Best Hotels in Fez for Every Budget — 49 Real Picks From £20 (2026)

Our top Fez hotel pick for 2026 is Palais Medina Riad Resort — a polished 5★ riad-resort with the space and pool that a deep-medina stay can't offer — but the real story of Fez is at the other end of the price list, where a genuine courtyard riad inside the world's largest car-free medina starts at just £20 a night. With UK budgets squeezed, we've built this guide around all three price bands: 10 luxury riads and hotels, 10 mid-range stays, and 29 budget riads and hotels we verified as real, distinct, currently bookable properties — 49 in all, each linking straight to its live prices. Fez is Morocco's spiritual and cultural heart, the most intact of the imperial cities, and — crucially for 2026 — one of the best-value city breaks a UK traveller can book.

Jump to your budget: Luxury riads & hotels · Mid-range stays · Budget stays from £20

Scout's 3 best-value picks right now: 🏛 Riad Basma Fes — from ~£20, a made-over medina riad with new bathrooms and AC at the lowest verified price in this guide. 🕌 Perla Hôtel — from ~£39, around 2,000 reviews at a budget price, an easy medina-edge base. 🌿 Hôtel Volubilis — from ~£59, the most-reviewed hotel in this guide (7,000+ reviews), a dependable Ville Nouvelle choice with a pool. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for today's price on your dates.

Fez sits inland in northern Morocco, cradled by hills, its old city split between Fes el-Bali (the ancient walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's largest car-free urban area) and the newer Fes el-Jdid, with the French-built Ville Nouvelle spreading beyond. The defining sights — the Chouara tanneries in their open dye-pits, the Al-Qarawiyyin (founded in 859 AD, the oldest continuously operating university in the world), the exquisite Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Blue Gate at Bab Boujloud, and the endless craft souks — all sit inside or beside the medina, with the Merenid Tombs viewpoint above and Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes a day trip away. Compare live Fez hotel prices or search UK flights to Fès–Saïss (FEZ) — Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted in around 3 hours.

At a glance — the luxury tier compared, before the full reviews:

The Scout's Take: Medina Riad or Ville Nouvelle Hotel?

The Fes el-Bali medina is the reason you come — the world's largest car-free medieval city, a UNESCO labyrinth of some 9,000 lanes where the tanneries, the madrasas, the Al-Qarawiyyin and the craft souks are your neighbourhood. A riad here is a courtyard house turned inward from the lane: a handful of rooms around a tiled patio, a rooftop terrace over the medina, often the owner on site, and no lift or lobby. Because no car can enter, the riad meets you at a gate — Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate), Rcif or Bab Ziat — and walks you in with a porter. That transition, from the chaos of the lanes to the sudden courtyard silence, IS the Fez experience.

The Ville Nouvelle is the French-built new town: wide boulevards, a real street grid a taxi finds instantly, chain and resort hotels with lifts, pools and easy check-in, and a short taxi into the old city. This is the practical base for families, summer travellers wanting a pool, or anyone who'd rather not thread the derbs with luggage. The medina edge around Batha and the Bab Boujloud gate is the middle ground — walkable into Fes el-Bali, but with vehicle access close by.

For a first Fez trip chasing the atmosphere: a medina riad. For an easy check-in, a pool and no navigation: the Ville Nouvelle or the Batha edge. For tight budgets: this guide's budget tier — genuine medina riads from £20 undercut almost everything else in the city. Compare live Fez hotel prices or search UK flights to Fez (FEZ).

The Luxury Riads & Hotels — Our 10 for 2026

Fez luxury splits between restored medina palaces and riads — grand zellij, carved cedar, rooftop pools over the old city — and a couple of resort-scale hotels with the space and full pool complexes a deep-medina stay can't offer. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for your dates.

1. Riad Fes — Relais & Châteaux — Medina · 5★ · 358 reviews · from ~£136/night. The benchmark Fez luxury address — a Relais & Châteaux riad of Andalusian-Moorish courtyards, a rooftop pool and bar looking over Fes el-Bali, and one of the city's most serious kitchens. The design-and-romance choice for a special stay inside the walls.

2. Hotel Sahrai — Hill above the medina · 5★ · 867 reviews · from ~£137/night. Fez's contemporary design hotel — clean modern lines rather than traditional riad ornament, an infinity pool and a Givenchy spa, set on the slope above the old city with panoramic medina views. The pick for travellers who want a pool, space and a modern room over the deep-medina experience.

3. Palais Faraj Suites & Spa — Medina, Bab Ziat · 5★ · 306 reviews · from ~£208/night. A restored 19th-century palace on the medina's edge with one of the best panoramic terraces in Fez — the whole of Fes el-Bali laid out below at sunset. Grand suites, a spa, and the celebrated L'Amandier rooftop restaurant. The grand-view luxury choice.

4. Palais Ommeyad Jacuzzi Suites & Spa — Medina · 5★ · 146 reviews · from ~£154/night. A restored medina palace of jacuzzi suites, carved plaster and zellij, with its own spa — intimate, ornate and firmly inside the old city for travellers who want the palace-riad atmosphere with modern suite comforts.

5. Palais Medina Riad Resort — Medina edge · 5★ · 2,678 reviews · from ~£102/night. Our top overall pick for 2026 — a resort-scale riad with the pool, gardens and full facilities a small deep-medina riad can't match, yet still steps from the old city, and by far the most-reviewed 5★ in this tier. The best all-round luxury-for-space value in Fez.

6. Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace — Ville Nouvelle · 5★ · 2,625 reviews · from ~£102/night. The big international-standard resort of Fez — extensive gardens, a large pool, multiple restaurants and full hotel infrastructure in the new town, a taxi from the medina. The choice for families and travellers who want dependable global-brand comfort and a proper pool over riad intimacy.

7. Palais Nazha Fes — Luxury Lodging — Medina · 5★ · 796 reviews · from ~£93/night. A boutique luxury riad in the old city, richly decorated in traditional Fassi style with a rooftop terrace — the intimate palace-riad experience at a gentler price than the headline names, and strongly reviewed.

8. Riad Dar Tahri & Spa — Medina · 5★ · 925 reviews · from ~£48/night. The value story of the luxury tier — genuine 5★-graded riad polish, courtyard and spa, from around £48 a night on live searches. If you want the medina-riad atmosphere with a step up in comfort without the palace-hotel price, start here.

9. Riad Braya — Medina · 5★ · 312 reviews · from ~£83/night. A small, elegant courtyard riad in the heart of Fes el-Bali — a handful of rooms, a tiled patio and a rooftop terrace, run at a personal scale. The intimate-couples pick for the old city.

10. Riad El Yacout — Medina · 5★ · 207 reviews · from ~£96/night. An ornate riad of carved plaster, zellij tilework and a classic central courtyard — traditional Fassi grandeur at a mid-luxury price, well inside the medina for the full walled-city stay.

A note on prices: the from-prices above are live wholesale rates pulled while writing and shift with the season — spring and autumn run higher than summer. See all Fez stays or search flights to FEZ for your exact dates.

Mid-Range Hotels — 10 Picks From £44 to £116

The middle of the Fez market is where value peaks: proper 4★ riads inside the medina and dependable hotels in the Ville Nouvelle, most with a pool and English-speaking reception, from the mid-£40s. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for your dates.

11. Hôtel Volubilis — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 7,031 reviews · from ~£59/night. The most-reviewed hotel in this entire guide — a big, dependable Ville Nouvelle 4★ with a pool, restaurant and easy taxi access to the medina. The safe, well-tested choice for a first Fez trip that isn't a riad.

12. Royal Mirage Fes Hotel — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 2,873 reviews · from ~£94/night. A large, comfortable new-town hotel with a pool and full facilities, popular with tour groups and families for its space and predictability. A dependable pool-and-lift base a taxi from the old city.

13. Riad Al Makan Fes & Spa — Medina · 4★ · 2,089 reviews · from ~£61/night. A well-reviewed medina riad with its own spa — courtyard, rooftop terrace and traditional décor at a mid-range price, deep inside Fes el-Bali. One of the strongest riad-atmosphere picks in this tier.

14. Riad Damia Suite & Spa — Medina · 4★ · 1,652 reviews · from ~£44/night. The value pick of the mid tier — suite-style rooms and a spa in a medina riad from the mid-£40s, with a strong review count. Riad atmosphere with a bit more room to spread out.

15. Vichy Thermalia Spa Hôtel — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 1,226 reviews · from ~£116/night. A spa-forward new-town hotel built around thermal-style wellness facilities — the pick of this tier for a spa-and-pool base, the priciest mid-range entry but the most facilities-heavy.

16. Hôtel Fès Inn & Spa — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 1,072 reviews · from ~£72/night. A modern 4★ with a pool, spa and gardens on the new-town side — a comfortable, family-friendly base with easy taxi access to the medina and a proper swimming pool for the summer heat.

17. Palais Shazam & Spa — Medina · 4★ · 908 reviews · from ~£60/night. A restored palace-riad with a spa in the old city — grand Fassi interiors and a rooftop terrace at a genuine mid-range price. A lot of palace atmosphere for the money.

18. Barceló Fès Medina — Medina edge · 4★ · 724 reviews · from ~£55/night. An international-brand 4★ on the edge of the medina — the reassurance of a chain hotel (lift, pool, standardised rooms, easy check-in) within walking distance of Fes el-Bali. A good bridge between riad atmosphere and hotel convenience.

19. Riad Fes Aicha & Spa — Medina · 4★ · 450 reviews · from ~£58/night. A traditional medina riad with a spa, courtyard and rooftop — a mid-priced, well-reviewed old-city stay with the classic Fassi look and personal service.

20. Riad Dilar Fes & Spa — Medina · 4★ · 297 reviews · from ~£60/night. A comfortable riad-and-spa in the old city rounding out the mid tier — courtyard, terrace and a spa at a fair mid-range price, deep in the medina.

A note on prices: these are live from-prices pulled while writing and move with the season. See all Fez stays or search flights to FEZ for your dates.

Cheap Hotels in Fez — 29 Real, Bookable Options From £20

This is the tier we built this guide for. Every property below is a real, currently operating riad or hotel we verified as distinct, with live wholesale rates on its JetMeAway page. From-prices were pulled on live searches while writing; rates shift with the season, and spring/autumn run higher than midsummer. Fez budget rule #1: a genuine medina riad from £20 often beats a chain hotel on both price and atmosphere — the tier below proves it. Many of the cheapest listings are unrated (0★) simply because Morocco's star system wasn't built for small riads; judge them by their review counts, shown below.

Cheapest Medina Riads (from £20)

21. Riad Basma Fes — Brand New Bathrooms & AC — Medina · 265 reviews · from ~£20/night. The lowest verified price in this entire guide — a made-over medina riad with new bathrooms and air conditioning (the detail that matters in a Fez summer), and a solid 265-review count for a room this cheap. The value pick of the whole post.

22. family fahym — Medina · 51 reviews · from ~£21/night. A small family-run guesthouse deep in Fes el-Bali — simple rooms, personal hosting and a genuine live-in-the-medina stay at close to the cheapest price going. Confirm the gate pickup before you arrive.

23. Ryan S1 et Ryan S2 — Medina · 85 reviews · from ~£21/night. Simple, cheap medina apartment-style rooms with self-catering practicality — a no-frills base for travellers who want the old-city location and their own space over hotel service.

24. La Casa Espanyola — Medina · 149 reviews · from ~£22/night. A well-reviewed budget guesthouse in the medina — nearly 150 reviews at a rock-bottom price, one of the most-tested cheap stays on this list. Straightforward rooms, real riad-quarter location.

25. Dar Lalla Wafae — Medina · 71 reviews · from ~£22/night. A small dar (townhouse) in the old city — the inward-facing courtyard model at guesthouse scale and price, warmly reviewed for its hosting. A cheap, authentic medina base.

26. Riad Ranya — Medina · 128 reviews · from ~£23/night. A genuine courtyard riad at a budget-guesthouse price — tiled patio, rooftop terrace and traditional décor, well-reviewed for the money. Proof that the riad experience in Fez doesn't need a luxury budget.

27. Dar Chourouk — Medina · 176 reviews · from ~£24/night. One of the better-reviewed cheap dars in the medina — 176 reviews at £24 a night, a courtyard house with personal hosting a short walk from the main souks. A reliable deep-budget choice.

28. Dar Rihanne — Medina · 78 reviews · from ~£26/night. A small, welcoming medina guesthouse rounding out the sub-£26 riads — simple rooms around a courtyard, the classic Fes el-Bali budget stay with the walk-in gate meet.

More Fez Budget Stays (from £31)

29. Riad Hidaya — Medina · 3★ · 27 reviews · from ~£31/night. A 3★ courtyard riad in the old city — a step up in formality from the entry-level guesthouses, with the traditional patio-and-terrace layout at a still-modest price.

30. Mia Hotels Fes — Fez · 2★ · 29 reviews · from ~£34/night. A simple 2★ hotel-format budget stay — a real street address and easy check-in for travellers who'd rather skip the derb navigation, at a low nightly rate.

31. Hôtel Nouzha La perle du tourisme — Fez · 3★ · 33 reviews · from ~£35/night. A straightforward 3★ hotel with proper rooms and a lift — a practical, cheap base with a taxi-findable address, good for a late arrival or heavy luggage.

32. Hotel Splendid — Ville Nouvelle · 3★ · 181 reviews · from ~£36/night. A long-running new-town 3★ with a small pool — well-reviewed, central to the Ville Nouvelle's cafés, and an easy taxi from the medina. A dependable budget hotel with a real check-in desk.

33. Perla Hôtel — Medina edge · 3★ · 2,000 reviews · from ~£39/night. Around 2,000 reviews at a budget price — one of the most-tested cheap hotels in Fez, a 3★ near the medina edge with easy access into the old city. The reliable, high-volume budget pick.

34. Dar Fes Medina Ziat — Medina · 3★ · 61 reviews · from ~£48/night. A traditional dar in the medina near the Bab Ziat side — courtyard, terrace and Fassi décor at a mid-budget price, well placed for the old city's sights.

35. Zahrat Al Jabal — Medina · 3★ · 240 reviews · from ~£49/night. A well-reviewed 3★ in the old city — 240 reviews at under £50, a solid mid-budget riad-style stay with a rooftop terrace and a good position for the medina.

36. Riad Les Idrissides — Medina · 3★ · 21 reviews · from ~£51/night. A traditional courtyard riad in Fes el-Bali — carved details, a tiled patio and a rooftop terrace at a fair mid-budget rate, run at a small personal scale.

37. Riad-Boutique Borj Dhab — Medina · 3★ · 20 reviews · from ~£53/night. A boutique-styled riad in the old city — a bit more polish than the entry-level guesthouses, with the classic courtyard-and-terrace layout at a still-reasonable price.

38. Hotel Batha — Batha, medina edge · 3★ · 167 reviews · from ~£55/night. Right on Batha square at the western edge of Fes el-Bali — the ideal middle-ground location, walkable into the medina but with vehicle access and a real hotel check-in. Well-reviewed and practical.

39. Ramada by Wyndham Fes — Ville Nouvelle · 5★ · 92 reviews · from ~£56/night. An international-brand hotel with a pool and full facilities in the new town at a budget-tier price — the reassurance of a global chain (standardised rooms, lift, easy check-in) for around £56 a night. Strong value for a branded pool hotel.

40. Ibis Fes — Ville Nouvelle, by the station · 3★ · 3,335 reviews · from ~£56/night. The branded-chain safety net of this guide — over 3,300 reviews, a pool, predictable rooms and a spot beside the train station, ideal if you're arriving or leaving by rail. The pick when you want zero surprises.

41. Hotel Mounia — Ville Nouvelle · 3★ · 72 reviews · from ~£57/night. A long-established new-town 3★ with a restaurant and licensed bar — a comfortable, central budget hotel a short taxi from the medina, popular for its dependable rooms and easy location.

42. Dar Bensouda — Medina · 4★ · 76 reviews · from ~£58/night. A restored 4★ riad-palace in the old city with a plunge pool in the courtyard — a rare medina pool at a budget-tier price, plus grand Fassi interiors. Excellent value for a proper riad with a pool.

43. Dar 7 Louyat — Medina · 3★ · 21 reviews · from ~£65/night. A characterful medina dar — courtyard, terrace and traditional décor, run personally at a small scale for travellers who want the authentic old-city stay a step above the cheapest guesthouses.

44. Dar Tazi — Medina View — Medina · 4★ · 77 reviews · from ~£70/night. A 4★ dar with the terrace medina views its name promises — a comfortable, well-graded old-city stay with a rooftop looking over Fes el-Bali, at a fair upper-budget price.

45. Across Hotels & Spa — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 123 reviews · from ~£78/night. A modern 4★ with a spa and pool on the new-town side — contemporary rooms and full facilities for travellers who want a smart, current hotel over a traditional riad, with an easy taxi to the medina.

46. Riad Arabesque — Medina · 5★ · 50 reviews · from ~£87/night. A 5★-graded riad at the top of the budget band — grand zellij, carved plaster and a courtyard for well under the palace-hotel prices, one of the best luxury-feel-for-the-money stays in this tier.

47. Nour Plazza Hotel — Ville Nouvelle · 4★ · 194 reviews · from ~£87/night. A comfortable modern 4★ in the new town with a pool and restaurant — a well-reviewed, practical base for families and travellers wanting a full-facilities hotel at an upper-budget price.

48. Villa Agapanthe — Fez · 3★ · 41 reviews · from ~£91/night. A garden villa-style stay with more outdoor space than a medina riad — a quieter, greener base for travellers who want room to breathe and a calmer arrival, at the upper end of the budget tier.

49. Les Merinides — Hill above the medina · 5★ · 50 reviews · from ~£104/night. The top of this guide's budget tier by price, and the best view of the lot — a 5★-graded hotel on the hillside by the Merenid Tombs with a panorama over the whole of Fes el-Bali, especially at sunset. A pool, space and that view for around £104.

Budget tier summary: cheapest overall — Riad Basma Fes £20; best-reviewed cheap stay — Perla Hôtel, 2,000 reviews, £39; best branded pool safety net — Ibis Fes, 3★, 3,335 reviews, £56; best medina riad with a pool — Dar Bensouda, 4★, £58; best view — Les Merinides, £104. Compare all Fez hotels with live prices →

Best Fez Hotels for Specific Trips

The first Fez decision is medina riad, medina-edge, or Ville Nouvelle hotel; the second is what kind of trip you're taking. Here's how the 49 hotels above sort by traveller type.

Best Fez Hotels for Value (Riads Beat Hotels on Price)

The real-value play in Fez is realising a genuine medina riad often undercuts a chain hotel — Riad Basma Fes at £20 (with new bathrooms and AC) and Riad Ranya at £23 both beat every Ville Nouvelle chain on this list on price, and deliver the courtyard atmosphere on top. If the derb navigation isn't for you, Perla Hôtel (£39, 2,000 reviews) or Ibis Fes (£56) is the medina-edge safety net. The whole budget tier exists for this question.

Best Fez Hotels for a Pool in the Summer Heat

Fez is inland and genuinely hot June–August, so a pool stops being optional. Hotel Sahrai has an infinity pool with medina views; Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace and Hôtel Volubilis have big resort pools in the new town. On a budget, Dar Bensouda has a rare courtyard plunge pool inside the medina at ~£58, and Ibis Fes and Ramada by Wyndham Fes have proper pools in the £56 band.

Best Fez Hotels for Couples and a Special Stay

Riad Fes — Relais & Châteaux is the design-and-romance benchmark, rooftop pool over the medina and all. Palais Faraj Suites & Spa trades on its sweeping panoramic terrace over Fes el-Bali, and Riad Braya is the intimate small-riad choice. On a budget, Riad Arabesque (~£87) delivers 5★-graded riad grandeur for well under the palace prices.

Best Fez Hotels for Families

The medina's crowds and lack of pushchair access make a deep-riad stay hard work with young children — families are usually happier in a Ville Nouvelle hotel with a pool and lift. Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace, Royal Mirage Fes Hotel and Hôtel Fès Inn & Spa all have the space, pool and predictability families need, with taxi trips into the old city.

Best Fez Hotels for a View Over the Medina

The classic Fez view is the whole medina from the hillside. Les Merinides (budget, ~£104) sits by the Merenid Tombs with the best panorama of the lot; Hotel Sahrai and Palais Faraj both look out over Fes el-Bali from their terraces. Inside the walls, most riads (Palais Nazha, Dar Tazi — Medina View) give you a rooftop over the rooflines.

Best Deep-Medina Riads From £20 a Night

Riad Basma Fes (£20, AC), Riad Ranya (£23) and Dar Chourouk (£24, 176 reviews) are the standout deep-budget courtyard stays — genuine Fes el-Bali riads at prices that undercut almost any UK budget hotel. La Casa Espanyola (£22, 149 reviews) is the most-tested of the very cheapest.

Neighbourhood Intelligence: Fes el-Bali Essentials

A few things to plan around your stay, whichever tier you book:

• Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate) — the ornamental western gate and the classic start of a medina walk. Step through and Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira lead down past the Bou Inania madrasa toward the souks. Most riads meet arriving guests here or at nearby Rcif.
• The Chouara tanneries — open-air dye-pits where leather has been worked by hand for a thousand years, seen from the balconies of the surrounding leather shops (they'll hand you mint for the smell). A small tip to whoever shows you up is normal; browse politely afterwards, no obligation to buy.
• Al-Qarawiyyin — founded in 859 AD, the oldest continuously operating university in the world, with a library to match. Non-Muslims can't enter the prayer hall but can glimpse the courtyard from the doorways and visit the restored library on booked tours.
• Bou Inania & Al-Attarine madrasas — the two most beautiful Qur'anic schools in Fez, masterclasses in zellij tilework, carved cedar and stucco. Both are open to visitors for a small ticket and are the calmest, most photogenic stops in the medina.
• A licensed medina guide for day one — worth every dirham. Roughly MAD 200–400 (£15–30) for a half-day through your riad; it turns the 9,000-lane maze into a walkable city and shakes off the unofficial touts.
• The Merenid Tombs viewpoint — the ruined tombs on the hill north of the medina give the postcard panorama of the whole old city, best at sunset. A cheap petit taxi up; walk or taxi back down.
• Fes el-Jdid & the Mellah — the "new" (13th-century) royal quarter, the old Jewish Mellah with its distinctive balconied houses, and the great brass doors of the Royal Palace (exterior only).
• Mint tea and a Fassi dinner — Fez has one of Morocco's richest kitchens; try pastilla (the cinnamon-dusted pigeon or chicken pie) at a medina riad-restaurant, and expect mint tea poured from a height at every turn.
• Day trips — Volubilis (Roman ruins) with Moulay Idriss, imperial Meknes, and the cedar forests and Barbary macaques around Ifrane are all about an hour out; Chefchaouen, the blue city, is a longer run (~4h) and better as an overnight.

UK Practicalities

• Direct UK flights: Ryanair flies London Stansted–Fès–Saïss (FEZ) direct in around 3 hours. If your dates don't suit, fly into Casablanca (CMN) or Marrakech (RAK) and take the train — Fez is about 3 hours from both on Morocco's fast rail spine. Search flights to FEZ.
• Airport transfer: Fès–Saïss is about 15km south. Petit taxi to the medina or Ville Nouvelle roughly MAD 120–150 (£10–13) — agree the fare firmly first, or have your riad arrange a fixed-price pickup so you're met and walked in.
• Visa: UK passport holders get 90 days visa-free on arrival.
• Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD), a closed currency — change sterling/euros on arrival or use ATMs in the Ville Nouvelle and at Batha. £1 ≈ MAD 12. Cash is essential in the medina; cards work in new-town hotels and bigger restaurants.
• Getting around the medina: on foot only — Fes el-Bali is car-free. Learn your riad's gate route on day one, keep an offline map open, and take a petit taxi to a gate late at night rather than threading empty lanes.
• Best months: March–May and September–November (20–28°C, ideal for medina walking). June–August is hot (35–40°C) — start early, rest at midday, pick a pool or strong AC. December–February is cool and can be wet.
• Budget: Palace-riad trip — £130–210+/night. Mid-range riad or new-town hotel — £45–116/night. Budget-tier trip — £20–60/night, plus £12–20/day for food, tea and souk spending. A week built on this guide's cheap tier can land well under £400 per person before flights.

Booking Fez Hotels in 2026: Riad or New Town, and When to Go

Fez room rates swing by both season and location — a deep-medina riad and a Ville Nouvelle hotel don't move in lockstep, since the riads fill around European spring and autumn breaks while the new-town hotels track conference and group demand. The cheapest stretch is high summer (June–August), when the inland heat thins the crowds and the medina goes quiet by mid-afternoon; the most expensive is the spring and autumn sweet spot and the Christmas/New Year run. Two things to plan around:

• Ramadan (dates shift yearly on the Islamic calendar) — many medina restaurants and stalls close during daylight; hotels and riads run normally and rates are often lower. A different but rewarding trip.
• Spring and autumn weekends — the best-reviewed medina riads book out first; reserve 4–6 weeks ahead if you're travelling in the March–May or September–November peak.

The number that decides your real cost isn't just the headline rate — it's whether you've chosen the riad-versus-hotel trade correctly. The budget tier proves a well-reviewed riad at £20–26 beats a chain hotel at £40+ on both price and atmosphere; the trade is navigation, not comfort. Compare live 2026 Fez prices to see today's number before you book.

Explore More of Morocco

Fez is best paired with the other imperial cities and the coast — here's the rest of our Morocco coverage:

• Best Hotels in Marrakech — the Red City, medina riads and Palmeraie resorts, about 3 hours south by train.
• Best Hotels in Casablanca — the modern Atlantic economic capital and main gateway (CMN), home to the vast Hassan II Mosque.
• Best Hotels in Rabat — the relaxed, elegant capital with the Kasbah of the Udayas and Roman-Islamic Chellah.
• Best Hotels in Tangier — the gateway on the Strait of Gibraltar and the base for the Chefchaouen blue-city day trip.
• Best Hotels in Agadir — Morocco's big Atlantic beach resort, for a sun-and-sand add-on.
• Best Hotels in Essaouira — the breezy, artsy walled port on the Atlantic, all ramparts and windsurf.

Privacy Shield: Why Book Fez Through JetMeAway

Fez's riad owners and the big hotel groups increasingly feed guest data into booking-consortium marketing pools. Book direct with a large brand and you enter their retargeting systems for months.

When you book Fez through JetMeAway, your personal data never touches the hotel's marketing systems until check-in. We hand off the booking through our partner network as merchant of record — the hotel receives the reservation, not your email provider's analytics or your card company's marketing arm.

Fez Hotels FAQs

Should I stay inside the Fes el-Bali medina or in the Ville Nouvelle? It's the decision that shapes a Fez trip. Staying inside Fes el-Bali — the world's largest car-free medieval medina — puts you among the 9,000 lanes, a short walk from the Chouara tanneries, the Al-Qarawiyyin and the Blue Gate, in a converted riad reached on foot through the derbs. It's the authentic choice and where most of Fez's characterful stays are. The Ville Nouvelle (the French-built new town) has wider streets, easy taxis, chain hotels with lifts and pools, and a calmer arrival — but you taxi into the old city each day. First trip chasing the medina fantasy: stay inside the walls. Want an easy check-in, a pool, and no derb navigation with luggage: the Ville Nouvelle or the medina edge near Batha is the safer bet.

What is the cheapest area to stay in Fez? The medina itself is where the cheapest genuine character stays are — small family-run riads and guesthouses inside Fes el-Bali start from around £20–26 a night. The catch is the walk-in: your riad meets you at a landmark gate and escorts you through the lanes. The Ville Nouvelle and the Batha/Bab area just outside the medina have simple hotels from the low £30s with a real street address a taxi finds directly — slightly more, but easier with bags or on a late arrival.

How much does a budget hotel in Fez cost per night in 2026? On live searches while writing, real bookable budget rooms ran from about £20 a night at the very bottom — small medina riads like Riad Basma Fes, family fahym and La Casa Espanyola sit in the £20–26 band, mid-budget riads and 3★ hotels £30–60, and the more polished budget riads and 4★-graded stays £70–104. Fez is genuinely one of the best-value imperial cities in Morocco.

Do I need a guide for the Fes el-Bali medina? For your first full day, yes — it's the best money you'll spend. Fes el-Bali has roughly 9,000 lanes with almost no through-streets and no cars, and even good offline maps struggle in the deepest derbs. A licensed half-day guide (roughly MAD 200–400 / £15–30 through your riad) walks you to the tanneries, the madrasas, the Al-Qarawiyyin and the souks without the wrong turns and the pushy unofficial "guides". After that first orientation you'll navigate the main arteries yourself.

Is Fez worth visiting compared to Marrakech? Yes — and many travellers find Fez the more atmospheric of the two. Fez is Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital and its most intact imperial city: Fes el-Bali feels like a working medieval city rather than a tourist stage. Marrakech is more polished, with a bigger luxury-hotel and nightlife scene and easier direct flights. The ideal Morocco trip does both — they're about 3 hours apart by train.

How many days do you need in Fez? Two full days is the sweet spot — one for the medina with a guide (tanneries, madrasas, Al-Qarawiyyin, souks) and one to wander, see the Blue Gate and Merenid Tombs viewpoint, and browse the craft workshops. A third day lets you day-trip to Volubilis and Meknes, or up to Ifrane and the cedar forests.

Are there direct flights from the UK to Fez? Yes — Ryanair flies direct to Fès–Saïss (FEZ) from London Stansted, a cheap short-haul of around 3 hours. If there's no convenient FEZ flight, fly into Casablanca (CMN) or Marrakech (RAK) and take the train — Fez is about 3 hours from both. Fès–Saïss is roughly 15km south of the city.

What currency does Fez use and do I need cash? Morocco uses the dirham (MAD), a closed currency you can't get before arrival — take sterling or euros to change, or use the ATMs at the airport and around the Ville Nouvelle and Batha. £1 is roughly 12 MAD. Cash is essential inside the medina; Ville Nouvelle hotels and bigger restaurants take cards. Keep small notes for tips and taxis.

When is the best time to visit Fez, and how hot does it get? Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — roughly 20–28°C. Fez sits inland, so high summer (June–August) is genuinely hot, regularly 35–40°C, and the shadeless lanes are draining by early afternoon; if you go then, start early, rest at midday and pick a pool or strong AC. Winter is cool and can be wet, chilly at night.

Is Fez safe for tourists, including at night? Yes, with normal city awareness. Fes el-Bali is a dense working medina and the main arteries are lively into the evening; violent crime against tourists is rare. The real hassles are pushy unofficial "guides", shop touts and getting lost in the back derbs after dark. Agree your riad's pickup point before arrival, keep an offline map open, say a firm "la shukran" and keep walking, and take a petit taxi back to a gate late at night. Solo female travellers report Fez as manageable with the usual precautions and modest dress.

What are the Chouara tanneries and how do I see them? The Chouara tanneries are Fez's most famous sight — open-air stone vats of natural dye where leather has been tanned by hand for roughly a thousand years, best seen from the terraces of the leather shops that ring them. There's no ticket: the shops let you up to the balcony (they'll offer mint for the smell) expecting you'll browse afterwards. A small tip to whoever shows you up is normal; a polite look around is the etiquette. Go mid-morning when the vats are being worked.

How does staying in a Fez medina riad actually work? A riad is a courtyard house turned inward from the lane, usually a handful of rooms around a tiled patio, often with the family on site and no lobby or lift. Because cars can't enter Fes el-Bali, the riad meets you at the nearest vehicle-accessible gate (Bab Boujloud, Rcif or Bab Ziat) and walks you in, with a porter for luggage. After a day you'll manage the main lanes yourself, though the deep derbs stay a maze.

How much should the taxi from Fès–Saïss airport cost? Fès–Saïss (FEZ) is about 15km south. A petit taxi to the Ville Nouvelle or a medina gate should be roughly MAD 120–150 (£10–13) — agree the fare firmly before getting in, or ask your riad to arrange a fixed-price transfer, worth it on a first arrival so you're met and walked in.

Do budget riads and hotels in Fez have air conditioning and pools? Most do have AC given the summer heat, but check the individual listing for June–August travel. Pools are rarer inside the medina, where courtyard space is tight; a few riads have a small plunge pool (Dar Bensouda), while the Ville Nouvelle hotels (Volubilis, Fès Inn, Ibis, Royal Mirage) are far more likely to have a proper swimming pool.

What does an unrated (0★) riad listing mean in Fez? Plenty of authentic Fez riads show no official star rating because Morocco's classification system was built around purpose-built hotels, not townhouse conversions — a 0★ label doesn't mean poor quality. Judge these by review count and score: several unrated riads here carry a hundred or more reviews at strong scores for £20–26 a night. A 3★ or 4★ label usually signals a conventional hotel rather than a riad.

Do you tip in Fez, and how much? Yes — tipping (baksheesh) is expected and modest. Riad staff and hammam attendants MAD 20–50 (£1.50–4) per service; restaurants round up or add about 10% if service isn't included; petit taxi round up a few dirham; licensed medina guide MAD 100–150 (£8–12) for a half-day. Whoever shows you the tanneries terrace, a few dirham. Keep small notes — change is scarce.

Is alcohol available in Fez? Morocco is a Muslim country, so alcohol isn't sold everywhere, but Fez isn't dry. Licensed hotel bars and restaurants (mostly in the Ville Nouvelle and the upmarket riads and palace hotels) serve wine, beer and spirits. You won't find it in ordinary medina cafés and stalls, and it's respectful not to drink openly in the street.

Which are the best day trips from Fez? Three stand out. Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco — paired with the holy town of Moulay Idriss, about an hour west. Meknes, the third imperial city with its monumental Bab Mansour gate, roughly an hour away and easy by train. And Ifrane and the Middle Atlas cedar forests (Barbary macaques), about an hour south. Chefchaouen, the blue mountain town, is a longer day (~4 hours each way) and better as an overnight.

What is the Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud) and where is it? Bab Boujloud, the Blue Gate, is the ornamental main western entrance to Fes el-Bali — blue tilework outside, green inside. It's the classic starting point for a medina walk: step through and Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira lead down past the Bou Inania madrasa toward the souks and the Al-Qarawiyyin. Many riads use it or nearby Rcif as the meeting point for arriving guests.

Is Fez good for families with children? It can be, with the right base. The medina's crowds, uneven lanes and lack of pushchair access make a deep-riad stay hard work with toddlers; families are usually happier in a Ville Nouvelle hotel with a pool and lift (Volubilis, Fès Inn, Royal Mirage, Ibis) and taxi trips into the old city. Older children generally love the souks, tanneries and craft workshops. Pick a stay with AC and, ideally, a pool in summer.

What food is Fez known for? Fez has one of Morocco's richest kitchens. Look for pastilla (a sweet-savoury pigeon-or-chicken pie dusted with cinnamon, a Fassi speciality), slow-cooked tagines, harira soup, and couscous on Fridays. Street snacks include maakouda potato cakes and msemen flatbread. Mint tea, poured from a height, punctuates everything. Several riads and rooftop restaurants do a proper multi-course Fassi dinner — book ahead in peak season.

Can I get from Fez to Marrakech or Chefchaouen easily? Fez is well connected. Marrakech is about 3 hours by fast train, making a two-city trip straightforward. Chefchaouen isn't on the rail network — it's roughly 4 hours by shared grand taxi or CTM/Supratours bus to the north, best done as an overnight. Casablanca and Rabat are both a couple of hours away by frequent trains.

Should I book a Fez riad directly or through a comparison site? Comparison sites like JetMeAway show live availability and the all-in price across many riads and hotels at once, so you can weigh a deep-medina riad against a Ville Nouvelle hotel on equal footing — useful when small riads have clunky direct-booking systems. You see the real from-price including fees, and hand your data off through the booking network rather than into each hotel's marketing list.

What is a Fez hammam and should I try one? The hammam is the Moroccan steam-bath ritual and one of Fez's best experiences: steam, a kessa-glove exfoliation, a ghassoul-clay wrap and savon beldi black soap, then a rinse and rest. Do it cheaply at a neighbourhood public hammam (bring flip-flops and a scrub glove, single-sex hours) or in comfort at an upmarket riad or spa hotel like Riad Fes, Palais Faraj or Hotel Sahrai. Either way it's the ideal reset after a long day on your feet.

Are Fez riads good for solo travellers? Very good — riads are small enough that you get to know the owner and other guests over the shared courtyard breakfast, which suits solo travellers better than a large anonymous hotel, and the budget tier (Riad Basma, La Casa Espanyola, Riad Ranya) puts a private room with that atmosphere within reach for £20–26 a night. The one snag is arriving alone and lost in the derbs after dark, so confirm your riad will meet you at a named gate.

How do I book these exact Fez hotels at the prices shown? Every hotel name in this guide links to that property's live page on JetMeAway — real-time wholesale rates with all taxes and fees shown and a date picker to match your trip. The from-prices quoted here were pulled on live searches while writing; your dates will differ, so tap through for today's number. No booking fees either way.

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Every hotel above links to its own live-price page on JetMeAway — real wholesale rates, taxes and fees included, book in under 90 seconds, with a date picker to match your trip. From a £20 medina riad to a Relais & Châteaux palace, the 49 verified stays in this guide cover every Fez budget. No spam, no upsells, no phone calls.

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