How to Choose a Riad in Fes: 10 Things to Check

Fes has hundreds of riads, and on booking sites they all look alike: a courtyard, a fountain, a terrace at sunset. Yet between two houses with similar photos, the experience can be very different. Here are the ten points we would check ourselves if we had to book a riad in a city we did not know. For choosing the neighbourhood, start with our guide on where to stay in Fes.

1. The exact location in the medina

“In the medina” does not mean much: Fes el-Bali stretches over more than two kilometres and its lanes climb and drop. Ask how many minutes on foot separate the riad from the nearest gate that taxis can reach. Beyond ten minutes, with suitcases and steps, arriving becomes a chore. Check the distance to the sights you want to see as well: Al-Quaraouiyine, the tanneries, Bab Bou Jeloud. Our Fes medina guide will help you place the neighbourhoods.

2. How your arrival is organised

This is the most underrated point. Does the riad offer a transfer from the airport or the station? Will someone meet you at the medina gate? Does a porter take your luggage? What happens if your flight lands at midnight? A riad that answers these questions precisely before you arrive will save you a first evening lost in the lanes with a self-appointed “guide”. See also our article on getting from Fes airport to the medina.

3. The size of the house

A riad with four or five rooms and a riad with twenty rooms do not offer the same experience. The first is intimate and quiet, and the hosts look after you personally; the second feels more like a small hotel, with more services but less contact. Neither is better in absolute terms, but know what you are booking. We explain why we believe in the small boutique riad.

4. The rooms: bathroom, air conditioning and heating

Check that every room has a private bathroom, which is not always the case in the simplest houses. Ask about air conditioning for summer but also, above all, heating for winter: from December to February, nights in Fes often drop below 5 °C (41 °F), and an unheated old stone house quickly becomes freezing. We cover this in detail in Fes in winter. Look at the bedding too, the room’s orientation (onto the courtyard or the lane) and its position relative to the terrace.

5. The terrace and shared spaces

The rooftop terrace is one of the great pleasures of a stay in Fes. Is it open all day? Does it have shade and comfortable seating? Does it offer a real view over the medina and its minarets? In winter, a heated indoor lounge matters just as much.

6. Breakfast and meals

Breakfast is almost always included, but its quality varies a lot. Homemade or bought in? Msemen, baghrir, bread, seasonal fruit, eggs? Served at what time? Ask whether the riad cooks dinner on request too: after a long day, eating in is a real luxury.

7. Your hosts and their advice

A good riad is also a good base for planning your days: sightseeing advice, licensed official guides, trusted drivers for day trips, good places to eat. Check which languages are spoken and how quickly they reply before you book: it is often a good indicator of the welcome you will get.

8. Reviews, read properly

Do not just look at the score. Read recent reviews, especially those mentioning noise, cleanliness, room temperature and the arrival. Read the hosts’ replies to negative reviews too: they say a lot about how problems are handled.

9. Price, payment and cancellation

Compare the price on booking platforms and on the riad’s own website: booking direct is often cheaper and more flexible, as we explain in book your riad direct. Check which payment methods are accepted, since many riads do not take cards, as well as the cancellation terms and any deposit.

10. Accessibility and special needs

If you are travelling with young children, older relatives or anyone with reduced mobility, ask about the number of steps, the width of the stairs and which floor the room is on. Families will find advice in Fes with kids.

Red flags

• No precise address or map to reach the riad.
• “Close to the medina” when the house is in fact outside it, far from the gates.
• No mention of heating for a winter stay.
• Only wide-angle photos, with no pictures of the bathrooms.
• A paid guided tour presented as compulsory.

And how does La Petite Maison measure up?

We hold ourselves to the same checklist, honestly. The riad is a five-minute walk from Rcif square, where taxis arrive; we arrange your transfer from the airport or the station, with a porter to the door. The house has only a few rooms, all with a private bathroom, air conditioning and heating. Breakfast is homemade, dinner is available on request the day before, and we work with licensed French- and English-speaking guides. Payment is in cash or by bank transfer, not by card, and cancellation is free up to seven days before arrival. On the other hand, like most riads, we are not suitable for wheelchair users.

If that sounds like you, browse our rooms and our story, then write to us: we will happily answer all ten questions. And if you are still unsure about the type of accommodation, reread what is a riad and our comparison riad vs hotel in Fes.