin that works for everyone. It is about an hour and a half from Fes, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and unlike a museum there is nothing to keep little hands off. Our girls ran, climbed and collected flowers while Dawson got the full history from a local guide. Pair it with Moulay Idriss five minutes down the road and you have a genuinely good day out.

Only about an hour and a half drive from Fes is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis.  If you are into history, or even if you are not, it is impressive to see how much of these ancient Roman ruins is still standing.  It is also a great place for the kids to explore and get some energy out.  To read about our adventures of all things Fes, visit our Fes page.

Volubilis is an example of a well preserved, large scale Roman colony on the edges of the empire.  Romans grew Volubilis from the 1st century AD until it fell to local tribes around 285 AD.  It remained mostly intact until a large earthquake in the mid 18th century, followed by the excavation of materials to help build Meknes.  In 1997 it was then listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our driver and personal guide Boujeema arranged for a local guide to take us around the Volubilis ruins.  He was a wealth of information and Dawson loves to soak up all the history!  Our guide was also very kind to the girls and patient with them and their need to keep moving.  Of course they could care less about the history so our guide kept them entertained by making them flower crowns to wear while still pumping Dawson full of historical facts and information.  It was very sweet.

Tip: It was very hot in June and there was very little shade so I recommend bringing extra water, sunscreen and hats!  Of course my kids refuse to wear hats so there is that.

Moulay Idriss, the Pilgrimage Town Next Door

Moulay Idriss is known for being Morocco’s most important pilgrimage site.  It is the location of the tomb of Idris I, the first Islamic ruler of Morocco.  As a holy location, Moroccans flock there for pilgrimage, especially in the month of August when a large festival is held.  Our driver, Boujeema, said that so many people travel there for pilgrimage that the government has set up designated times for each region to go so that the quaint city isn’t inundated by the masses all at once.

There is a charming square in the middle of town surrounded by some shops and a few eateries and many street carts slinging lunch fare.

Grilled meat was one of the few selections available so we gave it a go.  It was a seasoned ground beef shaped into sausage like links and the flavor was quite good.  There had been a few overcooked flavorless meat dishes we had closer to the desert, so I was a bit wary.  But to my pleasant surprise, they were cooked well and packed a flavorful punch!

We also bought some olives from the shop next door to enjoy with lunch.  Never underestimate the flavor profile of a Moroccan olive.  They are so much more complex, with a depth of flavor you do not find often in olives in the United States.

The Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss is unfortunately off limits to non-Muslims.  But we were able to peek at the beautiful mausoleum courtyard from the doorway.

We ended the visit with some well deserved ice cream bars from a cart purveyor in the square.  It was very hot the day of our visit and this followed our hike around Volubilis so the ice cream was greatly appreciated by the littles.

For as popular as Moulay Idriss is with Moroccans, it is still not visited by many tourists.  If you visit Volubilis, then there is no reason not to make a stop in Moulay Idriss.  It is only about a 5ish minute drive from the Roman ruins!  Plus it is a charming, quaint town AND the holiest pilgrimage site after Mecca for the people of Morocco!

Planning Volubilis With Kids

Go early, and take the heat seriously. We went in June and there is almost no shade anywhere on the site. Bring more water than you think, sunscreen and hats, and accept that some children will refuse the hat entirely.

Hire the local guide. Ours was arranged for us and he was worth it twice over. He kept Dawson supplied with history while making the girls flower crowns so they would keep walking, which is a skill no guidebook has.

Let them run. This is the part that makes it work. After days of medinas where everything is breakable and crowded, a wide open site where kids can climb on things is a genuine relief for everyone.

Do not skip Moulay Idriss. It is a five minute drive from the ruins and almost no tourists make the stop, even though it is the holiest pilgrimage site in Morocco after Mecca. The square is small and easy, and lunch there is street food and shop bought olives rather than a sit down restaurant.

Know what you can and cannot see. The Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss is closed to non-Muslims. You can look into the courtyard from the doorway, so nobody has to feel awkward working that out on arrival.

Time it around August if you can. A huge pilgrimage festival fills the town that month, and the government staggers which regions travel when so the place is not overwhelmed all at once. Worth knowing before you plan a summer visit.

End with ice cream. There are carts in the square, it is hot, and you will have earned it.

Volubilis and Moulay Idriss made an easy day trip from Fes, and they were one stop on the same Morocco loop that took us through the Ourika Valley, Azrou and the Sahara Desert with Sun Trails.

Check out all the other things we did during our stay in Fes on our See & Do page!