Where to stay in

Fez [Fez riad] A range of

hotels can be found

in the Ville Nouvelle and on the outskirts of town, and a smaller selection in

Fez el-Djid. But by

far the most fun and atmospheric place to be based is within the Medina itself,

and you can't do better than one of the

restored Riads in fez, magnificent mansions with traditional architecture

and decoration and set around a central open patio. There are several hidden

within Fez's old town and one of the

most spectacular and newest is the serene

Riad Laaroussa (Fez riad laaroussa).

This former 17th Century palace sparkles following a two-year restoration that

has transformed it from a decaying shadow of its former self into a

luxury Fez hotel.

In keeping with the mystical and unpredictable aura of the

Fez Medina itself,

Riad Laaroussa seems to appear out

of nowhere; you'll never once see its enclosed walls from the outside, and

finding your way in entails slipping away down a side street and through an

anonymous alley, whereupon you'll find yourself suddenly in a hallway with a

magnificent wooden door that hints at something special inside. The

Riad's patio area, with a veritable

grove of little orange trees and softly babbling Moorish fountain, is the ideal

antidote after a day of sightseeing around Fez. The unendingly smiling staff

know the city backwards and help ensure you get the very most out of your visit.

Riad Laaroussa is a big place, so

with just



seven rooms and suites, it feels spacious. All

accommodations in fez riad laaroussa

have thoroughly diffferent colours and layouts but stick entirely to local art

and design. It's all as supremely clean and comfortable as you'd expect from a

4-star property and the owners have done an ingenious job of keeping everything

simple and authentic whilst sneaking in every luxury you could want. The doors

and tiles may be antique but rooms are fully kitted out with air-con (crucial

for Fez's scorching summers) and even Wi-Fi. Bathrooms come in stunning

traditional styles whilst packing the most powerful showers you'll ever

encounter. For all the mod-cons though, televisions are mercifully absent, so

there's nothing to interrupt the peace apart from the evocative early morning

Islamic call to prayer. Rise early for a traditional breakfast on the sunny

terrace, from where there you can get panoramic views over the city rooftops.

You couldn't ask for a much more magical place to

stay in Fez, or anywhere else for

that matter - and you'll definitely thank yourself for deciding to sleep in the

heart of the Medina. Being woken up by the sound of birds looping round the

patio or donkeys plodding along nearby streets just adds to the

wonder of Fez - and for a short stay,

it's infinitely handy to avoid having a long trek back from the Old Town to your

Fez hotel.