Best Time to Visit Fes

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

April and May are the best months to come, and October is just as good. Days are warm without being heavy, and you can walk the medina (the old walled city) for hours. May gets hot by mid-afternoon, but evenings stay pleasant. April still brings a few showers, so the odd wet day is part of the deal.

October is quieter than spring and feels relaxed. Rain picks up late in the month, though it's rarely all day. These months suit first-timers best. You can wander Fes el-Bali, see the Chouara Tannery from a leather-shop terrace, and still have energy for the Bou Inania Madrasa (a 14th-century religious school).

Summer: hot and quiet

July and August are the hottest months, both with highs of 39°C. They're tied, and our data rates both Poor. Midday in the narrow medina lanes feels like standing in an oven. Shade helps, but the stone holds heat.

June and September are easier. Mornings are fine for sightseeing, and you can rest indoors in a riad (a house built around a courtyard) in the afternoon. Many riads have a small pool, which is worth checking before you book. Hotels can be cheaper in high summer, and the crowds are thin. If you like the idea of a nearly empty medina and can cope with heat, it's doable.

Winter: cool, damp, cosy

From November to March, expect grey days and real rain. March is the wettest month of the cool season by a small margin, but November has more rain than most. Even so, our ratings stay Excellent from November to March, apart from January, which is Good. Nights are cold, and many riads and old houses aren't well heated. Ask about heating before you book.

The upside is space. Tour groups thin out, and you can spend long evenings over a bowl of harira (a thick tomato and chickpea soup) or a steaming tagine. Christmas and Easter bring short bursts of visitors, but Fes never feels as packed as Marrakech.

Festivals worth planning around

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is the big one. It usually runs in late spring or early summer, with concerts at Bab Makina and other historic spots. Dates move each year, so check before you fix your trip. Ramadan also shifts yearly. Daytime can be quiet, with some cafés closed, but sunset brings a lively, warm mood.