Stays in Fès

I would pick Riad Benkirane Fes Medina for a family stay inside the Fez medina. The listing gives air-conditioned family rooms with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi, an on-site restaurant, a terrace and a balcony, near Batha Square. The tagline says luxury, but the listing shows one star, so I would judge it as a comfortable riad. A 9.9 rating comes from only 8 reviews, too few to lean on.

Fes Heritage Boutique luxury Hotel adds something rare to a city stay in Fès: a year-round outdoor pool, which gives children a break between visits. Rooms have air conditioning and private bathrooms, and balconies with city views. The garden and terrace offer quiet corners, and the restaurant avoids evening searches for dinner. Parents can book the spa and hammam. A rating of 9.8 from 407 reviews is exceptional, so book early.

I would choose Riad Ruh Fes for a traditional, romantic riad stay in Fez with family rooms. The listing gives air-conditioned family rooms with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi, a restaurant serving Moroccan cuisine with several dietary options, a sun terrace and outdoor seating. It places the riad near the Royal Palace and Bab Bou Jeloud. A three-star property rated 9.3 from 37 reviews, a strong score from a small sample.

Riad Citronnier & Spa in Fès is unusual for a riad: it has an indoor pool plus a plunge pool, which gives children a swim between visits in any season. Family rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom, a patio, a dressing room and a TV, so there is space to spread out. The traditional restaurant serves Moroccan dishes with halal options, and the terrace and outdoor seating offer quiet corners. WiFi is free. Guests rate it 9.3 out of 10 over 131 reviews.

Riad Fes Maya suite & spa is a five-star riad near Batha Square, a convenient entry point to the Fès medina for families who want a high-end stay. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, a minibar and a TV, and the variety of breakfast options makes mornings easier with children. Parents can use the spa and wellness centre, and the terrace and restaurant offer a calm place to end the day. I would recommend it, with a guest score of 9.3, though from only 33 reviews.

Riad Serendipity offers family rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning, a wardrobe and a work desk, a practical setup for a family stay in Fès. The traditional restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine with vegetarian and gluten-free options, which helps when someone in the family has dietary needs. Breakfast is a buffet with local specialities. The terrace and outdoor seating area give children space to move, and the tour desk can help plan outings.

Riad Fes Bab Rcif Suite & Spa is a four-star riad in Fez with family rooms that have a balcony, a private bathroom, air conditioning and free WiFi. Spa facilities include a steam room and beauty treatments, and there is a sun terrace, a garden, a coffee shop and a Moroccan restaurant. Guests rate it 9 out of 10 across 430 reviews, a very good score for a riad.

Riad Dar Jeanne is a luxury riad in Fez with family rooms, air conditioning, private bathrooms and city views, and a traditional, romantic atmosphere. The restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. There is a sun terrace and a lounge, and the 24-hour front desk and concierge keep things easy. Guests rate it 9 out of 10 across 218 reviews.

A full kitchen in every unit is why I would point families to TheHive Residence in Fes: breakfast and early dinners stay easy, and the minimarket on site covers the basics without a trip out. The units were recently renovated and have air-conditioning, which matters in the Fes summer. The sun terrace gives some space outside, and free private parking makes day trips by car simple. Rated 9 by 37 guests, it is a calm base between visits to the medina.

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa occupies a former Arab-Moorish palace in Fès, so families stay somewhere with real history while remaining close to the medina. The outdoor pool gives children a break from walking the old town, and parents can use the full-service spa with hammam and massage treatments. Air-conditioned suites decorated with Moroccan zellige tiles offer space to spread out, and two restaurants mean dinner is never far away. I would recommend it, with a guest score of 8.9 from more than 200 reviews.

Riad Marjana Suites & Spa is a five-star riad in Fès whose indoor pool works in any weather, a real plus with children after a morning of sightseeing. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, and the on-site restaurant saves searching for dinner with tired children. Parents can take turns at the spa and hammam, and the terrace and 24-hour front desk complete the picture. Guests rate it 8.9 out of 10 over 604 reviews.

I would pick Riad Lalj Fes for a three-star riad stay in Fez with city views. The listing gives air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and tea and coffee makers, a balcony or terrace with city views, an on-site restaurant, a terrace and free Wi-Fi throughout. It places the riad near major Fez attractions. The tagline says luxury, but the listing shows three stars, so I would judge it as a comfortable riad. A rating of 8.9 from 40 reviews supports it.

I would pick Dar Lys for a family that wants a five-star riad stay in Fès with room to spread out. There are family rooms, a rooftop swimming pool, a lush garden and a games room, so children are not left with nothing to do. Adults get the spa and hammam, the restaurant and the bar. Private check-in and check-out, free WiFi and free private parking smooth the logistics. Guests rate it 8.8 across 363 reviews.

Menzeh Zalagh 2Boutique Hôtel & Sky is a four-star hotel in the centre of Fès, and its pool with a surrounding terrace is the main asset for families after a morning in the medina. Rooms are air-conditioned, some with a balcony and views over the old town. Parents can book the spa and hammam, and the restaurant keeps dinner simple. The nightclub and wine bar point to an adult evening crowd, worth knowing with young children. Guests rate it 8.6 out of 10 over 578 reviews.

Arriving by train with children is easy at Hôtel Kairouan: Fes Railway Station is about an eight-minute walk away, so there is no taxi to negotiate with bags. Each air-conditioned room has a private terrace, a fridge for drinks and snacks, a walk-in shower and a TV. Room service covers evenings when the family would rather stay in, and the 24-hour front desk handles late arrivals. The Royal Palace of Fes is a short distance away.

A separate children's pool next to the infinity pool is what makes Hotel Sahrai easier for families than a medina riad, where courtyard basins are small and stairs are steep. Rooms are larger, the hill is quiet at night, and parents can take turns at the Givenchy Spa. The trade-off is distance: every visit to Fès el-Bali, the tanneries or the Bou Inania madrasa starts with a 10 to 12 minute drive, and the medina lanes are hard with a pushchair anyway. For a family that wants to see the old town in half-day outings and spend the hot hours at a pool, it fits.

Asswar Al Madina is a practical family stopover rather than the base for a whole Fès stay. Arriving by train with children and luggage means a 500 m walk or a short taxi ride along Ville Nouvelle avenues, not a search for a riad door in medina lanes after dark. Rooms are air-conditioned, which matters in a Fès summer, and each has a private bathroom, a kettle and a TV. Breakfast covers continental, Italian and vegetarian options, useful with children who eat only a few things. What it lacks: no pool, no patio to play around, and every visit to Fès el-Bali starts with a taxi to the gates, about 3.5 km away. With children I would split the stay: one night here between trains, the rest in a riad inside the walls.

I would pick Menzeh Zalagh City Center for a central Fez stay with a pool and plenty of dining on site. The listing gives en suite, air-conditioned rooms with private balconies, gardens with an outdoor pool, a hammam and a beauty salon. Dining covers Moroccan, international and pizza restaurants, plus a bar and a nightclub. It lists the airport 15 km away, so I would plan the transfer. A four-star hotel rated 8.5 from 282 reviews.

Dar Atlantic offers family rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning and free WiFi, and sits close to the main sights of Fès, which keeps outings with children short. The restaurant serves African and European dishes and opens onto a sun terrace, and the coffee shop is handy for a break. Parents can make time for the spa and hammam. A rating of 8.5 from 209 reviews is very good. No pool is listed.

Palais Ommeyad puts families inside the old medina of Fes, in a traditional palace converted into a riad, yet it still has an outdoor swimming pool, a relief for children after the lanes. Suites are air-conditioned, with satellite TV and a separate seating area that gives a family more room, and some look over the pool. Parents can book body treatments at the spa or use the jacuzzi. The terrace adds outdoor space.

Across Hotels & Spa is a four-star hotel in Fez with air-conditioned family rooms, private bathrooms and balconies. It has a pool, a spa and a hammam, a restaurant, a bar and a garden, and free WiFi and private parking are included. It is near the train station and close to major attractions, which helps families who arrive by rail. Guests rate it 8.4 out of 10 across 199 reviews.

An outdoor pool with space around it is the main reason families choose the Fes Marriott Jnan Palace over a medina riad, where courtyards are small and stairs steep. The gardens give children room to move, the rooms are larger than in a riad, and the Ville Nouvelle streets are easier with a pushchair than the lanes of Fès el-Bali. Parents get a hammam, sauna and steam room. The downside is distance from the old town: every medina visit means a taxi, so you lose the riad experience of stepping out into the souks. For families who want comfort between half-day outings, it fits.

Nour Plazza Hotel is a four-star hotel in Fez with air-conditioned family rooms, private bathrooms and balconies. Its rooftop swimming pool, sun terrace and fitness centre give families somewhere to rest between visits, and the spa has a hammam and massage services. The restaurant serves French, Italian, Moroccan and international dishes. Guests rate it 8.2 out of 10 across 385 reviews.

Hotel Batha is a traditional three-star hotel about a 10-minute walk from the Fès medina, close enough to walk in and out with children. Its pool is the main reason to pick it with a family, a break between two visits in the old town. Rooms are air-conditioned with an en suite bathroom, a balcony and satellite TV. The restaurant serves local dishes, and there is a coffee shop and a Moroccan-style lounge. Guests rate it 8.2 out of 10 over 474 reviews.

Les Mérinides is a five-star hotel on a hill above Fez, with a terrace and swimming pool and a view over the Medina. Air-conditioned rooms are decorated with quality materials and have free Wi-Fi. Three restaurants, one of them Moroccan with Medina views, mean families can eat on site without leaving the hill, and the hotel can organise a shuttle service. Guests rate it 8.1 out of 10 across 421 reviews.

I would pick Aparthotel Les Oliviers Suites & Spa for a family stay in Fez with a kitchenette and a spa. The listing gives family rooms, each with a private bathroom, kitchenette and balcony, plus a spa, a fitness centre, a sun terrace and an open-air bath. Air conditioning and free Wi-Fi are standard. A 7.9 rating from 55 reviews is decent rather than outstanding, so I would book it for the space and the spa.

The Atlas Saiss trades medina charm for space and simplicity. Rooms are listed at around 42 m² with air conditioning, family rooms are available, and the hotel sits on a wide avenue where a taxi can stop at the door, which is much easier with children and luggage than a riad reached on foot through Fès el-Bali. A restaurant and a coffee shop on site help on arrival evenings. The trade-off is distance: Bab Boujloud and the medina are about 5 km away, so every visit to the old city means a taxi each way. Listings disagree on whether there is an outdoor pool, so I would not plan a summer stay around one. I would book it for families arriving by train or car who want a calm base for two or three nights.