Best Day Trips from Fes (with Drive Times)

The short answer: The two best day trips from Fes are Chefchaouen, the blue town in the Rif mountains, and Volubilis with Moulay Idriss and Meknes, Roman ruins plus an imperial city in one day. If you want nature and cooler air, go to Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest.

Drive times from Fes

Times are approximate, without stops.

1. Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen's blue-washed lanes are one of Morocco's most photographed places. It is a long day from Fes (7–8 hours of driving in total), but you get four to five hours in town, enough for the medina, the kasbah and the viewpoint at the Spanish Mosque. Read our Chefchaouen guide and how to get from Fes to Chefchaouen.

2. Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes

Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with floor mosaics still in place and a triumphal arch on a green plain. Next door, Moulay Idriss is a holy town on two hills. In the afternoon, Meknes shows the monumental gate of Bab Mansour and the vast royal granaries of Sultan Moulay Ismail. See our Volubilis guide and Meknes guide.

3. Ifrane and the cedar forest

Ifrane, with its Alpine-style houses, is often called the "Switzerland of Morocco". Nearby, the cedar forest of Azrou is home to Barbary macaques. It is a relaxing half or full day, especially in summer heat. See our Ifrane and Middle Atlas guide.

How to choose

• One day only: Chefchaouen if photos matter most, Volubilis and Meknes if history matters most.
• Travelling with children: Ifrane and the macaques.
• Continuing north afterwards: stay a night in Chefchaouen instead of returning the same day.

Local tips

• Chefchaouen: leave Fes by 7:30 to enjoy the medina before the afternoon crowds and be back by evening.
• Volubilis: there is little shade on the site; bring a hat and water, and hire an official guide at the entrance to understand the mosaics.
• Moulay Idriss: the shrine of Moulay Idriss is closed to non-Muslims, but the town and its viewpoints are open to all.
• Ifrane: it is much cooler than Fes, even in summer; bring a jacket in winter.

Combining day trips into a route

If you are not returning to Fes, these places fit naturally into a longer trip: Chefchaouen on the way from Tangier, Volubilis and Meknes between Rabat and Fes, and Ifrane on the way from Fes to the Sahara. Our 3-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech passes Ifrane and the cedar forest.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Chefchaouen day trip from Fes too long?

It is long but worth it with a private driver who leaves early. If you can, stay one night.

Can I visit Volubilis and Meknes in one day?

Yes, it is the classic combination and an easy day.

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