This list focuses on accessible activities that do not require advanced planning or special access. Some cost money. Others are free. All of them help you engage with Fes beyond surface level sightseeing. Before you start planning your days make sure you have a solid sense of where to stay and how to navigate safely by checking out my complete solo travel guide to Fes which covers neighborhoods, safety tips and cultural context.
Join A Guided Walking Tour Of The Medina
A walking tour on your first or second day builds confidence fast. You learn how the medina is organized, where major landmarks sit and how to read visual cues that help with navigation later. Most tours last three to four hours and cover the main souks, madrasas and a tannery viewpoint. Your guide explains history, points out details you would miss alone and answers practical questions about money, taxis and food.
Solo travelers benefit from the natural social aspect of group tours. You meet other visitors without the pressure of planning together afterward. If you connect with someone you can suggest tea or dinner. If not you part ways at the end with no awkwardness. Look for small group tours with good reviews rather than huge bus operations. Private tours cost more but give you control over pace and focus areas. I usually book through my riad or a platform like GetYourGuide the day before.
Take A Moroccan Cooking Class
Cooking classes in Fes typically start with a morning trip to the souk to buy vegetables, spices and meat. You walk with the host through narrow market lanes while they explain ingredients and bargaining culture. Then you return to their home or a cooking space to prepare tagine, couscous, pastilla or Moroccan salads. The process takes three to four hours and ends with eating what you made.
This experience works beautifully for solo travelers. You stay busy with tasks so conversation flows naturally without forced small talk. Many classes attract other solo visitors which creates an easy environment to share stories. Hosts are usually women who enjoy teaching and take pride in their family recipes. You leave with skills you can recreate at home and a deeper appreciation for the labor behind Moroccan meals. Book at least a day in advance. Prices range from around thirty to sixty dollars depending on group size and what you cook.
Visit A Traditional Hammam
The hammam experience intimidates many first time solo travelers but it is one of the most memorable things you can do in Fes. Traditional public hammams are gender separated communal spaces where locals go to deep clean and relax. You sit in a hot steam room, scrub with black soap and rough mitts then rinse with buckets of water. Some hammams offer massage services as an add on.
Going alone actually makes it easier. You do not have to coordinate with anyone and you can take as much or as little time as you want. If you feel nervous about the process book a private hammam session at your riad first. Staff walk you through each step and you have the space to yourself. Once you understand the routine you can try a neighborhood hammam for a more authentic cheaper experience. Bring flip flops, a change of underwear and a towel. Most places provide soap and mitts for a small fee. The whole process leaves your skin incredibly soft and your body deeply relaxed.
Explore The Artisan Workshops
Fes is famous for traditional crafts that have barely changed in centuries. Leather working, ceramic painting, woodcarving, weaving and metal work all happen in small workshops scattered through the medina. Many artisans welcome visitors who show genuine interest. You can watch them work, ask questions and sometimes try a technique yourself.
Wandering solo makes it easier to stop wherever something catches your attention without feeling like you are holding anyone back. I have spent an hour watching a man carve geometric patterns into cedar wood just because I was curious and he enjoyed explaining his process. If you want something more structured some workshops offer short classes where you paint a ceramic plate or learn basic leather stitching. These sessions cost around twenty to forty dollars and give you a handmade souvenir with personal meaning. Ask your riad host for recommendations or just follow your instincts when you see an open door and interesting sounds inside.
Spend Time In Rooftop Cafés
Rooftop cafés are essential survival tools for solo travelers in Fes. The medina can feel overwhelming after a few hours of walking through tight alleys and constant sensory input. Climbing to a rooftop gives you physical and mental space. You see the city from above which makes the chaos below feel more manageable. You rest your feet, drink mint tea or fresh orange juice and watch life unfold without being in the middle of it.
These cafés also serve as natural meeting points. Other solo travelers gravitate toward the same spots. I have had countless spontaneous conversations over tea that led to shared dinners or day trip recommendations. You can also just sit alone with a book or journal without anyone bothering you. The best rooftop cafés sit near Bab Boujloud, around Place Seffarine and near the tanneries. Prices are low. A pot of tea costs less than two dollars and you can stay as long as you want.
Visit The Nejjarine Museum And Fondouk
The Nejjarine Museum sits in a restored caravanserai and focuses on traditional Moroccan woodworking. The building itself is more impressive than the collection. You climb through multiple levels around a central courtyard, each floor displaying tools, furniture and architectural elements. The rooftop café offers one of the best views in the medina.
This museum works well for solo travelers because it is quiet and self paced. You do not need a guide. The layout encourages you to move at your own speed and linger where something interests you. The entry fee is small and the whole visit takes about an hour unless you stay longer at the café. It provides a calm cultural break between more intense experiences like the souks or tanneries.
Attend A Sufi Music Performance
Fes has a deep connection to Sufi spiritual traditions and music. Some cultural centers and riads host evening performances of traditional Andalusian or Sufi music. These events usually last one to two hours and feature live instruments like the oud, qanun and percussion. The atmosphere is intimate and meditative rather than loud or party focused.
Going alone to a music performance never feels strange. The focus is on the music not on social interaction. You can close your eyes and let the sound wash over you or watch the musicians and appreciate their skill. Some performances include tea and pastries. Prices vary but expect to pay around fifteen to thirty dollars. Ask your riad if they know of any upcoming shows or check with cultural centers like Dar Batha or specific riads that regularly host events.
Wander The Jewish Quarter And Cemetery
The Mellah offers a different pace and architectural style compared to the main medina. Streets are wider. Buildings have wooden balconies. The mood feels quieter and more residential. Walking through this neighborhood alone gives you space to reflect on the layered history of Fes and the communities that shaped it over centuries.
The Jewish cemetery on the edge of the Mellah is open to visitors. It is a peaceful place with white painted tombs and old trees. You might be the only person there aside from the caretaker. Bringing a small tip for the caretaker is customary. The Ibn Danan Synagogue nearby is also worth a short visit. This whole area takes about an hour to explore at a relaxed pace. It offers a contemplative break from the busier parts of the city.
Try Street Food In The Evening
Fes comes alive at night around certain food areas especially near Bab Boujloud and in the Ville Nouvelle. Street vendors set up grills and sell kebabs, merguez sausages, fried fish, snail soup and Moroccan sweets. The smell draws you in from blocks away. Eating street food solo in Fes feels comfortable because these spots are busy, well lit and family friendly.
Stand at a grill, point to what you want and watch them cook it fresh. You eat standing or sitting on a low wall with other people doing the same thing. Conversation happens naturally if you are open to it or you can just focus on your food. Prices are incredibly low. A full meal costs under five dollars. Trying different vendors over several nights becomes a fun personal project. Just make sure the food is cooked fresh in front of you and avoid anything sitting out for long periods.
Take A Day Trip To Volubilis Or Chefchaouen
Day trips from Fes are easy to arrange and solo friendly. Most tours pick you up from your accommodation in the morning and return by evening. Volubilis offers Roman ruins with impressive mosaics set against rolling hills. Chefchaouen is the famous blue city in the Rif Mountains with a relaxed vibe and endless photo opportunities. Meknes combines history with a less intense medina experience.
Joining an organized tour takes pressure off logistics. You share transport with other travelers which often includes other solo visitors. The structure provides natural conversation opportunities during drives and lunch breaks without requiring you to stay together the whole time. If you prefer total independence you can arrange private transport or use trains and buses but it costs about the same and takes more energy. I recommend booking day trips through your riad or a reliable platform the day before you want to go.
Visit Borj Nord For Panoramic Views
Borj Nord is a sixteenth century fortress on a hill north of the medina. It now houses a weapons museum that is mildly interesting but the real reason to visit is the view. From the fortress walls you see the entire medina spread below with minarets, rooftops and the surrounding hills. It helps you understand the scale and layout of the city in a way you cannot grasp from inside the narrow streets.
The trip up takes about fifteen minutes by taxi from Bab Boujloud. Entry is cheap and the site rarely feels crowded. You can walk the ramparts, take photos and sit on the walls for as long as you want. Going late afternoon gives you good light and the chance to watch the city transition toward evening. This is a perfect solo activity because it requires no interaction and rewards quiet observation.
Shop For Spices And Souvenirs At Your Own Pace
Shopping alone in the Fes souks gives you total control over time and decisions. You can spend an hour comparing pottery styles without anyone getting impatient. You can walk away from aggressive sellers without feeling like you are dragging a companion through awkward moments. You can buy something weird just because you like it without justifying the choice.
Focus on the Attarine Souk for spices, oils and traditional cosmetics. The henna souk offers pottery, baskets and natural dyes. Leather goods cluster around the tanneries. Set a rough budget before you start and remember that bargaining is expected. Offering half the first price and negotiating from there is normal. If you do not enjoy haggling just smile and walk away. There is always another shop. Solo shopping in Fes can be tiring but it also feels empowering once you get comfortable with the rhythm.
Final Thoughts
The best solo experiences in Fes mix structure with flexibility. Guided tours, cooking classes and day trips provide frameworks that make connection easy. Rooftop cafés, hammams and quiet museums give you space to recharge. Street food and artisan workshops reward curiosity and spontaneous decisions. Together these activities create a trip that feels full without being exhausting. Once you have your accommodation sorted and you know what you want to do each day you might want to think about practical details like what to pack and how to dress appropriately by reading my guide on what to wear and pack for Fes as a solo traveler which covers seasonal clothing, footwear and essential gear for navigating the medina comfortably.
