Fès makes an ideal base for three day trips that almost every visitor considers: Volubilis, the remains of a Roman city among olive groves; Meknès, the region's other imperial city; and Chefchaouen, the small blue town in the Rif mountains. The first two are relatively close to Fès and pair easily into a single day. The third is much further away, over a mountain road, and calls for a different approach.
One disclosure before we go further: getme sells none of these trips. In Fès, our only service is the transfer between Fès-Saïss airport and the city. This guide is purely informational and deliberately quotes no price for tours, entry, guides or transport to these sites: we have not checked them ourselves.
The essentials in 30 seconds
Volubilis and Meknès combine easily into one day from Fès, often with a stop at Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Chefchaouen, much further away, deserves a night on site. Getting there: group tour, private driver, public transport (train to Meknès, grand taxi, coach) or a rental car. For the record: getme sells none of these trips.
The three trips at a glance
Volubilis and Meknès are a natural pair, often rounded off with Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the small holy town perched opposite the ruins. Chefchaouen plays in a different league: further, more mountainous, and far more rewarding if you spend a night there.
| Volubilis | Meknès | Chefchaouen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Roman archaeological site, open-air | Imperial city: ramparts, monumental gates, medina | Small Rif town, blue-washed medina |
| Distance from Fès | Relatively close | Relatively close | Much further, mountain road |
| Suggested format | Half a day, usually with Meknès | Half a day to a full day, with Volubilis | A long day or, better, one night |
| Without a car | No station: grand taxi or driver, via Meknès or Moulay Idriss | Train or grand taxi from Fès | Long-distance coach or private driver |
Volubilis: a Roman city in open country
Volubilis is the remains of a Roman city set among olive groves at the foot of the Zerhoun massif. You walk between house foundations, columns, a triumphal arch and the basilica, and above all past mosaics still in place on the floors of several houses. The site is large, open-air and short on shade: the experience depends heavily on the time of day and on how you read it.
Without context, Volubilis is a handsome field of stones. With a guide or material prepared beforehand (a book, an annotated map, an app), the city comes back to life: where people lived, traded and bathed. If you hire a guide on site, check that they are licensed, then agree on the price and length of the visit before you start.
The right time slot
Aim for early morning or late afternoon, especially in the warmer months: the site offers almost no shade. Bring a hat, water and closed shoes, as the ground is uneven, between paving, gravel and grass.
Close by, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun clings to the hillside above the plain. It is a holy town and a major pilgrimage site: people come up for the view and the atmosphere, dressed with shoulders and knees covered. The shrine itself is open to Muslims only.
Meknès: the imperial city, calmer than Fès
Meknès is one of Morocco's imperial cities, alongside Fès, Marrakech and Rabat. Its emblem is Bab Mansour, a monumental gate decorated with zellige that towers over Place El Hedim, the lively heart of the old town. Further on, the old granaries and stables of Heri es-Souani give a sense of the ambitions of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made Meknès his capital.
Its medina is smaller and easier to navigate than the one in Fès, and its atmosphere is often described as more relaxed: a good counterpoint after a few days in the lanes of Fès el-Bali. Some monuments close periodically for restoration, so check locally, or with your riad, what is open on the day of your visit.
One decisive practical point: it is the only one of the three reachable by train from Fès, on the line that continues to Rabat and Casablanca. For timetables and fares, go straight to ONCF, the national rail operator.
Chefchaouen: the blue town deserves a night
Chefchaouen is a small mountain town in the Rif, north of Fès, known for its medina with walls washed in blue. You wander it without much of a plan: Outa el Hammam square and its kasbah, the stepped lanes, the Ras El Maa spring at the edge of town, then the viewpoint by the Spanish mosque, on the hill opposite, late in the day.
It is also, by far, the furthest of the three from Fès, along a winding mountain road. As a same-day round trip, you spend much of the day in the vehicle and arrive when the town is at its busiest. In the evening and early morning, the lanes empty and the light shifts: that is when Chefchaouen becomes what you came for. If you can, stay the night.
Mountain road
The road is all bends: if you are prone to motion sickness, bring whatever helps and sit in front. Pack a warm layer, as mountain evenings can be cool. And the blue lanes are lived-in streets: ask before photographing people or private doorways.
How to get there: four options
| Option | Strengths | Limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group tour (minibus) | Nothing to organise, often bookable through your riad or an agency | Fixed times, set stops, little free time | Solo travellers or couples who want to hand it all over |
| Private driver for the day | Leave when you want, choose the order and the stops | Priced per vehicle: less attractive alone, better shared | Families, groups of friends, anyone particular about pace |
| Train, grand taxi, coach | Full independence, no middleman | Connections, waiting, grand taxi fare to negotiate | Independent travellers comfortable with the unexpected |
| Rental car | Complete freedom, stop where you like | City driving, mountain roads, parking | Experienced drivers |
Private driver or private grand taxi: settle everything before leaving
This is the most flexible option for Volubilis and Meknès, but it rests entirely on what was agreed at the start. Settle five points, ideally in writing (a message is enough):
- The itinerary and the order of stops: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Meknès, or only some of them.
- The waiting time at each site.
- The total price for the vehicle, not per person, and what it covers: fuel, waiting, a guide, entry tickets or not.
- The meeting point: if your riad is inside the medina, it will be a driveable gate (bab), not your door.
- The time you get back to Fès, especially if you have a dinner or an evening train.
By public transport
For Meknès, the train from Fès is the simplest option. For Volubilis there is no station: you reach Meknès, then a shared grand taxi takes you to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and a taxi to the site. A shared grand taxi leaves once its seats are filled; you can also hire the whole vehicle. Either way, the fare is negotiated before you get in. For Chefchaouen, long-distance coaches link Fès to the town: book ahead in high season.
So where does getme fit in?
To say it again: getme sells no excursions from Fès and offers no driver by the day. For these trips, ask your riad, a local agency or a licensed guide.
Our only service in Fès is the ride between the airport and the city. At Fès-Saïss airport, expect about 200 dirhams by taxi to Fès (price observed by our drivers, October 2026), to be agreed before you get in. Our transfer costs €15 one-way and €27 round-trip, per vehicle and for up to 6 passengers, at a fixed price paid online, with flight tracking: the driver drops you at the bab closest to your riad, or at the door of your hotel in the Ville Nouvelle.
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Arrival and departure, sorted
Fès-Saïss airport ↔ Fès: €15 one-way, €27 round-trip, up to 6 passengers per vehicle, fixed price paid in advance, flight tracking.
Book my Fès transferThe classic mistakes
1. Doing Chefchaouen as a round trip by default
It is the furthest of the three, over a mountain road. Done in a day, it often boils down to a lot of driving and a town seen at its most crowded hour. The reflex: a night there, or a stop on the way north.
2. Leaving without an agreed total price and waiting time
With a driver or a private grand taxi, vagueness gets paid for on the way back: unplanned waiting, an “extra” stop, an entry ticket that was not included. The reflex: total price for the vehicle, waiting time at each site and a list of what is included, all agreed before you get in.
3. Giving the driver your riad's address
No car enters Fès el-Bali: a driver cannot pick you up at the door of a riad in the medina. The reflex: arrange to meet at a driveable gate (bab), such as Bab Boujloud, R'cif, Bab Ftouh or Bab Guissa depending on your area.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do Volubilis and Meknès on the same day from Fès?
Yes, it is actually the most common format. Both sites are relatively close to Fès and to each other: group tours and private drivers routinely combine them, often with a stop at Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Ideally start with Volubilis early in the morning, while the open-air site is still cool, and finish in Meknès.
Can you visit Chefchaouen as a day trip from Fès?
It can be done, but it is rarely the best choice. Chefchaouen is by far the furthest of the three trips, along a winding mountain road: on a same-day round trip, much of the day is spent in the vehicle. If you can, stay overnight to enjoy the town in the evening and early morning, or fit it in as a stop if you are heading north.
Can you reach Volubilis by public transport from Fès?
Yes, but not directly: Volubilis has no train station. The usual pattern is to reach Meknès by train or grand taxi, take a shared grand taxi to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, then a taxi to the site. Expect several connections and agree every fare before you get in. For a single day, a private driver shared between several people is often simpler.
How much does a trip to Volubilis, Meknès or Chefchaouen cost?
We do not quote prices: we do not sell these trips and have not checked the rates ourselves. They vary with the format, the season, the vehicle and what is included. The right reflex: ask for at least two quotes, with a written list of what is covered (waiting time, guide, entry tickets), and, for a driver, one price for the whole vehicle.
Do you offer these trips from Fès?
No. In Fès, getme only sells the transfer between Fès-Saïss airport and the city: €15 one-way and €27 round-trip, per vehicle, for up to 6 passengers, at a fixed price paid online. For Volubilis, Meknès or Chefchaouen, ask your riad, a local agency or a licensed guide, and compare several offers before booking.
Our take
If you only have one day for the area around Fès, choose Volubilis and Meknès, with a stop at Moulay Idriss Zerhoun: it is the richest combination for the least time on the road, and a real contrast with the Fès medina, Roman stones in the morning and an imperial city in the afternoon. Chefchaouen deserves better than a rushed round trip: give it a night, fold it into a journey north, or keep it for next time. And if your stay is short, do not sacrifice Fès el-Bali to a hurried excursion. Whatever the format, one rule protects your day: everything is agreed before you get in, the price, the waiting time and what is included.
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Flying in or out of Fès-Saïss?
The only trip we sell in Fès: €15 one-way, €27 round-trip, up to 6 passengers, the same fixed price day or night, a sign with your name and flight tracking.
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