City in Fez-Meknes, Morocco
Is Fes safe?
Safe from serious crime, but fake guides, pickpockets and tannery scams are everywhere.
Is Fes safe?
Safe from serious crime, but fake guides, pickpockets and tannery scams are everywhere. The medina's maze makes you easy to lose and hard to leave.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-04-20.
- Homicide rate in Morocco: 1.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Morocco: 17.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 190 · Ambulance 150 · Fire 150.
Safety in Fes at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and bag snatching in the medina and at Bab Boujloud, and motorbike thefts; confrontations over guide fees are common. |
| At night | The medina quiets after about 9 pm. Take a taxi from Bab Boujloud, or a riad escort, rather than walking the lanes. |
| Solo women | Staring and hissing are common in the medina; dress modestly and stay on busy lanes. Ville Nouvelle is easier. Hire a licensed guide for the first day. |
| Other risks | Uneven stone steps and steep medina lanes; Cold, wet winters; Heat above 40°C in summer |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake guides saying the street is closed, then leading you to tanneries
- Tannery 'free' visit then pressure to buy leather
- Taxis refusing the meter or quoting 100+ MAD
- Hotel or riad touts at the train station
Take care
- Medina side lanes after dark: poor lighting and thefts
- Tannery guides: agree prices up front
- Unlicensed 'taxi' drivers at the airport and station
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Cannabis is illegal for visitors despite open use in the Rif; sentences are long.
- Drinking alcohol in the street or anywhere outside licensed venues can lead to arrest.
- Unmarried Moroccan–foreign couples can be refused a shared hotel room; sex outside marriage is illegal for Moroccans.
How Fes compares in Morocco
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Chefchaouen | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Essaouira | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Agadir | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Taghazout | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Merzouga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rabat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ouarzazate | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Imlil | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Meknes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Asilah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marrakech | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Fes | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Casablanca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tangier | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Fes safe for solo female travelers?
Staring and hissing are common in the medina; dress modestly and stay on busy lanes. Ville Nouvelle is easier. Hire a licensed guide for the first day.
Is Fes safe at night?
The medina quiets after about 9 pm. Take a taxi from Bab Boujloud, or a riad escort, rather than walking the lanes.
What is the crime rate in Fes?
Pickpocketing and bag snatching in the medina and at Bab Boujloud, and motorbike thefts; confrontations over guide fees are common. Nationally, Morocco records 1.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Fes?
Police 190 · Ambulance 150 · Fire 150.
More about Fes
Going to Fes solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- ONCF (Moroccan railways)
- CTM
- ONDA Moroccan airports
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.