Casablanca to Fez with a Private Driver: Guide to Morocco’s Spiritual Capital

Founded at the end of the eighth century, Fez is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities and the country’s spiritual and intellectual heart. Its medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world: a maze of lanes where craftsmen, mosques and madrasas sit side by side much as they have for centuries. From Casablanca, Fez is ≈ 3 hours 15 minutes away by motorway, an easy and comfortable ride with a private driver.

Top things to see in Fez

The classic way into the medina is through Bab Boujloud, the famous Blue Gate covered in glazed tiles. From there, the Talaa Kebira and Talaa Seghira streets lead down into the heart of Fes el-Bali and the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri and often described as the oldest continuously operating university in the world. The prayer hall is open to Muslims only, but you can glimpse the courtyard from the doorways.

Do not miss the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, masterpieces of Marinid craftsmanship, the Nejjarine square and fountain, and the Chouara tannery, best seen from the terraces of the surrounding leather shops. Beyond the old medina, Fes el-Jdid is home to the monumental gates of the Royal Palace and the former Jewish quarter, the Mellah. For a sweeping view of the city, head up to the Marinid Tombs at sunset.

Casablanca to Fez private transfer

The Casablanca to Fez drive covers ≈ 300 km on the motorway via Rabat and Meknes, which takes about 3 hours 15 minutes. Your driver collects you from your hotel, the train station or straight from Mohammed V Airport, and drops you as close as possible to your riad: cars cannot enter the medina, but several gates give easy access.

The route lends itself to a cultural stop: Rabat and the Hassan Tower at the start, or Meknes and the Roman site of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about an hour from Fez. Whether in a Mercedes V-Class, an E-Class or a Skoda Superb, you travel in comfort with plenty of room for luggage.

When to go and travel tips

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for Fez. Being inland, the city gets hot in summer, and winter nights can be cold. Wear comfortable shoes, as the medina’s lanes are cobbled and often steep.

On a first visit, we recommend hiring an official licensed guide for the medina: you will save time and get into artisans’ workshops you might otherwise miss. Your driver can drop you at the meeting point and pick you up at a different gate once the tour is over.

Suggested itinerary: 2 days in Fez

Day 1: leave Casablanca in the morning, stop at Meknes or Volubilis, reach Fez in the late afternoon and watch the sunset from the Marinid Tombs. Day 2: a full day in Fes el-Bali (Bab Boujloud, madrasas, Al Quaraouiyine, Nejjarine, the tanneries), followed by Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah. From there, return to Casablanca, continue to Chefchaouen, or head for the Merzouga desert via Ifrane and Midelt.

Frequently asked questions

Photo : Pawel Ryszawa — CC BY-SA 3.0