Best Day Trips from Fes: Volubilis, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Ifrane

Fes is an ideal base for exploring northern Morocco. Within an hour’s drive you can reach Roman ruins, another imperial city or the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas; a little further lies the blue town of Chefchaouen. Here are our favourite day trips, with travel times, what to see and how to organise them. For what to do in town, see things to do in Fes.

Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes: the great classic

This is the richest and easiest excursion from Fes, comfortably done in a day.

Volubilis

Just over an hour’s drive away, Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Among olive groves and fields, you wander between the basilica, the capitol, the triumphal arch dedicated to Caracalla and the long decumanus lined with houses. The highlight is the mosaics still in place in the old mansions, with their mythological scenes. Allow an hour and a half to two hours, and bring a hat and water: there is little shade.

Moulay Idriss Zerhoun

A few kilometres away, the holy town of Moulay Idriss spreads over two hills around the mausoleum of Idris I, founder of Morocco’s first dynasty and father of the founder of Fes. The shrine is open to Muslims only, but the lanes and the views over the white town make it a worthwhile stop, ideally for lunch.

Meknes

Some thirty kilometres on, Meknes was the capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the seventeenth century. Here you can admire the monumental Bab Mansour gate, one of the finest in Morocco, el-Hedim square, the vast royal granaries and stables, and a medina calmer than that of Fes. Meknes is also a World Heritage site. The drive back to Fes takes about an hour.

Chefchaouen, the blue town

Tucked into the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen charms with its medina of walls painted in every shade of blue, its stepped lanes and its peaceful atmosphere. Allow three and a half to four hours’ drive each way: a return trip in one day is possible but long. If you can, spend a night there to enjoy the town in the quiet of the evening and early morning, after the day-trippers have left. Do not miss the Ras el-Maa spring and the viewpoint at the Spanish Mosque at sunset. All the practical details are in Fes to Chefchaouen.

Ifrane, Azrou and the cedar forest

About an hour south of Fes, the road climbs into the Middle Atlas. Ifrane surprises with its steep-roofed chalets, neat gardens and alpine-resort feel, hence its nickname “Little Switzerland”. Further on, around Azrou, the cedar forest is home to wild Barbary macaques, an endangered species to be watched without feeding. Along the way, the Middle Atlas lakes offer lovely walks in spring. In winter the region is often snowy, as we describe in Fes in winter. It is families’ favourite day out; see also Fes with kids.

Sefrou and Bhalil: an authentic half-day

About thirty kilometres away, Sefrou is a small town at the foot of the Middle Atlas, with a peaceful medina and an old Jewish quarter. It is known for its cherry festival in early summer. The neighbouring village of Bhalil is famous for its cave houses, some of which you can visit as a guest of the residents. A perfect half-day trip away from the tourist trail.

How to organise your day trips

• A private driver for the day is the most comfortable and flexible solution: leave when you like, stop for photos and come back to the riad. Your riad can book one for you.
• A grand taxi hired for the day is a cheaper option, to be negotiated in advance.
• The train connects Fes and Meknes in under an hour; from there, taxis go to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss.
• The CTM bus is handy for Chefchaouen if you are staying the night.
• A rental car gives you freedom, but you will need to park it outside the medina.

Our advice on getting around is in how to get to Fes.

Which day trip should you choose?

• History and culture: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes.
• Photography and atmosphere: Chefchaouen, ideally with a night there.
• Nature, cool air and kids: Ifrane, Azrou and the cedar forest.
• An off-the-beaten-track half-day: Sefrou and Bhalil.
• Several days: the Merzouga desert via the Middle Atlas; see Fes to the Merzouga desert.

To fit these trips into a stay, follow our three-day Fes itinerary or our 10-day Morocco itinerary. And to choose your season, read the best time to visit Fes.

Day trips from La Petite Maison

We work with trusted drivers for Volubilis, Meknes and the Middle Atlas, and we can advise you on Chefchaouen. Departures are from Rcif square, five minutes from the riad. Tell us what interests you and we will help you put together the right day. Browse our rooms and write to us to book your stay and your excursions.