Fez

The city got its name after creating the famous rimless felt hats. But Fewz, also known as Feza, or Fas in Arabic, has more than just these hats. With its ancient streets, the Imperial Fez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the capital of traditional Moroccan culture, and there are so many beautiful sights to visit: the Al-Karaouine Mosque, one of the biggest in the country and the oldest university in the country; the Al-Attarine Madrasa, one to the most Koranic schools in the world; the Dar el Makhzen royal palace and the Saadian tombs discovered… the list goes on!

Fez might be a thriving metropolitan city, but it certainly has not lost any of its traditions: so much so that the lifestyle of its inhabitants has barely changed since the 13th century! Beyond the beautiful architecture and Medina (with its many souks), Fez is a craftsman’s paradise renowned for its potters and ceramists. And don’t forget about the food! With both Arabic and Andalusian influence, the city’s rich cuisine has many sweet and salty dishes, utilising a whole array of flavourful spices and condiments such as cumin, coriander, pepper, and sweet chilli. And don’t forget to try Pastilla, the local speciality, made from light puff pastry bursting with pigeon mince mixed with almonds and sugar!

From cooking classes to pottery, or even calligraphy, Fez is a great place to learn all about ancient customs and traditions that still play an important part in Moroccan culture today. If you need a little me-time, head to a spa or a hammam (a traditional Moroccan bathhouse). Or if you want a bit more of an adventure, head to the world-renowned Festival des Musiques Sacrées du Monde (World Sacred Music Festival).

You can’t leave Fez without visiting the countryside and the beautiful cultural and natural gems within it! The Roman site of Volubilis, the green-roofed city of Moulay-Idriss, the troglodyte houses of El-Bahlil, the cedar and oak forests of Azrou and Ifrane, and the waterfalls of Ouzoud... there’s so much to see!