Things to Do in Fez with Kids

Written and fact-checked by the Yalla Travel editorial team

What are the best things to do in Fez with kids?

The best things to do in Fez with kids are short, varied stops in Fes el-Bali, the historic medina: Bab Bou Jeloud, the Chouara tannery viewpoints, craft workshops, the Nejjarine Museum, Jnan Sbil Garden and a sunset view from the Merenid Tombs. Keep each block under two hours.

Kid-friendly areas

• Fes el-Bali (the medina): a car-free maze of lanes, souks and fountains. Choose a few stops each half-day rather than trying to cover it all.
• Bab Bou Jeloud: the blue gate at the western entrance, an easy starting point with cafes and a clear landmark.
• Ville Nouvelle: the modern French-built town with wide streets, restaurants and a calmer pace when the medina is tiring.

Easy sights that work with kids

• Jnan Sbil Garden: a public park by the medina walls where children can run, with shade and ponds.
• Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts: a restored caravanserai with a fountain square. It is compact and easy to tour with children.
• Royal Palace gates (Dar el-Makhzen): the large brass-and-tile doors in the Fes el-Jdid district can be seen from the street. The palace itself is not open to visitors.
• Merenid Tombs: ruins on a hill north of the medina with a wide view over the city, best late in the day.

On Fridays, many local shops close for part of the day and the medina has its own rhythm, so check what is open and start early.

What can kids do in the Fez medina without getting lost?

Use a licensed guide for your first half-day, then follow a simple loop with obvious landmarks and regular snack breaks.

• Start with orientation: meet an official guide at Bab Bou Jeloud so kids see the route before you branch off. Agree the price and the length of the tour in advance.
• Keep stops obvious: choose one viewpoint, one craft stop and one market street per half-day.
• Use countdown breaks: stop every 20 to 30 minutes for water, a snack and a toilet check.
• Avoid the busiest hours: late morning is the most crowded time.

Kid-friendly targets

• Talaa Kebira, the main lane: lively street shopping, sweets, spices and donkeys carrying loads. Teach kids to step aside when someone shouts "balak".
• Chouara Tannery viewpoints: watch the leather vats from the terrace of a leather shop, where staff often offer a sprig of mint to hold against the smell. Skip it if your children are sensitive to strong odors.
• Bou Inania Madrasa: a beautiful Merenid school with a courtyard that is quick and quiet, suitable for a calm break.

With younger kids or non-walkers, ask your guide how long each segment takes, and agree a meeting point in case you are separated. A carrier works better than a stroller in the narrow lanes.

Where can families see traditional crafts in Fez?

Families can see traditional crafts in working workshops in the medina: leather at the tanneries, metalwork at Place Seffarine, weaving, woodwork and pottery.

• Metalwork at Place Seffarine: coppersmiths hammer pots and trays, a loud scene that children often enjoy.
• Pottery and zellige tiles: the potters' quarter at Ain Nokbi, outside the medina, has workshops where tiles are cut and assembled by hand. Check how to get there and ask your guide or hotel.
• Weaving and dyeing: small workshops show looms and dyed wool near the dyers' souk.
• Leather goods: after the tannery view, children can see how bags and slippers are made.

Ask your riad about a short hands-on workshop, such as tile making or a cooking class, with a clear end time and an activity that fits your children's ages. Prices vary, so agree before you start. Shopping is fun, but keep sessions short and set a simple rule, such as one small souvenir per child.

What are the best things to do in Fez in the evening with kids?

The best evening plan for kids in Fez is an early sunset view, an early dinner and a short stroll, rather than a late medina walk.

• Sunset view: the Merenid Tombs hilltop is a classic viewpoint over the medina at golden hour. Borj Nord, nearby, houses an arms museum, but check current opening details.
• Rooftop terrace: many riads and cafes have terraces with views over the rooftops. Limit it to an hour or two with kids.
• Bab Bou Jeloud at dusk: the gate is lit up, and the street outside has cafes and snack stalls.
• Early dinner: plan a solid early meal, then tea and sweets, and return to your riad.

In the evening, stay on routes recommended by your riad and avoid dark side lanes.

Jewish heritage with children

Fez has a historic Jewish quarter, the Mellah, in Fes el-Jdid, with the Ibn Danan Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery. This can be a meaningful stop for Israeli families with older kids. Check current opening arrangements with your guide or riad.

For kosher food, contact the local Jewish community or a Chabad house in Morocco in advance, and bring snacks.

Can you do day trips from Fez with kids?

Yes. Day trips to Volubilis, Meknes, and the Ifrane and Azrou cedar forest add open space and a break from the medina.

• Volubilis: Roman ruins near Meknes, around 1.5 hours by road from Fez. It has mosaics and open ground, but little shade, so bring hats and water.
• Meknes: an imperial city that can be combined with Volubilis, with Bab Mansour and a lively medina.
• Ifrane and the cedar forest near Azrou: a mountain town with a cooler climate, and wild Barbary macaques in the cedar forest. Do not feed the monkeys.

How to keep it easy

• Start early and hire a driver or take a small-group tour, which is often easier than public transport with kids.
• Bring snacks, water, sun protection and wet wipes.
• Wear shoes that work on uneven, rocky ground at Volubilis.

Check opening times, ticket rules and the road conditions before you go.

What does a 3-day Fez itinerary with kids look like?

A 3-day plan for Fez with kids gives the first day to the medina basics, the second to gardens and museums, and the third to a day trip.

Quick pacing tips

• Start early and build in a 30 to 60 minute break every few hours.
• Plan one main stop per half-day.
• With only 2 days, skip the day trip and combine Days 1 and 2.

What practical tips help when traveling in Fez with children?

The biggest difference with kids in Fez is pacing and navigation: plan short walks, take breaks and agree on a meeting point.

• Entry and warnings: check the official Moroccan requirements for Israeli passport holders, the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC) travel advisories before booking, and review the current schedules of flights from Tel Aviv.
• Shoes: wear closed, grippy shoes. Many lanes are uneven and slippery in the rain.
• Navigation: keep offline maps on your phone and a written address card for your riad. Many lanes are not on maps.
• Taxis: small taxis usually take you to the medina gates, since cars cannot enter. Agree on the price or use the meter.
• Food and water: eat at busy places with fresh food, wash hands often, and drink bottled water.
• Rest: plan a midday break in a riad courtyard, particularly in the hot summer months.

What mistakes do families make in Fez?

Families make Fez harder than it needs to be mainly by over-scheduling, forgetting that the medina is car-free and skipping breaks.

• Trying to cover too much. Choose one or two areas per day, such as the Bab Bou Jeloud side or Fes el-Jdid, and wander slowly.
• Expecting to drive into the medina. Cars stop at the gates, so plan for walking on uneven ground.
• Forgetting breaks. Add a cafe stop and a quiet pause away from the busiest lanes.
• Ignoring the heat. Summers are hot. Start early and move indoors at midday.
• Skipping a safety plan. Agree a meeting point, and tell older kids to stay put near a landmark if separated.
• Not planning kosher food. Contact the local Jewish community or a Chabad house ahead of time.

With lighter daily plans and predictable routines, Fez feels like an adventure rather than a marathon.