Fes el-Bali (Old Medina)

Fes el-Bali is an intact medieval city with the most authentic medina experience in Morocco. The constant attention and confusing layout require patience, but the history and craftsmanship are real. Just keep it to daytime hours if you're alone.

Fes el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban area - a UNESCO medieval city with 9,000+ narrow alleys across 1,200 years of history. You'll get lost. Even people who've lived here forever get lost. The maze design was meant to confuse invading armies, and it works. The Oued Bou Khrareb river splits the medina into the Qarawiyyin and Andalusian quarters. During the day, the place is packed - donkeys hauling goods, craftsmen hammering copper, calls to prayer, vendors selling spices and slippers. Main streets like Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sghira stay busy with tourist police near the tanneries and Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque. The constant attention gets old fast. Offers to guide you, shop invitations, marriage proposals, comments on your appearance - it doesn't let up. Most of it's persistent rather than threatening. The real issue is timing. After sunset around 6-7 PM, shops start closing and the medina empties fast. By 9:30 PM when commerce stops, the poorly lit alleys aren't safe for walking alone. Locals don't wander around the empty medina at night either. Explore during busy daylight hours, then get back to your riad or head to Ville Nouvelle for dinner before everything shuts down.