Saïss Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Fès-Saïss airport is about 15 km south of the city, 15-20 minutes by taxi to the Ville Nouvelle and a few minutes more to reach Bab Boujloud, the gateway to the medina: with no direct train from the airport, the taxi remains the only option at any hour. The choice is between the Ville Nouvelle, with its international hotels and the railway station, and the medina of Fes el-Bali, reachable only on foot or by horse-drawn calèche from the last driveable alleys.

Ville Nouvelle

City centre · About 15 km and 15-20 minutes by taxi from the airport; another 5-10 minutes to get from here to Bab Boujloud, the gateway to the medina.

Best for: Those who want an international hotel with parking and easy access by car, with the railway station and connections to the rest of Morocco a few steps away.

Pros

Modern hotels with parking, handy for those arriving by car or with heavy luggage
Fès railway station a few minutes away, convenient for Meknès, Rabat or Casablanca

Cons

No historic monuments on foot: the medina remains 15-20 minutes away by taxi
An office district with modern avenues, little atmosphere compared with Fes el-Bali

Recommended hotels in this area

Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace: On Avenue Ahmed Chaouki, in the heart of the Ville Nouvelle 1.5 km from the centre and about 15 minutes from the airport: the benchmark five-star for those who don't want to stay in the medina.
Ibis Fes: On Place de la Gare, 3 minutes on foot from the railway station: an affordable option for those arriving or leaving by train.

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Medina - Fes el-Bali

Neighbourhood · The taxi only reaches as far as Bab Boujloud or the perimeter car parks of the medina (about 20-25 minutes from the airport); the last stretch to the riad is on foot or with a porter, often by calèche for the luggage.

Best for: Those who want to sleep among the alleys of the medina, a few steps from Bab Boujloud and the Bou Inania Madrasa.

Pros

Bou Inania Madrasa, Bab Boujloud and the souks within a few minutes on foot
Riads with inner courtyards and panoramic rooftop terraces over the medina

Cons

No car can enter the alleys: luggage is carried on foot or by a porter
Finding your way around the medina is hard the first time, especially at night

Recommended hotels in this area

Algilà Fes Riad Medina Charme Hotel Spa: A few steps from the Bou Inania Madrasa and Bab Boujloud (the blue gate), with a spa and a panoramic terrace: among the best-reviewed riads in the medina.
105 Kasbah de Boujloud: A few minutes on foot from Bab Boujloud and the Bou Inania Madrasa: a 6-room apartment with a terrace, for groups or families who want to stay in the medina.

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