Blog - Food

Soak up the sights and scents of the Medina in Fes with NetFerry: what to buy and where to eat

Travel to Fez with NetFerry to discover a colourful and vibrant city that was once home to many mathematicians, philosophers, theologians, and astronomers. Fez has always been known as an Islamic cultural centre and is full of beautiful architecture. 

Fes is about 300 kilometres from Tangier and can be reached easily by ferry from the Italian ports of Genoa and Savona, or from the Spanish port of Barcelona. These lines arrive into Tangier, on the northwest coast of Morocco, so to get to Fez, just continue along a stretch of the west coast and then travel inland, until you reach the city. 

In Fes, we recommend that you leave your map at home and experience the city on foot and in total freedom. Start with a walk in the alleys in the old city to discover the Medina, which has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. There are still around 90,000 people who live and work in and around the Fes medina, donkeys still sometimes transport goods from one place to another.  The medina is a maze of streets bursting with scents and colours and there's lots of shouting from the merchants and locals!  

Get lost among the carpet sellers, embroiderers and the spice stalls, then stop in a restaurant or cafe to sip mint tea.  When you stroll around, not only will you find your self lost, sometimes alleyways that appear to be a dead end can lead to wonderful hidden squares with beautiful fountains. Be aware that Friday is a sacred day of prayer, so the stalls in the medina are closed, and the streets are empty. 

The best place to buy spices is the El Attarine souk. Ras el hanout is a good spice mix to take home the taste of Morocco, it's a blend of spices, often mixed by the head of the store, it usually includes a mixture of cumin, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and more. With regards to other souvenirs, some of the best Moroccan products to buy in the medina are Argan Oil, produced in nearby Essaouira, little boxes and trinkets for your home, with tadelakt finishing, which is a traditional method. Babouche slippers, leather goods, glassware, Berber baskets, and artisanal soaps. There are also many beautiful buildings to see in Fes, the mosques, the first university for women, the tannery and La Mellah, the Jewish quarter.

At the end of a busy day of shopping, where should you eat?  NetFerry recommends a great place called Dar Hatim, a family-run restaurant where you can find excellent homemade Moroccan food. The restaurant is comfortable and stylish and all of the traditional dishes can be found here including couscous with lamb or chicken and colourful salads.  Don’t miss the Chicken batbout, a fragrant Moroccan bread stuffed with chicken. If you are looking for a bohemian café to have a nice cup of mint tea then check out Made in M, its full of low seating, pillows and colourful fabrics, located on the main street of the Medina.

Ferries to Morocco

Stay informed about ferry routes to and from Morocco with NetFerry. Find out about special offers for your ferry trip to Morocco. On the NetFerry Portal lookup times and ports of departure then buy your ferry ticket to Morocco in total comfort. NetFerry provides you with a sea of ferries, in just a few clicks.

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