A stay in Morocco: Marrakech or Fez?
Comprendre l’esprit du riad et choisir une expérience fidèle à votre façon de voyager.
Spontaneously, when talking about a destination in Morocco, Marrakech is mentioned in the majority of answers. Other destinations exist in Morocco to spend a wonderful time in this North African country. The Riad Jamaï team suggests comparing Fes and Marrakech, two imperial cities, with very different characteristics. Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco, has made its mark throughout history and its heritage is exceptional, with a thousand-year-old medina of irresistible charm.
Marrakech
The city of Marrakech is world-renowned thanks to its various festivals, the villas built by celebrities, but also for the tourist attractions it offers visitors. Jemaa el Fna square is a must-see for any stay in Marrakech, as is the Majorelle Garden, a valley such as the Draa Valley, and the souk of Marrakech in its medina. The accommodations offered in Marrakech are numerous, and visitors to Marrakech have plenty of choice: private villa rental, riad rental or room rental in a guesthouse, hotels and club hotels.
Fes
The city of Fes is the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, embodied by the medina, also known as Fes el Bali. This open-air museum deserves a stay of at least 3 days. The city is slowly opening up to tourism with a few reception projects, such as the airport’s second terminal. Above all, Fes strives to remain a city with a way of life where people take the time to share, exchange, and pray. There are more than 300 mosques in the medina, as well as the oldest university in the Arab world, Al Quaraouiyine. The medina has attracted curious visitors from all over the world for a stay in Fes, for a cultural getaway steeped in Morocco’s history. The Fes riad in the Andalusian quarter, named Riad Jamaï, fully embodies UNESCO’s efforts to preserve this Arab-Andalusian gem.
The mindset
Morocco’s richness also comes from the cultural differences between its imperial cities. Fes and Marrakech are must-sees and are very different in their relationship. The city of Marrakech began its tourism activity several years ago, and the population has turned toward welcoming tourists, creating tourist facilities, tourist entertainment, and tourist products. The city of Marrakech is a destination of comfort when it comes to a trip to Morocco. Traveling to Marrakech is above all a relaxing, club, and sunny getaway.
The city of Fes, on the other hand, is still untouched by mass tourism; it is a thousand-year-old city that has managed to preserve its way of life and culture. The medina of Fes represents the gem of the city, with neighborhoods organized around craftsmanship. There are few solicitations in the alleys, making it very peaceful to stroll through the medina’s streets. The city of Fes and its surroundings still have very few tourist facilities, though some hotels have appeared on the edge of the medina. Traveling to Fes is above all an encounter with an Arab-Muslim culture.