Fes is unlike anywhere else in Morocco. Its ancient medina — a living, breathing UNESCO World Heritage Site — is the oldest continuously inhabited medieval city in the world. But as captivating as Fes itself is, its true power lies in what surrounds it. Within a few hours in any direction, you’ll find Roman ruins older than Islam, Berber mountain forests, a holy white city perched on a hillside, and one of the most photographed streets on earth. If you’re looking for the best day trips from Fes, you’ve landed in exactly the right place.
This guide covers every worthwhile excursion — from the most popular tours to the genuinely off-the-beaten-path discoveries — with honest advice, local insights, and everything you need to plan with confidence.
If you only have time for one day trip from Fes, make it this one. In a single morning, you can walk through one of the finest Roman archaeological sites in the entire African continent, visit one of Morocco’s most sacred cities, and then spend the afternoon inside a 17th-century imperial capital that most travelers never even add to their itinerary.
Volubilis sits in a wide, fertile valley about 33 kilometers north of Meknes, and the moment you step through its ancient stones, the scale of what you’re looking at becomes genuinely humbling. This is Morocco’s best-preserved Roman site, and what makes it extraordinary is that many of its intricate floor mosaics remain exactly where they were laid nearly two thousand years ago — not behind museum glass, but underfoot, exposed to the same North African sun they’ve known for centuries.
Just a short drive from Volubilis sits Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, one of the holiest cities in Morocco and the resting place of the man who brought Islam to the country. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mausoleum, but the approach alone — white-washed buildings tumbling down a hillside like something from a painting — is worth the stop. The panoramic view from the terrace is one of those quiet, unhurried moments that stays with you long after the trip ends.
Meknes is often skipped in favor of Fes and Marrakech, which means those who do visit are rewarded with something increasingly rare in Moroccan tourism: elbow room. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, Meknes was designed to rival Versailles — and in its own way, it still does.
Bab Mansour, the city’s ornate ceremonial gate, is widely considered the most beautiful gate in all of Morocco. The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail is one of the few sacred sites in Morocco where non-Muslims may enter the outer courtyard. The Royal Stables and Granaries — built to house 12,000 horses — give a sense of the extraordinary ambition behind this forgotten imperial capital. Before you leave, find your way to the Medersa Bou Inania and climb to the rooftop for a sweeping view across the medina’s rooftops.
Getting there: Meknes is a 1.5-hour drive from Fes, or just 30 minutes by train for independent travelers who prefer flexibility on a budget.
For travelers who feel the pull of nature over history, the Middle Atlas offers one of the most refreshing and unexpected day excursions from Fes. Within two hours, the flat plains around the city give way to cedar forests, cool mountain air, and a landscape that looks nothing like the Morocco most people picture.
Nicknamed the “Moroccan Switzerland,” Ifrane genuinely earns the comparison. Red-roofed alpine chalets, wide clean streets, a cool mountain climate even in midsummer — it’s a surreal contrast to the dusty labyrinth of Fes. The town’s famous stone lion sculpture makes for a good photo stop, and the walk along its tree-lined avenues is pleasant and peaceful. Ifrane is also home to one of Morocco’s most prestigious universities, which gives the whole place a quiet, academic energy quite unlike anywhere else in the country.
The real highlight of the Middle Atlas day trip from Fes comes a short drive beyond Ifrane, in the ancient cedar forest around Azrou. Here, wild Barbary macaques — Morocco’s only native primate — roam freely through the trees, occasionally descending to investigate passing visitors with considerable confidence. The Gouraud Cedar, one of the oldest and largest trees in the forest, is a quietly impressive sight.
One important note: do not feed the monkeys. It’s tempting, and many vendors will try to sell you nuts specifically for this purpose, but feeding them disrupts their natural behavior and genuinely harms their health. Observe, photograph, and let them be wild.
Just 28 kilometers south of Fes, Sefrou is what many travelers mean when they say they want to see “the real Morocco.” A prosperous caravan stop for centuries, this small town retains a traditional Jewish quarter (Mellah), a well-preserved medina, and a lovely waterfall that most tourists never find. It’s ideal for those who want to experience genuine Moroccan town life without the tourist infrastructure of the bigger cities. The drive itself, through fertile orchards and rolling countryside, is part of the pleasure.
Let’s be straightforward with you: a day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen is a long day. We’re talking roughly 12 hours in total, with nearly 7 to 8 hours of that spent in the car. The Blue City sits over 200 kilometers away, and the mountain roads, while beautiful, are not fast. That said, for travelers who genuinely cannot fit an overnight stay into their itinerary, it remains one of the most visually stunning day trips in Morocco — and many people find the drive through the Rif Mountains worth the effort on its own.
Once you arrive, the Chefchaouen medina delivers everything its reputation promises. Blue-washed walls stacked in every shade from powder to cobalt, narrow stepped alleyways draped in bougainvillea, cats sleeping in doorways, and locals going about their day with a calm that feels worlds apart from the bustle of Fes. Outa el Hammam square is the natural gathering point, overlooked by a 15th-century mosque and surrounded by cafe terraces.
For photographers, head to the Bouzaafar Mosque at sunset for the best elevated views over the medina’s blue rooftops. And before you leave, walk to Ras el Ma — the river source at the edge of the medina where local women have washed laundry for generations, using the same flat stones their grandmothers used before them.
Our honest recommendation: If you can stay one night in Chefchaouen, do it. You’ll see the city in early morning light before the day-trippers arrive, and the experience transforms entirely.
Located roughly two hours from Fes near the town of Taza, the Friouato Caves are among the largest natural cave systems in North Africa. A steep descent of several hundred steps leads you into a vast underground world of stalactites, cathedral chambers, and subterranean rivers. It’s an unusual and genuinely memorable day excursion from Fes for travelers who want something beyond medinas and ruins.
The Fes to Rabat tour covers Morocco’s elegant and often underrated capital — a city that carries its history lightly and rewards slow exploration. The Kasbah of the Udayas, perched above the estuary where the Bou Regreg river meets the Atlantic, is one of Morocco’s most beautiful historic quarters. Pair it with the Hassan Tower — an unfinished 12th-century minaret surrounded by a forest of columns — and you have the makings of a very satisfying day in the capital.
Many travelers arrive in Fes and immediately wonder whether they actually need a guide or can navigate the medina independently. The honest answer: the Fes el-Bali medina is one of the most complex urban labyrinths on earth — over 9,000 alleys spread across a space that predates most European capitals. Getting purposefully lost is part of its magic, but knowing where to look is what separates a great visit from a frustrating one.
Key landmarks worth prioritizing include Al-Quaraouiyine University — founded in 859 AD and widely considered the world’s oldest continuously operating university — the famous Chouara Tanneries best viewed from the leather shop terraces above, the ornate Bou Inania Madrasa, and the Royal Palace’s seven monumental bronze gates, which are as photogenic as anything in Morocco even though the palace itself is closed to visitors.
I almost didn’t book the Meknes and Volubilis day trip because I wasn’t sure one day would be enough to take it all in. I’m so glad I ignored that hesitation. Our guide picked us up from our riad in Fes right on time, and from that moment the day just flowed effortlessly. Volubilis was jaw-dropping — I genuinely didn’t expect to feel so moved standing in the middle of two-thousand-year-old Roman mosaics in the middle of Morocco.
Our guide brought the whole site to life in a way no sign or audio tour ever could. The stop at Moulay Idriss was an unexpected highlight too — we had about 40 minutes there and it was quietly beautiful. Visit Maghreb handled everything seamlessly, the booking process was clear from start to finish, and I never once felt like just another tourist being shuffled through a schedule. If you’re planning tours from Fes, start here.
We debated for a long time whether the day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen was worth the drive. Every blog we read said it was too long, too tiring, not worth it without staying overnight. We did it anyway through Visit Maghreb and honestly — we’d do it again without a second thought. Yes, the driving is significant. But our driver made the journey genuinely enjoyable, stopping at a viewpoint in the Rif Mountains that wasn’t even on the itinerary just because he thought we’d appreciate it.
And he was right. Chefchaouen itself was everything we hoped for — we arrived around midday, had a proper lunch in the square, wandered through the blue alleyways for a few hours, and still made it back to Fes in time for dinner. The Visit Maghreb team had been upfront about the travel time from the very beginning, which we appreciated. No false promises, no glossed-over logistics — just honest, well-organized Morocco day trips with people who clearly love what they do.
Planning day trips from Fes shouldn’t be complicated — and with Visit Maghreb, it genuinely isn’t. From the moment you land on our website, everything is designed to make your Moroccan adventure feel exciting rather than overwhelming.
Start by exploring our full collection of Fes day trips at your own pace. Every tour page lays out exactly what you’re getting — a detailed itinerary, a clear list of inclusions, transparent pricing, and honest travel times. Whether you’re eyeing a Meknes and Volubilis history tour, a nature escape into the Middle Atlas cedar forests, or the iconic day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen, you’ll have all the information you need to make a confident decision before spending a single dirham.
When you’re ready to book, the process takes just a few minutes. Reserve your spot directly through our website or reach out to our customer service team — whichever feels most comfortable to you. Either way, you’ll hear back from a real person who knows these routes intimately, not an automated system cycling through scripts.
Our team is responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in getting your trip right. Have a question about road conditions on the way to Chefchaouen? Want to swap a stop on your Middle Atlas excursion for something less touristy? Traveling with young children or elderly family members who need a slower pace? Just ask. Customizing itineraries to fit your group’s needs is something we do every single day — it’s not an exception to our service, it’s a core part of it.
We’ve kept the payment structure simple and flexible because we understand that travelers arrive in Morocco with different preferences and comfort levels around money.
To confirm your booking, a small deposit is required upfront via PayPal or bank transfer — straightforward, secure, and instant. The remaining balance is then settled in cash directly with your driver on the day of your excursion in Morocco. Most of our guests prefer this arrangement since it keeps things personal and avoids the hassle of large international transfers.
That said, if you’d rather arrive in Morocco without worrying about carrying cash at all, you’re welcome to pay the full amount in advance. A 5% processing fee applies to cover PayPal or bank transfer charges — a small, clearly stated cost with no surprises attached to it.
Once your payment is confirmed, we send a full booking confirmation to your inbox covering every detail you need: your pickup time, the meeting point, what to wear, what to bring, and any destination-specific tips to help you show up prepared. By the time your trip morning arrives, the only thing left to do is enjoy it.
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