Visiting Fez, Meknes and Volubilis by Car: Advice and Itineraries
Spiritual and cultural capital of the kingdom, Fez holds the largest car-free medina in the Arab world. Its thousands of lanes can only be walked, but a car becomes essential the moment you want to reach the neighbouring imperial city of Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Here is how to plan your drives and your parking.
Contents
Arriving in Fez and getting on the road
Where to park around the Fez el-Bali medina
The royal day out: Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Which car to rent for the Fez region
Arriving in Fez and getting on the road
Fez Saiss international airport sits around fifteen kilometres south of the city centre. Renting a vehicle through Loccor spares you the often insistent haggling with the grands taxis outside the terminal.
The road into the Ville Nouvelle is straight, well lit and free-flowing. Driving in the Ville Nouvelle presents no real difficulty: wide boulevards, traffic lights that are respected and managed roundabouts. Fez does, however, have one of the smallest fleets in the Loccor catalogue, so book early, especially in spring and autumn.
Where to park around the Fez el-Bali medina
This is the absolute golden rule: under no circumstances try to drive into the historic medina. The lanes are narrow and completely impassable for vehicles.
To visit in peace, leave the car in one of the large guarded car parks outside the medina gates, notably near Bab Boujloud, the Blue Gate, or Bab Rcif. Parking is paid by the day, under the eye of attendants, for a few dozen dirhams. You then collect your luggage and walk to your riad.
The royal day out: Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
It is on this one-day loop that a rental car really proves its worth. Leaving Fez in the morning, you reach Meknes in under an hour, some sixty kilometres away, to admire the enormous Bab Mansour gate and the monumental granaries of Sultan Moulay Ismail.
From Meknes, take the road north through olive-covered hills to the archaeological site of Volubilis, about 70 kilometres from Fez. Its remarkably preserved Roman mosaics and its triumphal arch facing the Saiss plain make for an unforgettable stop. Finish with the hilltop village of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun before heading back to Fez at sunset.
Worth noting: Loccor does not yet list vehicles in Meknes. This loop therefore starts from Fez, which in any case remains the most practical base for a single day.
Which car to rent for the Fez region
The road network linking Fez, Meknes and the historic sites is fully paved and well maintained. An economy city car is more than enough for this programme.
If you want to push on into the Middle Atlas towards Ifrane, Azrou and its cedar forest, a compact with a slightly livelier engine will make the altitude climbs noticeably more pleasant.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking by the Fez medina gates safe at night?
Yes, the car parks right beside the historic gates are watched around the clock by attendants. Just make sure you leave no luggage or valuables visible inside the car.
How long does it take to drive from Fez to Volubilis?
Allow roughly 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min for the sixty or so kilometres, either on the national road via Meknes or on the direct route through the Saiss hills.
Can you drive from Fez to the Merzouga desert?
Yes, that is the classic Middle Atlas route via Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz gorges. It is a long day's driving, so plan an overnight stop rather than doing it in one go.
Further reading
economy cars for hire in Morocco
the compacts available for the Middle Atlas
read the complete guide to renting a car in Morocco
Written by the Loccor editorial team, the platform connecting travellers with car rental agencies in Morocco.