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Fes vs Meknes: Two Imperial Cities, One Itinerary Decision

Destination comparison · Imperial cities

Fes vs Meknes: Two Imperial Cities, One Itinerary Decision

Fes and Meknes are only 60 km apart and both carry UNESCO World Heritage status as imperial capitals — yet Meknes sees a fraction of Fes's visitors and rewards those who stop.

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Sixty kilometres separate Fes and Meknes on the Moroccan plains, but in terms of tourist traffic they occupy different planets. Fes receives roughly four million visitors a year; Meknes, once the 17th-century capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail who dreamed of rivalling Versailles, receives perhaps a tenth of that. Both carry UNESCO classification (Meknes since 1996), both have sprawling medinas, grand medersa and monuments of Alaouite grandeur — but Meknes lets you experience all of it without the tourist pressure. The city's Bab Mansour gate is arguably the finest monumental gateway in Morocco, and its granaries (the Heri es-Souani), designed to feed 12,000 horses, are a feat of hydraulic engineering that still inspires architects today.

Option A

Fes

The world's oldest and largest living medieval city

Best for

History enthusiasts, first-timers to imperial cities, architecture lovers

Full guide

Option B

Meknes

The forgotten imperial capital — granaries, stables and vast Bab Mansour

Best for

Travellers seeking less-touristed Morocco; day-trippers from Fes

Full guide

Side-by-side breakdown

Fes vs Meknes

How the two stack up across the things that actually shape a trip — read down each column, or across each row.

FesMeknes
Fes compared with Meknes
Tourist pressureFesHigh — 4 million visitors/year; souk guides and touts persistentMeknesLow — one of Morocco's most under-visited imperial cities
Medina scaleFesEnormous — Fes el-Bali has 9,000 lanes; days to explore fullyMeknesManageable — smaller medina walkable without a guide in 3–4 hours
Iconic monumentFesChouara tannery; Bou Inania Medersa; Al-Qarawiyyin (world's oldest university)MeknesBab Mansour gate; Heri es-Souani granaries; Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
AccommodationFesWide range: medina riads, boutique hotels, international chainsMeknesFew luxury options; mostly mid-range riads and hotels — often better value
Day trip from one to otherFesMeknes is 60 km / 1 hour from Fes — an easy day tripMeknesFes is 60 km from Meknes — ideal as a base for a day in Fes
Volubilis accessFes30 km from Fes; easily combined with a Meknes day tripMeknesVolubilis Roman ruins are only 30 km from Meknes — the natural pairing
CuisineFesFassi cuisine is Morocco's most refined — bastilla, seffa, mrouziaMeknesLocal meknassi dishes include briouat (pastry cigars) and mechoui (whole roast lamb)
AirportFesFes–Saïss Airport (FEZ): several European direct routesMeknesNo dedicated airport; uses Fes (FEZ) 60 km away or Casablanca (CMN) 200 km

Our verdict

Which should you choose?

Do not choose between them — do both. Fes deserves three to four nights as your base; a day trip to Meknes and Volubilis is one of the best day excursions in Morocco. If forced to choose, Fes offers more depth and a greater range of accommodation. But if you have already visited Fes and are looking for a less-touristed imperial experience on a return trip, Meknes is the hidden gem of Moroccan cities.

Deep dives

Explore each destination in full.

Full destination guide

Fes

Full destination guide

Meknes

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

How far is Meknes from Fes?

Meknes is approximately 60 km from Fes — about 1 hour by car or a 45-minute train journey on the Casablanca–Fes line. Trains run frequently throughout the day.

Is Meknes worth visiting from Fes?

Absolutely. Meknes is arguably Morocco's most underrated imperial city. Its Bab Mansour gate, the Heri es-Souani granaries and the medina can be covered in a full day trip from Fes, and combining it with Volubilis (30 km north of Meknes) makes one of the best day excursions in the country.

What is Meknes famous for?

Meknes is famous for the monuments of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who ruled 1672–1727 and made it his imperial capital to rival Versailles. Key sights include Bab Mansour (one of the finest gates in the Islamic world), the Heri es-Souani granaries, the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, and the medina's Medersa Bou Inania (not to be confused with the Fes one).

Can I see Fes and Meknes in two days?

Two days is tight for Fes alone — four days is a better minimum. You can add Meknes and Volubilis as a combined day trip from Fes. Alternatively, base one night in Meknes to experience the city when day-trippers have left.

Is Meknes cheaper than Fes?

Yes, generally. Meknes has fewer tourist-facing businesses, which keeps riad and restaurant prices lower. Eating in Meknes's medina restaurants typically costs 30–50% less than equivalent venues in Fes.

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