Fes El Bali, Morocco
Of course, Morocco’s cities have cars. But, oftentimes for practical reasons, visitors will find virtually no cars in the medina, called Fes El Bali. Often, they’re separated from the newer part by a wall and are maze-like with exceedingly narrow streets. For this reason, medinas in Marrakesh, Fes, Casablanca, Essaouira, Meknes, Tangier, and Chefchaouen – several of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites – are often considered to be car-free. Or close enough, as perhaps there’ll be a motorcycle or two zipping about. These medinas all have unique points of interest, but travelers can generally expect to see grand mosques, ancient palaces, hammam bathhouses, and plenty of souks (traditional markets), selling everything from leather goods to lanterns, colorful textiles, and jewelry. In the medina Fes el Bali, visitors will find the 16th-century Chouara Tannery, the largest of three leather-treating tanneries in the city.
The ancient walled medina of Fes El Bali in the city of Fez is made up of over 9,000 maze-like alleyways that are far too narrow for cars, making it one of the few distinctly urban car-free destinations. Without cars taking up space and polluting the air, travelers can jostle through the narrow walkways in search of the medina's renowned leather goods, street kebabs, and sweets. Most residents and travelers here rely on foot, donkey, or carts to navigate the meandering lanes housing shops, booths, mosques, and schools. Fes el Bali is said to be the world’s largest surviving medieval city and locals suggest that it is due to the strict no-vehicle policy in the vicinity. It becomes one of the best car-free vacation destinations.
