The Best Photo Spots in Fes (and How to Shoot Them)

Fes is a photographer’s paradise: every lane offers a carved door, a play of shadows, a craftsman at work or a glimpse of a minaret. But the medina is also a place where people live, and you cannot photograph anyone, anyhow. Here are our favourite spots, the best time for each and the rules to know so you come home with beautiful images while respecting residents. For panoramic views, add the best views in Fes.

Bab Bou Jeloud, the Blue Gate

This is the iconic Fes photo: through the arches of the Blue Gate you glimpse the minarets of the medina. The outer side is covered in blue zellige, the inner side in green. Come early in the morning for an almost empty square and soft light, or at nightfall when the gate is lit up.

The Chouara tanneries

From the terraces of the leather shops, the view down onto the coloured pits is spectacular. Mid-morning offers the best light and the most activity. Wait for a tanner to cross a pit to give the image scale. All our practical tips are in the Fes tanneries.

The Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas

Perfect symmetry, marble columns, zellige, stucco and cedar: the madrasa courtyards are ideal for graphic compositions. Low morning light brings out the relief of the stucco. Remember to tilt your lens up towards the carved cedar canopies. The history is in the madrasas and monuments of Fes.

The Nejjarine fountain and around

The zellige fountain on Nejjarine square, with the monumental door of the caravanserai next to it, makes one of the most beautiful scenes in the medina. Wait for a passer-by or a handcart to bring it to life.

Seffarine square and the dyers’ souk

Coppersmiths hammering under the tree on Seffarine square, then skeins of coloured wool hanging over the dyers’ lane: two lively scenes where you must ask permission before photographing the craftsmen. A smile, a chat and sometimes a small purchase often open doors; see also Fes crafts and artisan workshops.

The golden doors of the Royal Palace

In Fes el-Jdid, the huge brass doors of the Royal Palace shine in the morning sun. The square is vast: a wide angle captures the whole facade. Do not photograph the guards or soldiers. To explore the area, read Fes el-Jdid, the Mellah and the Royal Palace.

The balconies of the Mellah

Unlike medina houses, those of the old Jewish quarter open onto the street with carved wooden balconies: a superb subject in mid-morning, when the sun lights up the facades.

Doors and details of the medina

Hand-of-Fatima door knockers, studded doors, zellige frames, copper lanterns: the medina is full of details. A fast lens or a phone’s portrait mode lets you play with background blur in the shady lanes.

Rooftops and viewpoints at dusk

The Marinid tombs to the north, Borj Sud to the south and riad terraces offer the finest overall views. The golden hour, then the blue hour as the medina lights up, are the most photogenic moments of the day.

A one-day photo walk

1. 8 am: Bab Bou Jeloud and Talaa Kebira while still quiet.
2. 9:30 am: the Bou Inania Madrasa, then the Nejjarine fountain.
3. 11 am: the Al-Attarine Madrasa, Seffarine square and the Chouara tanneries.
4. Afternoon: a break, then Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah in the late afternoon.
5. Sunset: the Marinid tombs or a rooftop terrace.

Our Fes medina guide will help you link these stops without getting lost.

Rules to respect

• Always ask before photographing someone up close; many people decline, especially women and older residents, and that refusal must be respected. Some ask for a small coin.
• Do not photograph inside active mosques, or guards, police and military sites.
• Drones are banned in Morocco without authorisation and are confiscated at customs: leave yours at home.
• Do not block narrow lanes with a tripod; step aside when you hear “balak!”.

Recommended gear

A versatile 24-70 mm zoom covers most situations; a short telephoto helps for minarets from the hills. The lanes alternate deep shade and harsh sun: underexpose slightly to protect the highlights. Bring a spare battery and something to keep the dust out.

Shooting from La Petite Maison

Our riad, five minutes from Rcif square, is an ideal starting point for the photo walk: Seffarine, the tanneries and Al-Quaraouiyine are a few minutes away on foot. The house itself, with its courtyard, zellige and cedar ceilings, is very photogenic, as long as you respect other guests’ privacy. See the riad in pictures, browse our rooms or write to us; and for everything else, our selection of things to do in Fes.