Fes can absorb you for days, but the countryside around it is just as rewarding: Roman ruins among olive groves, a holy hill town, another imperial city and cool cedar forests full of Barbary macaques. These are the best day trips from Fes, with what to see, how to get there and how to combine them so you spend more time exploring and less time on the road.
If you are still planning your time in the city itself, start with our Fes travel guide, then come back here to choose your escapes.
1. Volubilis and Moulay Idriss: The Classic Day Trip
If you only take one day trip from Fes, make it this one. Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded on an earlier Mauretanian settlement, it grew into a prosperous Roman town on the edge of the empire, surrounded by wheat fields and olive groves that still cover the plain today.
What to See at Volubilis
- The mosaics: many houses still have floor mosaics in place, showing mythological scenes, animals and geometric patterns. Look for the House of Orpheus and the mosaics of the Labours of Hercules.
- The basilica and capitol: tall columns and arches that stand out against the sky and the Zerhoun hills.
- The triumphal arch: built in honour of Emperor Caracalla, at the end of the main street, the Decumanus Maximus.
- The site museum near the entrance, which gives useful context before you walk the ruins.
There is almost no shade on the site, so go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, bring a hat and water, and wear good shoes. Official guides are usually available at the entrance and bring the ruins to life.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
A few kilometres from Volubilis, the white town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun spills over two hills. It is one of the holiest places in Morocco, built around the shrine of Moulay Idriss I, who founded the first Moroccan Islamic dynasty in the eighth century. Non-Muslims cannot enter the shrine itself, but you can wander the lanes, climb to the viewpoints above town for a panorama over the rooftops and stop for lunch at a terrace café. Look out for the unusual cylindrical minaret decorated with green tiles. Dress modestly here, as it is a pilgrimage town.
2. Meknes: The Quiet Imperial City
Meknes is less than an hour from Fes by train and makes an easy independent day trip. Sultan Moulay Ismail made it his capital in the seventeenth century and surrounded it with huge walls, gates, granaries and stables. Highlights include the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the lively Place el-Hedim, the Heri es-Souani granaries and the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. The medina is smaller and calmer than in Fes, which makes it a pleasant place to shop and wander.
Many travellers combine Meknes with Volubilis and Moulay Idriss in one long day by hiring a driver. Read our Meknes travel guide for a full list of sights if you would rather spend the night.
3. Ifrane and Azrou: Cedars and Monkeys in the Middle Atlas
South of Fes, the road climbs into the Middle Atlas, and the landscape changes completely: oak and cedar forests, lakes and cool mountain air. Ifrane, around an hour and a quarter from Fes, was built in the 1930s in an alpine style, with pitched red roofs, tidy parks and a stone lion statue that everyone stops to photograph. It is often called “the Switzerland of Morocco” and can see snow in winter.
A little further on, the cedar forest near Azrou is home to Barbary macaques. You will often see them near the roadside. Admire them from a distance, do not feed them, and keep food out of sight. Continue to the market town of Azrou for lunch before heading back. Our guides to Ifrane and Azrou have more detail if you want to stay longer.
4. Sefrou and Bhalil: A Local Escape
For something off the usual tourist circuit, head south-east to Sefrou, a small town at the foot of the Middle Atlas with a historic medina, an old Jewish quarter and waterfalls just outside town. Sefrou is famous for its cherries and celebrates them with a festival in early summer; check the dates locally if you are visiting then. On the way, stop at Bhalil, a village where some families still live in houses built into caves in the hillside.
5. Chefchaouen: A Long but Popular Day Out
Many tour operators sell Chefchaouen as a day trip from Fes, but the drive takes around four hours each way through the Rif foothills. It is doable if you have no other option, but staying at least one night is far more enjoyable. See our Chefchaouen travel guide and our 7-day northern Morocco itinerary for a better way to include the Blue City.
How to Get Around: Train, Grand Taxi or Driver?
- Train: the best option for Meknes. Trains run regularly between Fes and Meknes; check current times on the ONCF website or at the station.
- Grand taxi: shared taxis link Meknes with Moulay Idriss, and Fes with Sefrou, Ifrane and Azrou. They are cheap but leave only when full, and getting from Moulay Idriss to Volubilis may require a private taxi.
- Private driver: the most efficient way to combine Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes, or Ifrane and Azrou, in a single day. Agree on the itinerary, stops and total price before you leave, and ask your riad to recommend a reliable driver.
- Rental car: roads in the region are generally good. Leave the car outside the medina and take care in Meknes and Fes traffic.
Our guide on how to get around Morocco explains trains, buses and grand taxis in more detail.
Sample Day-Trip Plans
- Ancient and imperial (with a driver): leave Fes early for Volubilis, have lunch in Moulay Idriss, then spend the afternoon in Meknes before returning to Fes in the evening.
- Nature day: drive to Ifrane for a coffee and a walk in the park, look for macaques in the cedar forest, lunch in Azrou and return via the Middle Atlas lakes in good weather.
- Easy half day: visit Bhalil and Sefrou in the morning and be back in Fes for a late lunch.
Tips for Day Trips from Fes
- Start early: you will beat the heat at Volubilis and the crowds at the main sights.
- Check the weather for the Middle Atlas: Ifrane and Azrou are much colder than Fes, and roads can be affected by snow in winter.
- Carry cash: entrance tickets, taxis and small cafés often accept only dirhams.
- Dress respectfully in Moulay Idriss and other conservative towns.
FAQ
What is the best day trip from Fes?
Volubilis combined with Moulay Idriss is the most popular and rewarding, especially for history lovers. Add Meknes if you have a driver and start early.
Can I visit Volubilis without a tour?
Yes. Take the train to Meknes, a grand taxi to Moulay Idriss and then a short taxi ride to Volubilis. It takes more time than a private driver but is very affordable.
Is Ifrane worth a day trip from Fes?
Yes, especially in hot weather or if you want a break from the medina. The cedar forest and the macaques near Azrou are the real highlights.
Conclusion
From Roman mosaics to cedar forests, the best day trips from Fes add variety to any stay in the city. Choose Volubilis and Moulay Idriss for history, Meknes for imperial grandeur, or Ifrane and Azrou for fresh mountain air, and you will return to the Fes medina with a richer picture of northern Morocco.
Featured image: the ruins of Volubilis, photo by Christophe Rascle on Pexels.