How to get around Fez by foot, taxi, and airport transfer

Getting Around Fez: Medina and New Town

Transport in Fez depends on the city walls. The historic medina of Fes el-Bali is entirely car-free, whereas the Ville Nouvelle and perimeter roads accommodate vehicles.

• Walking: The only mode inside Fes el-Bali. Its maze of stepped, narrow alleys prohibits all motor vehicles.
• Petits Taxis: Red sedans operating within city limits. They are ideal for trips between medina gates, the train station, and the Ville Nouvelle. Drivers must use meters and routinely pick up multiple passengers heading the same way.
• Grands Taxis: Shared sedans running fixed routes to city outskirts and surrounding towns.

Fares and Ticketing

Fez has no transit passes, tourist travelcards, or contactless payment. City buses serve outlying commuter areas and are generally impractical for visitors. All journeys require cash; carry small coins and bills, as drivers rarely have change.

Airport Transit from Fes-Saïss

Fes-Saïss Airport sits south of the city, offering two contrasting options:

• Grand Taxi: The fastest and most convenient choice. Taxis queue outside arrivals and charge standardized rates posted at the rank, delivering passengers directly to outer medina gates.
• Local Bus: The budget choice, linking the airport to the Ville Nouvelle railway station. It requires patience between departures, plus a connecting taxi to reach the medina.

Practical Realities

Taxi ranks at outer gates become congested during late afternoon rush hours. A mandated night surcharge applies to taxi meters after dark. In the medina, steep steps and uneven cobbles make wheelchairs and rolling luggage unusable; hire an official handcart porter at your entry gate for heavy bags.