Africa > Morocco > Fès (FEZ)
The Car or no Car advice for Fès can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Fès ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Fès ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Fès?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.Fès without a car 🚶♂️🐴
Fès is, above all, a walking city. The medina of Fès el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Narrow alleys, stairways, and covered souks mean that cars are not just unnecessary but impossible. Everything here is done on foot, with the occasional donkey cart providing local deliveries.
Most major sights sit inside or immediately next to the medina. These include the Bou Inania Madrasa, Al-Qarawiyyin University, the tanneries, and countless workshops. Guided walking tours are strongly recommended, not because of distance, but because the layout is famously confusing 🧭.
Outside the medina, the Ville Nouvelle is more modern and easier to navigate. Taxis are plentiful, cheap, and widely used by locals and visitors alike. For city-only stays, a car would be more hassle than help.
Arriving and getting around 🚆✈️
Fès has an international airport with a modest but useful range of routes. From the airport, taxis are the easiest way into town. There is also a railway station with good connections to Meknès, Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier. These trains are comfortable, affordable, and often faster than driving.
Because of this rail network, it is very easy to combine Fès with other Moroccan cities without renting a car at all.
When renting a car becomes useful 🚗
The balance changes once you look beyond the city. Fès works well as a base for exploring northern and central Morocco. A car makes it far easier to visit places such as the Middle Atlas Mountains, cedar forests near Azrou, or the alpine-style town of Ifrane.
Longer trips, such as heading south toward the Sahara or east toward more remote regions, also favour a rental car. While tours exist, self-driving offers flexibility and quieter stops along the way.
Driving standards in Morocco vary. Main roads are generally good, but rural driving requires patience and confidence. For many visitors, renting a car for just part of the trip works best.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Fès?
For exploring the city itself, a car is unnecessary and impractical. Walking and taxis are all you need. However, if you plan to explore the Middle Atlas or rural Morocco, renting a car for a few days can greatly expand what you are able to see 🚙🌄.
