Essentials
- City
- Fes (Fès), Fès-Meknès, Morocco
- Population
- 1,150,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 45 Mbps (Fiber optic available in Ville Nouvelle; 4G/5G is reliable)
- Currency & Banking
- Moroccan Dirham (MAD). 1 USD ≈ 10.10 MAD, 1 EUR ≈ 10.95 MAD
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use bottled water (Sidi Ali or Ain Saiss)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Maroc Telecom (best coverage), Orange, or Inwi. ~100 MAD for 10GB
- Banking for Expats
- Attijariwafa Bank, BMCE Bank. Revolut works for withdrawals but charges fee
- Accommodation
- Traditional Riads in the Medina or modern apartments in Ville Nouvelle
- Cashless Friendly
- Low. Cash is king in the Medina; cards only in high-end hotels and supermarkets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (Search for 'Riad' for authentic stays)
- Budget Accommodation
- Medina Social Club (~150 MAD/night), Funky Fes Hostel
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Fes el Bali (The Old Medina), specifically near Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ville Nouvelle (French Quarter) for stable internet and modern amenities
Business
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 10,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 800,000 MAD / $79,000 USD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 480,000 MAD / $47,000 USD)
- Corporate Tax
- Progressive rates: 10% to 31% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Territorial and Worldwide (Residents taxed on global income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 38% for income over 180,000 MAD
- VAT
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited; mostly targeted at Casablanca Finance City (CFC) status firms
- Property Tax
- Taxe d'Habitation (Residents) and Taxe de Services Communaux
- Property Transaction Tax
- Registration fee 4% + Notary fees and land registry (~6-7% total)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but 'Auto-Entrepreneur' status offers low tax (1-2%) for small services
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000 MAD / $47,000 USD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 280,000 MAD / $27,500 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,000 MAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 660,000 MAD / $65,000 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,500 MAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 390,000 MAD / $38,500 USD)
Other Services and Amenities
- Table Tennis Spots
- Club de Tennis de Fès (often has varied facilities)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex, DHL, and Chronopost (located in Ville Nouvelle)
- Tech Repair Services
- Avenue Hassan II has numerous smartphone and laptop repair stalls
- Language Classes
- ALIF (Arabic Language Institute in Fez) for Darija or Modern Standard Arabic
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Qarawiyyin Library (limited access), ALIF Library
- Community Centers
- French Institute of Morocco (Institut Français de Fès)
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Cafes in Ville Nouvelle/Al-Atlas area
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not permitted in the city (nearest in Tangier or Marrakesh)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Café Clock (cross-cultural hub) or Bridges (Ville Nouvelle)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Fès et Gestes (Garden setting, quiet), Coffee Shop Company (Ville Nouvelle)
- Networking Events
- ALIF Riad (American Language Institute) events and Mediterranean cultural talks
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Fes Facebook Group, Friday couscous gatherings at local Riads
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Careem. Use 'Petit Taxi' (Red cars, insist on meter) or InDrive
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not recommended in the Medina (walking only). Morocco Bike Tours for regional trips
- Best Beach Nearby
- Moulay Bousselham (approx. 3 hours drive to the Atlantic coast)
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Air Maroc (RAM)
- Top International Airline
- Air Arabia, Ryanair (Low cost hub at Fès–Saïss Airport)
- Highway Access
- A2 Expressway connecting Fes to Rabat and Casablanca
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Fès (Ville Nouvelle) for ONCF trains to Tanger or Marrakesh
- Public Transport Passes
- No digital passes; City Bus Fes (approx. 4 MAD per trip, pay cash)
- Regional Travel
- CTM Bus or Supratours for reliable long-distance travel
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Clinique Al Ghassani or CHU Hassan II (University Hospital)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga sessions at Riad Anata or Palais Amani
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- City Foot Fitness, Moving Fes (High-end facility in Ville Nouvelle)
- Laundry Services
- Pressing & Blanchisserie (Found throughout Ville Nouvelle, ~20 MAD per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo (widely used in Ville Nouvelle)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bastilla (Pigeon or Chicken pie) and Fassi Lamb Tagine
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Veggie-friendly tagines at The Ruined Garden or Veggie-Bar
- Best Dessert Spots
- Patisserie Rabat (Ville Nouvelle) for Moroccan almond pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Carrefour Market (Borj Fes Mall) or the Souks for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia.ma (The Amazon of Morocco)
- Grocery Delivery
- Glovo (Supermarket section)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Mezzanine (Medina) or hotel bars like Le Golden Fès
- Local Brewery
- Casablanca Beer (Found in licensed hotel bars, e.g., Hotel Sahrai)
- Wine Bars
- Le Quai (Ville Nouvelle) or L'Alcazar at Palais Faraj
- Street Food Stalls
- Souk el Henna for Maakouda (potato cakes) and fresh orange juice
- Popular International Cuisine
- Maison Blanche (French fine dining) or L'Italien by Hotel Sahrai
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Chouara Tannery, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Bab Boujloud
- Museums & Art Venues
- Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
- Historical Sites
- Marinid Tombs (best sunset view), Borj Nord
- Religious Sites
- University of al-Qarawiyyin (oldest in the world), Moulay Idriss II Shrine
- Annual Events
- Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (June)
- Cultural Districts
- Fes el Bali (Ancient), Fes el Jdid (The Jewish Quarter/Mellah)
- Theater Venues
- Complexe Culturel Al Houria
- Local Markets
- Souk Attarine (Spices), Souk Mejrane
- Music Scene
- Sufi chanting at local Zawiyas and Gnaoua performances at Cafe Clock
- Street Art
- Intricate Zellige tilework and geometric carvings throughout the Medina
- Cooking Classes
- Café Clock Cooking School or Palais Amani Workshop
- Art Galleries
- Culture Vultures (Medina-based residency and gallery)
- Historic Buildings
- Dar el-Makhzen (Royal Palace of Fes)
- Local Heritage
- Traditional leather tanning and brass hammered handicraft
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Jnan Sbil Gardens (The Bou Jeloud Gardens)
- National Parks Nearby
- Ifrane National Park (The 'Little Switzerland' of Morocco, 1 hour away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 15km loop around the Medina walls (Hike to Marinid Tombs)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Terrace of the Marinid Tombs or Hotel Sahrai rooftop
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sidi Hrazem oasis outskirts
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- None in the city; possible in organized desert camps in Merzouga (7h drive)