AFCON 2025 Fes: Nigeria Group Stage & City Guide

Tournament kicks off December 21

Fes is the deepest Morocco. The medina here isn't a tourist attraction. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that 150,000 people call home, the world's largest car-free urban area, and a thousand years of continuous inhabitation. The tanneries, the madrasas, the foundouks where merchants stored goods centuries ago. This is where Morocco's intellectual and spiritual traditions originated.

For AFCON, the Fès Sports Complex hosts four matches including a knockout fixture. Nigeria's Super Eagles play their entire group stage here, making Fes essential for West African supporters.

Stadium Overview

Fès Sports Complex (Complexe Sportif de Fès) Capacity: 45,000 Location: Nouvelle Ville (New City), separate from the historic medina

Nigerian supporters will spend the most time in Fes, with all three Super Eagles group matches here.

Luxury Hotels in Fes

Fes accommodation differs from other host cities. The finest properties are restored riads and palaces within the medina, not modern hotels. This means character and intimacy but also smaller room counts and medina logistics.

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

One of Morocco's finest hotels, period. A 14th-century palace restored with both traditional craft and contemporary design by French designer Christophe Pillet. 30 rooms and suites, indoor pool with green wall reflection, spa by Cinq Mondes.

The restaurant Gayza blends French technique with Moroccan tradition. Rooftop terrace with medina views. Forbes named it one of Morocco's "sexiest hotels."

Distance to Fès Sports Complex: 20 minutes by car Why for AFCON: The benchmark for luxury in Fes. If you want the best, this is it.

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

31 suites in a 19th-century palace on the medina's edge, offering some of the best views in the city. The architecture preserves classical Fes craftsmanship: zellige, carved stucco, cedar woodwork.

L'Amandier restaurant serves traditional Fassi cuisine. The spa includes authentic hammam. The rooftop terrace captures sunset over a sea of minarets.

Distance to Fès Sports Complex: 18 minutes by car Why for AFCON: Exceptional views and authentic palace atmosphere. The medina-edge location simplifies access while maintaining immersion.

Palais Amani

Converted from a Fassi family home, Palais Amani operates 15 rooms around a traditional courtyard with orange trees. The property hosts one of Fes's most respected cooking schools.

Smaller scale means personalized attention. The cooking classes attract guests specifically, regardless of accommodation.

Distance to Fès Sports Complex: 22 minutes by car Why for AFCON: Intimate scale, cooking school access, authentic medina location. For travelers who prefer character over facility size.

Karawan Riad

A 17th-century palace restored with traditional materials and methods. Seven suites decorated with artifacts from across Morocco and beyond. Rooftop terrace with medina panorama.

The restoration itself is worth studying. Traditional zellige, stucco, and wrought iron, executed by craftspeople maintaining centuries-old techniques.

Distance to Fès Sports Complex: 20 minutes by car Why for AFCON: For architecture and craft enthusiasts. The property itself is an exhibit.

Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace

The conventional option. Modern hotel infrastructure outside the medina walls. Pool, fitness center, conference facilities. International brand standards.

Less atmospheric than medina riads but more straightforward logistics. Parking, taxi access, familiar systems.

Distance to Fès Sports Complex: 12 minutes by car Why for AFCON: If medina navigation feels daunting, the Marriott provides predictability. Closer to the stadium than medina properties.

Between Matches: Experiences in Fes

The Medina

Fes el-Bali is the experience. Nine thousand streets and alleys. Donkeys carrying goods where cars cannot enter. Coppersmith quarters, leather workers, spice merchants. The oldest university in the world (Al-Qarawiyyin, founded 859 AD).

Hiring a guide transforms the medina from overwhelming to revelatory. We work with guides who've spent decades in these streets.

We arrange: Private guided tours in English, French, or Arabic. Half-day or full-day. Specific interest focuses (crafts, food, architecture, Jewish heritage) available.

Chouara Tannery

The medieval tannery still operating by traditional methods. Workers stand in vats of pigeon droppings and vegetable dyes. The smell is legendary; the visual is unforgettable. Leather shops surrounding the tannery offer prime viewing spots (purchase expected, quality genuine).

Medersa Bou Inania

The finest of Fes's medieval theological colleges. 14th-century zellige and stucco work, carved cedar, marble. Still functions as a mosque; non-Muslims can visit courtyards during non-prayer hours.

Cooking Class

Fassi cuisine is considered Morocco's finest, a melting pot of Arab, Berber, Andalusian, and Jewish traditions. Pastilla (pigeon pie), rfissa (shredded msemmen with chicken), tagines with preserved lemons.

Learn to cook these dishes in a riad kitchen, preceded by souk shopping for ingredients.

We arrange: Private classes for individuals, couples, or groups. Vegetarian adaptations available.

Day Trip to Meknes and Volubilis

The neighboring imperial city Meknes lies 50 minutes west. Bab Mansour, one of North Africa's grandest gates. The Royal Stables designed to hold 12,000 horses. The mellah (Jewish quarter).

Volubilis, Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins, sits nearby. Mosaics intact, columns standing, the outline of a provincial Roman city visible. Combine both in a full day.

We arrange: Private transport and guides. Departure and return times around your match schedule.

Day Trip to Chefchaouen

The "Blue City" in the Rif Mountains, 4 hours from Fes. Every building painted in shades of blue. The photogenicity draws crowds, but the setting in mountain terrain rewards the journey. Possible as a long day trip; better as overnight.

Getting to Fes

By Air

Fès-Saïs Airport (FEZ) receives direct flights from select European cities, primarily budget carriers and seasonal routes.

More connections available through Casablanca (CMN) or Rabat (RBA), then onward by train or transfer.

By Train

Fes connects to Morocco's rail network but sits off the high-speed Al Boraq line.

• From Casablanca: 3h30 by conventional train
• From Rabat: 2h30 by conventional train
• From Tangier: 4h30 by conventional train (overnight option available)
• From Marrakech: 7 hours (via Casablanca)

Trains depart frequently from major cities. First-class recommended for comfort.

From Other Host Cities

• Rabat: 2h30 by car, 2h30 by train
• Casablanca: 3h by car, 3h30 by train
• Tangier: 4h by car, 4h30 by train
• Marrakech: 5h30 by car, 7h by train
• Agadir: 8h by car (no train)

We arrange: Private transfers between host cities. Door-to-door service. Scenic routing through Middle Atlas available.

Match Day Logistics

Navigating the Medina

The medina does not permit cars. Your riad or palace hotel will arrange transfer to the medina gate, from which you walk (or ride a riad's porter-assisted cart) to the property.

For match days, this means planning. Your hotel can arrange taxi pickup from medina gates to the stadium. Private transfer services collect you from accessible points.

We arrange: Match-day transport coordinating medina logistics with stadium timing. No guesswork.

Getting to the Stadium

Fès Sports Complex sits in the Nouvelle Ville (modern city), accessible by standard roads. From medina hotels, expect 20-25 minutes depending on traffic.

Private transfer: Essential for medina guests. We arrange collection point coordination, timing, and post-match return.

Insider Tips

December weather: Cooler than coastal cities. Days 12-16°C, nights can drop to 5-8°C. Bring layers. Rain is possible.

The medina: You will get lost. Accept this. The disorientation is part of the experience. Carry your riad's card; showing it to shopkeepers usually produces directions or an escort.

Guides: Necessary for meaningful medina exploration. The official guides (licensed through tourist office) are reliable. Unofficial "guides" who approach in the street are typically commission-driven touts.

Shopping: Fes crafts are genuine. Leather, ceramics, textiles, metalwork. The medina shops supply export markets, not just tourists. Quality is available; so is tourist-grade merchandise.

Food: Fassi cuisine rewards exploration. Your riad likely serves excellent traditional food. Street food in the medina is for the adventurous.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fes overwhelming?

It can be. The medina's scale and density exceed Marrakech. A guide transforms the experience from stressful to fascinating. Without one, expect confusion and sales pressure. With one, expect revelation.

Can I stay outside the medina?

Yes. The Marriott and other modern hotels sit in the Nouvelle Ville with conventional access. You sacrifice atmosphere for convenience. For short stays focused on matches, this trade-off may suit you.

How does Fes compare to Marrakech?

Deeper, less touristed, more challenging. Marrakech has been receiving visitors for decades; the infrastructure shows it. Fes remains more raw. The medina here is larger, older, less adapted to casual tourism. The reward is authenticity.

Is it safe?

Yes. Petty scams exist (inflated prices, commission-seeking guides), but physical safety concerns are minimal. The medina's density means many eyes on every street. Exercise normal city awareness.

Ready to Plan?

Nigerian supporters will spend their group stage in Fes. Anyone whose bracket leads here for knockouts will discover Morocco's deepest city. The medina logistics require planning, but the experience repays the effort.

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Yalla Visit Morocco designs private travel experiences for visitors who want more than a surface-level tour. Fes is Morocco's spiritual heart. We know the guides, the riads, the routes through the medina. Let us show you what lies inside those thousand-year-old walls.