Getting Married in Fez
The medieval medina of Fez, a walled and pedestrian UNESCO city. Fez el-Bali, the old medina, is the most intact medieval city in the Arab world. Founded in the ninth century, it holds the Al-Qarawiyyin University, established in 859 and the oldest continuously operating university in the world, the Chouara tannery and the Bou Inania Madrasa. UNESCO listed it in 1981. It suits couples who want a setting with real historical weight rather than constructed heritage.
The medieval medina of Fez, a walled and pedestrian UNESCO city
The riad wedding is the natural format: a private courtyard house inside the medina, hired exclusively. The riads are small, so Fez suits intimate weddings where the setting and the food matter most.
The pedestrian medina must be explained to guests clearly. No wheeled vehicles enter, luggage moves by mule, and the alleys are narrow enough to touch both walls. This is the experience rather than an inconvenience, and the step from a cramped lane into a courtyard with a fountain and orange trees is the most striking change of space in the city.
Where to Get Married in Fez
Fez el-Bali (old medina)
The UNESCO-listed old city in a river valley, enclosed by walls. The older western section holds the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque, the Andalusian quarter, the tanneries and most of the better riads. Riads are found by neighbourhood and turns from the nearest gate, not by street number.
Fez el-Jedid (new medina)
The fourteenth-century Marinid extension, with the Mellah, the Jewish quarter, and the Royal Palace. It is less visited than Fez el-Bali and equally historic.
Merinid Tombs viewpoint
The ruined tombs on the ridge above the northern wall give the broadest view over Fez el-Bali, at its best at dawn and dusk.
Ville Nouvelle (new city)
The city of the French Protectorate period, with wide boulevards, modern hotels and the train station.
When to marry, and what to arrange
The season
When to Get Married
Fez is an inland city at 410 metres. In June to August indoor riad events stay comfortable while outdoor activity is hot. January and February are cool and quiet, with soft light, a legitimate off-peak choice. October is widely seen as the best month for temperature, light and the pace of the city.
Recommended wedding months
March, April, May, September, October, November
Peak season is April, October, and the shoulder months are February, March.
Settings, travel and stays
Choosing a Setting
Exclusive riad hire. The defining wedding format in Fez. A riad hired exclusively provides rooms, ceremony courtyard, reception spaces and kitchen in one historic building.
Rooftop terrace ceremony. Several riads have roof terraces over the minarets of the medina. Rooftop ceremonies work from September to May in the cooler part of the day.
Hammam and courtyard sequence. A pre-wedding hammam for the bridal party followed by a courtyard dinner is among the most requested formats for small Fez weddings.
Palais-scale events. The largest events Fez can hold are in a converted palace with a terrace. Above that size Fez is the wrong choice, because the medina makes logistics complex.
Getting There
Fez-Saiss Airport has direct UK connections, and Casablanca Mohammed V Airport links to Fez by a comfortable train.
Fez-Saiss Airport (FEZ). Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted and Manchester on a seasonal schedule. Frequency is lower than Marrakech, so flights should be checked far ahead. On other days, routing via Casablanca and the train is straightforward.
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN). Royal Air Maroc flies from London Heathrow and Manchester. The ONCF train to Fez runs several times a day with catering. It suits guests who prefer a reliable flight schedule to the direct Fez option.
Where Guests Stay
Accommodation in the medina is riad-format only. There are no large hotels inside the walls, and overflow sits in the Ville Nouvelle.
Established riad. The most established upmarket property in the heart of Fez el-Bali, with a hammam, rooftop terrace and courtyard. It can be hired exclusively.
Converted palace riad. A converted palace with the strongest food and beverage operation among the riads, and terrace and courtyard event spaces.
Small chef-led riad. The smallest of the three principal riads, known for its kitchen, which cooks Moroccan food from its own vegetable garden. It suits intimate events built around the dinner.
Ville Nouvelle overflow. Not immersive, but practical for guests who need standard hotel infrastructure.
Good to know
Food and Drink
Fez is widely regarded as the culinary capital of Morocco, more technically complex than Marrakech, with dishes such as bastilla and rfissa that take days to prepare.
Bastilla. The most technically demanding dish in Moroccan cooking and the defining Fez wedding dish. Warqa pastry encloses braised pigeon, egg, almonds and onion. A seafood version suits guests who do not eat game.
Harira. A soup of tomato, lentils, chickpeas, lamb and herbs, served at Iftar and as a wedding first course. Kitchens begin it the day before.
Fez-style lamb with preserved lemon. Lamb braised slowly with lemons preserved in-house, a dish that shows how serious a kitchen is.
Good to Know
Entirely pedestrian medina. No wheeled vehicles enter Fez el-Bali, and luggage goes by mule. Guests walk to the riad from the nearest gate, led by the riad's guide, and those with limited mobility should be told before booking.
Guiding and navigation. Unsolicited guides at the gates tend to steer visitors to carpet shops. Riad staff supply trusted guides, and a guided walk for all wedding guests is strongly advised.
Modest dress. Fez el-Bali is a conservative religious city. Covered shoulders and knees are expected in the streets, while normal event wear applies inside the riad.
Tanneries, legal ceremony and alcohol. The Chouara tannery is seen from leather shop terraces, and photography there needs a local guide. UK couples marry legally at home, and a Moroccan Adoul performs the blessing. Licensed riads serve alcohol, while medina restaurants outside them are generally unlicensed.
Visas and Entry
Entry rules for Morocco depend on the passport held. Requirements and permitted length of stay are set by the destination's government and can change. Current guidance is on the Moroccan government's website and on the traveller's own government's travel pages.
Marrying Legally
The legal marriage and the celebration are separate. Ask your venue or planner what the town hall requires for the place where you plan to marry.
Planners, photographers, florists and musicians who work in Fez
How do guests find their riad in the medina?
Riads run a meet-at-the-gate service, with staff meeting guests at Bab Boujloud or the nearest accessible gate. The guest notes should name the gate, give a messaging contact and say not to follow unsolicited guides.
Is a legal marriage possible in Fez?
It is possible but slow, with an application to the Tribunal de Première Instance, apostilled documents and local presence over several weeks. For UK couples the practical route is a legal marriage at home and a symbolic ceremony in Fez.
Is Fez suitable for guests with limited mobility?
Not for those with significant limits. The streets are cobbled, uneven and stepped, and few routes from the gates suit a wheelchair. Such guests are better placed in the Ville Nouvelle.
How does Fez compare with Marrakech as a wedding destination?
Fez is quieter, less geared to tourists and more historically concentrated. It suits couples who value depth and intimacy, at the cost of simpler logistics and maximum guest comfort. Marrakech serves scale and Fez serves depth.
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How We Compiled This Guide
This guide draws on the venues' own published details, official sources and the knowledge of our editors. Entry and legal information can change, so confirm it with the authority that will marry you before you book.