Best Time to Visit Fes: Get the Inside Scoop from a Local

Planning a trip to Fes but not exactly sure about the best time to visit Fes? Well, that is a totally valid question.

I mean, Morocco is a HUGE AF country filled with deserts, beaches, mountains, vast forest, incredible cities, and more.

So, the best time to visit Morocco can vary based on where you are going and what you want to do there.

In truth, Fes has a Mediterranean climate. So, expect dry summers and wet winters. Although, when I visited Fes in the winter, I encountered absolutely no rain.

Anyway, the summers in Fes can be brutally hot, with highs soaring to 36°C (97°F). So, while it’s not as hot as Marrakech, it’s still hot.

Therefore, the best time to travel to Fes really depends on whether you prefer warm or cold weather and what type of activities you’ll be doing.

I mean, if you just want to chill by the pool and sunbathe then visiting Fes in the summer is great. However, if you want to sightsee and walk around a lot, then summer might be a not-so-great time to visit.

Trust me, I know. I have visited Fes many different times since I live in Morocco and come to the city quite a bit. So, I know all about the best month to visit Fes.

I now want to share my local tips with you so that you can plan the perfect trip and have an amazing time in Fes. So, let’s swan dive into this post and check out the pros and cons of visiting Fes during various seasons.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Fes? The Quick Answer

Okay, so when you look at most guides to Fes, and Morocco, they will usually tell you that the best time to visit is between March and April and September and November.

The reason for this is pretty simple, visiting Fes at this time of year means warm weather (not hot), long days, fewer crowds at the hammams in Fes, and better prices.

Personally, I would say that you should only visit Fes in March if you are prepared to deal with Ramadan in Morocco in 2025. I’ll talk more about this later but generally, some stores/restaurants close during the day since everyone is fasting.

The clocks also change and go back an hour. So, it can be a tricky and quiet time to visit Fes since most people will be home during the day. Bus services can also be restricted into and out of the city.

So, I would only visit at this time of year if you have flexibility and are open to changing your Morocco itinerary a bit. It’s still a fantastic time to visit and I personally loved how quiet the Medina was.

In contrast, Fes doesn’t have a ton of major holidays between September and November. The crowds of summer are also gone and the weather is nice, warm but not scorching.

So, I think the best time to visit Fes is between September and November. After all, Fes isn’t quite as hot in September as Marrakech is in September.

Fes in Winter (December, January, and February)

The first time I was in Fes I was there in February and really enjoyed my visit. There were very few tourists in the city and the weather was crisp, but not cold.

Sure, it’s too cold to go swimming outside. But you can walk around in a sweatshirt or wear a light jacket. The only downside is that the days are short.

So, I would usually head back to my room around 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm since I try to avoid walking around alone at night – within reason. I mean, if you have dinner and walk back to your hotel then you should be fine.

I also did not find it super rainy since Fes is a very arid place. So, while winter is definitely the “rainiest season” of the year, most months you won’t get more than like an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry about monsoons or bringing a heavy raincoat. One more benefit of visiting Fes in Winter is that the sun isn’t as strong.

You 100% should still have a hat and sunscreen since you can get burned, but the sun is a lot less intense in winter than it is in summer. So, you can chill on the rooftop of your riad in Fes without too many problems.

One downside is that if you like to attend fun events/parties for Christmas and New Year’s, Fes is not the place to do this since the city is pretty quiet and doesn’t have a bunch of nightly events like in Marrakech.

So, if you’re deciding between Marrakech or Fes for either of these holidays, go for Fes if you like peace/quiet and Marrakech if you prefer parties and want to attend lots of fun events.

Local Tip: Heat is not standard in Morocco and many homes in the country do NOT come with heat.

So, always check before booking your hotel room to make sure it includes heat – and like good heat, not like a tiny heater and you’re freezing all night heat. Been there, done that, and it sucks.

• December Weather: High of 18°Ç (64°F)/ Low of 6°C (43°F) and 7 days of rain
• January Weather: High of 17°C (63°F)/ Low of 5°C (41°F) and 11 days of rain
• February Weather: High of 18°Ç (64°F)/ Low of 6°C (43°F) and 9 days of rain

Fes in Spring (March, April, and May)

Spring is a great time to visit Fes. After all, the weather is starting to warm up, so much so that you can walk around in a T-shirt in the afternoon.

The days are also getting longer and you’ll love seeing the many beautiful flowers that come to life in Jnan Sibil Park.

Additionally, you can see vast fields of pink roses pop up all across the Valley of Roses as you make your way from Marrakech to Fes.

Another benefit of visiting Fes in spring is that it’s still off-season, at least through the end of April. So, you can enjoy better prices and a Medina that isn’t heaving with tourists.

Again, it is a smidge rainy. But, rain levels are quite low per month. So, I wouldn’t change your travel plans because of the rain.

The only concern about visiting Fes in March is Ramadan. Not only will the clocks go back an hour, but many restaurants and shops will be closed during the day since most people are fasting.

Therefore, the Medina can feel very quiet. Most attractions in Fes should be open, but hours can change during the holiday.

Additionally, CTM bus times can be reduced during the holiday. So, it will be more difficult to use the bus to travel from Fes to Chefchaouen. TBH, when I visited three were three buses a day between the two ciites so it shouldn’t be a huge issue.

It’s not that March and April are a bad time to visit Fes. It’s just that you’ll need a more flexible schedule and will need to do a bit of research so that you know when Ramadan starts and ends.

Yeah, the exact dates change every year. But, the holiday typically starts two weeks earlier than the year before. So, Ramadan should begin in the middle of February next year (2026).

It’s also a fun time to visit if you want to attend the Fes Festival of Sacred Music. It is held for a week at the end of May and is a great event for anyone who wants to dig a bit deeper into their spirituality.

Yeah, there are a lot of cool workshops and concerts on offer which is super fun. But, the event means that the city will be PACKED and you’ll need to book a hotel well in advance. Therefore, if you hate crowds, do NOT attend this event.

• March Weather: High of 21°Ç (70°F)/ Low of 8°C (46°F) and 13 days of rain
• April Weather: High of 22°C (72°F)/ Low of 9°C (48°F) and 7 days of rain
• May Weather: High of 26°Ç (79°F)/ Low of 12°C (54°F) and 6 days of rain

Fes in Summer (June, July, and August)

Fes is very hot and dry in the summer. So, this is the best time to visit Fes if you want to relax by the pool. Otherwise, if you want to spend a day exploring Fes then you’ll need to pack plenty of water and sunscreen.

The sun at this time of year is very intense and you do not want to get burned or dehydrated while walking around the city. You may even want to wear a hat to help you stay safe in Fes.

This is also peak tourist season. So, you’ll find the Medina packed with people and pay the highest prices for tours and accommodations.

However, the days are nice and long. Therefore, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the city. The summer months are also dry, so you won’t need to worry about rain.

Although, do know that Eid al-Adha takes place during a few days in the middle of June.

I’ll talk more about this later but essentially, everything in the city will shut down and you won’t be able to travel into or out of the city by bus.

So, you’ll need to stock up on food before the holiday starts and should plan on staying in the same place for at least three days.

Yeah, it’s not the best time to travel to Fes since sheep are also sacrificed in local homes and you’ll see blood running down the streets. Plus, if you walk through the Medina you’ll see sheep heads being roasted over open fiires.

Yup, not my fave thing to see so please be aware of this before visiting Fes in summer.

• June Weather: High of 31°Ç (88°F)/ Low of 16°C (61°F) and 2 days of rain
• July Weather: High of 36°C (97°F)/ Low of 19°C (66°F) and 0 days of rain
• August Weather: High of 36°Ç (97°F)/ Low of 19°C (66°F) and 0 days of rain

Fes in Fall (September, October, and November)

IMHO Fall is the best time to visit Fes. The days are long, the weather is warm (but not hot), and the crowds of summer are long gone.

Yes, September is still considered peak season so you’ll definitely be exploring the Medina with lots of other people. But, my partner and I visited in September and found it really nice. Prices aren’t cheap but definitely not awful.

The weather is also still pretty hot, so be sure to wear lights pants, carry plenty of water, wear a hat, and use sunscreen.

But, that’s only true in September since the weather cools off a bit in October and November. It is also a bit rainier at this time of year. However, overall amounts of rain per day are quite low, so it shouldn’t matter.

This time of year is also pretty chill in terms of holidays so you won’t have to worry about any schedule changes or holiday closures. So, if I had my choice I would visit Fes in October or November.

• September Weather: High of 32°Ç (90°F)/ Low of 17°C (63°F) and 3 days of rain
• October Weather: High of 27°C (81°F)/ Low of 14°C (57°F) and 7 days of rain
• November Weather: High of 28°Ç (70°F)/ Low of 9°C (48°F) and 9 days of rain

Special Events and Holidays

It’s important to know when special events and holidays take place in Fes. After all, the Medina is pretty small. So, when thousands of people crowd into the Old Town, it can get real uncomfortable real quick.

Additionally, holidays can mean that many local businesses, restaurants, and landmarks are closed, which could make for a rather boring trip to Fes.

Holidays can also lead to reduced bus and train schedules, as well as limited ticket availability. So, visit at the wrong time of year and you could have a hard time getting out of the city.

Therefore, if you are planning a short trip to Fes then you might not have flexibility in your schedule to deal with these type of delays.

So, check out my list of local events and holidays listed below and plan your trip around them.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims and is observed widely throughout Morocco and Fes.

It is an important month because Muslims believe that this is when the first sections of the Quran (Islam’s holy book) were given to the Prophet Muhammad by God.

To celebrate Ramadan, Muslims do not drink or eat from sunrise until sunset. Therefore, many local shops and restaurants will close during the day since no one is eating and everyone is either at home or praying at the mosque.

To make fasting during daylight hours easier, the clocks are turned back an hour once the holiday starts. Typically. Ramadan begins the second week of March and lasts for 30 days until the second week of April.

However, the exact start and end date of the holiday changes annually since these dates are dependent upon the phases of the moon.

Surrounding Ramadan, holidays like Eid celebrate the end and beginning of this holy month. As a result, they can impact local services and travel into and out of Fes.

Like most cities, Fes is quiet during Ramadan. While hotels and certain restaurants will be open for tourists, the vibrancy of the Medina returns only after dusk, following prayers and evening meals.

Given the sanctity of the month, you should dress modestly, avoid revealing attire, abstain from drinking alcohol, and refrain from eating and drinking in public, out of respect for those fasting.

All in all, visiting Fes during Ramadan offers a serene experience, though it is wise to have flexibility due to potential changes in the hours of local businesses.

Eid al-Adha

This holiday typically occurs in mid-June, but its precise dates vary annually based on the phases of the moon.

However, this holiday tends to fall between June 15 and June 17/18. It is an exceedingly important local holiday that celebrates Abraham’s sacrificing a lamb in God’s name rather than his son, Isaac.

The days leading up to the holiday are filled with activity as people prepare to go home to their family, making transportation into and out of Fes challenging.

Once the holiday begins, the city quiets down significantly, with many businesses, including bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets, closing down. Anyone staying in Fes during this holiday should plan ahead and stock up on food.

Additionally, this holiday includes the ritual sacrifice of a lamb in local homes, which can lead to the unusual sight of blood in the streets and the roasting of sheep heads in the Medina – a deeply cultural, if startling, experience for visitors.

Fes Festival of Sacred Music

Started back in 1994, the Fes Festival of Sacred Music is an incredible, week long event that is held from the end of May through the start of June.

Featuring discussions and performances by Muslim and Christian artists from around the world, this event aims to foster collaboration between artists from North Africa and the Western world.

Participants can purchase tickets to specific concerts, films, panel discussions, meditations, and spiritual healings, to promote cultural exchange and discussions between faiths.

Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to get yours ASAP. You will also want to plan ahead when visiting Fes during this event since hotel rooms get booked up fast (months in advance).

Furthermore, be prepared for intense crowds as thousands of people descend upon the city to enjoy the festival. Yeah, the crowds can make walking around the Medina and eating at local restaurants in Fes a very unpleasant experience.

But, if you like events like this, you may want to spend more time in Fes and plan your trip around it.

FAQs

What is the Hottest Month in Fes?

The hottest month in Fes is August when the average temperature is 27.7 °C or 81.8 °F.

How Cold Does it get in Fez Morocco?

The coldest month in Fes is January. During this month the temperature dips down to 11°C or 52°F.

What are the Coolest Months in Morocco?

The coolest months in Morocco are December, January, and February.

What Time of Year is best for Weather in Morocco?

The best weather in Morocco is in the fall and in the spring. However, Morocco is very diverse and this can vary based on where you are. But, the High Atlas Mountains are lovely in April, May, September, October, and November.

That wraps up this guide on when to visit Fes, Morocco. I hope you now know the best time to visit Fes and can plan a perfect trip to this epic city.

After all, Fes is well worth visiting and you’ll have an amazing time if you visit at the right time of year. Also, if you found this post useful, be sure to join our email list and Facebook group for even more awesome Morocco travel advice.

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