A Fes airport private transfer is a pre-booked car and licensed driver from Fes–Saïss Airport (FEZ), which ONDA places about 12 km south of the city, to your hotel door or the gate of the old medina nearest your riad. The drive is short; the part that needs planning is the walk through the lanes of Fes el-Bali. It suits medina stays, late flights, families with luggage and travelers heading straight on to Meknes, Chefchaouen or the Sahara.
Highlights
- A short ride in. The airport sits on the Saïss plain, about 12 km south of Fes, according to ONDA, so the city is close by Moroccan airport standards.
- The medina gate. Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, is a web of steep, narrow lanes no car can enter. The drive ends at a gate, or bab, and a riad porter usually wheels your bags to the door.
- Hotels by car. Hotels on the edge of the medina and in the Ville Nouvelle can usually be reached right to the entrance.
- A licensed vehicle. Road tourist transport is a licensed activity in Morocco, and operators need an approval to run tourist vehicles.
- Onward from arrivals. The same pickup can head to Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen or the long road south to the dunes.
The route
The transfer starts in the arrivals hall, after passport control, baggage claim and customs; how you find your driver is set out in the pickup details below. From the airport, the road runs north across the plain to the city.
| From the airport or Fes to | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Fes city | About 12 km from the airport | A short drive, traffic permitting |
| Meknes | About 60 km from Fes | About 1 hour |
| Volubilis | About 70 km from Fes | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Chefchaouen | About 200 km from Fes | 3.5–4 hours |
| Merzouga, via Ifrane and Midelt | About 450–480 km from Fes | 7–9 hours |
In the city, the drop-off depends on where you sleep. Your riad names the gate that serves it; Bab Boujloud, the tiled gate at the western end of Fes el-Bali, is the best known of several. For a riad deep inside the walls, the porter's walk from the gate is part of every arrival and departure.
Good to know
- Send two details. Your flight number and your riad's name, so the drive aims for the right gate.
- Land in daylight if you can. The lanes are easier to read by day, and the walk from the gate feels shorter.
- Ignore offers at the gate. UK advice warns that people posing as guides often harass visitors, so wait for your riad's porter or your driver.
- Check your entry stamp. UK advice notes problems for travelers leaving Morocco without one, and damaged passports have been refused.
- Plan for cash. The dirham is a closed currency, so most visitors take out money after landing.
- Leave time on the way out. Walking bags back to the gate takes longer than you expect, so book the return with a generous margin.
Who it's for
The transfer suits anyone staying in a riad inside Fes el-Bali, where meeting the right porter at the right gate matters more than the short drive. It suits late arrivals, families with young children and travelers with plenty of luggage, who would rather not hunt for a riad in unmarked lanes after a flight.
It also suits travelers who land in Fes and leave the same day for somewhere else: Meknes and Volubilis to the west, Chefchaouen to the north, or the start of a desert route to the south.
Price and booking
Prices change with the season, the size of your group and the vehicle, so we don't print them here. See today's price, what's included and the pickup details for your date on our airport transfers page, where you can book this route in a few steps.
Book the return to the airport at the same time, and tell us if the arrival should continue straight to another town.
Pick your date to see today's price, what's included and the pickup details.
See all our private transfers in Morocco and the Fes destination guide. Once you are settled, explore the medina on our Fes private day tour, spend a day at the Roman ruins on the Meknes and Volubilis day trip, or cross to the dunes on our Fes to Marrakech desert tour.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Fes airport from the medina?
ONDA places Fes–Saïss Airport about 12 km south of the city, so the drive is short. The time depends on traffic and on which gate your riad uses. Add the walk from the gate to your door, which a riad porter usually helps with.
Can a car drive to my riad in Fes?
Usually not. The lanes of Fes el-Bali are too narrow and steep for cars, so the drive ends at a gate in the walls, and you continue on foot with a porter and a handcart. Hotels on the edge of the medina and in the Ville Nouvelle can be reached by car.
What is Fes–Saïss Airport?
It is the airport for Fes, named after the Saïss plain south of the city where it stands. Its code, FEZ, is the one on your ticket and baggage tags. Routes change from season to season, so check which airlines serve it from your city.
Can I go straight from the airport to Chefchaouen?
Yes. Chefchaouen is about 200 km from Fes, or 3.5 to 4 hours by road, so a direct transfer from arrivals works, especially after a morning landing. Aim to arrive in daylight, because the car stops at the edge of the old town.
Should I book the return transfer as well?
It makes departure day simpler. Your riad's porter usually walks your bags back out to the gate, and a booked car waiting there spares you a search for a taxi with luggage. Book both legs together, and check your airline's check-in time before you set the pickup.