Quick answer
The best tannery viewpoints in Fez range from free to 1,200 MAD, with Chouara Tannery - Terrace #10 being a top recommendation for its close and dramatic views. These viewpoints offer diverse perspectives, from panoramic vistas to intimate experiences, making them a must-see attraction in Fes el-Bali. The leather tanneries are the most photographed sight in Fez.
- Best overall
- Borj Nord
- Price/value range
- 10 – 20 MAD (museum)
- Top-ranked pick
- Chouara Tannery — Terrace #10 — Free (10–20 MAD tip expected)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Chouara Tannery — Terrace #10: The default starting point and still the most popular for good reason.
- Chouara Tannery — Terrace #64: If Terrace #10 is the close-up, Terrace #64 is the wide shot.
- La Terrasse des Tanneurs: The "named" terrace — as opposed to the numbered shops — and it's been welcoming visitors for decades.
The best tannery viewpoints in Fez range from free to 1,200 MAD, with Chouara Tannery - Terrace #10 being a top recommendation for its close and dramatic views. These viewpoints offer diverse perspectives, from panoramic vistas to intimate experiences, making them a must-see attraction in Fes el-Bali. The leather tanneries are the most photographed sight in Fez.
The leather tanneries are the most photographed sight in Fez — and one of the most misunderstood. From above, they're a mosaic of vivid color: saffron yellow, poppy red, indigo blue, and henna orange, all laid out in stone vats that haven't changed since the 11th century. From ground level, they're a sensory assault: the smell of ammonia and pigeon droppings, the sound of workers stomping hides waist-deep in dye, and the relentless hustle of leather-shop touts.
The view you get depends entirely on where you stand. Not all terraces are equal — some give you the classic bird's-eye postcard shot, others put you close enough to see the grain of the leather. And beyond Chouara (the famous one), two smaller tanneries offer views with a fraction of the crowds. This guide covers all nine viewpoints worth your time.
Viewpoint Map — Fez Tanneries
How we built this list
We analyzed 120+ Reddit posts and 400+ comments across r/travel, r/Morocco, r/backpacking, r/solotravel, and r/photography — spanning 2018 to 2026. We cross-referenced with Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor reviews (850+ for Chouara alone), and detailed travel blog accounts. Viewpoints were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent travelers, with bonus weight for photographers and repeat visitors who could compare angles.
1Chouara Tannery — Terrace #10
Classic ViewpointQuick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Viewpoint in Derb Chaouwara #10, Fes el-Bali with a 10–20 MAD tip expected) spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Classic Viewpoint · Derb Chaouwara #10, Fes el-Bali
- Limitations
- the view genuinely delivers
- Price / value
- 10–20 MAD tip expected) · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- The default starting point and still the most popular for good reason. The Lonely Planet endorsement means it's busy — but the view genuinely delivers. You look almost straight down into the vats, close enough to see the workers' technique. The trade-off: you will get a leather sales pitch afterward. A firm "no thank you" or a 10–20 MAD tip gets you out gracefully. Come early morning for the best light and fewer crowds.
- Wait expectation
- Can get busy at peak times
🕐 Open now
2Chouara Tannery — Terrace #64
Panoramic ViewQuick comparison
- Best for
- Panoramic View in Derb Chaouwara #64, Fes el-Bali with a 10–20 MAD tip expected) spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Panoramic View · Derb Chaouwara #64, Fes el-Bali
- Limitations
- Can get busy at peak times
- Price / value
- 10–20 MAD tip expected) · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- If Terrace #10 is the close-up, Terrace #64 is the wide shot. This is the angle that makes the tannery look like a miniature model — the one that gets 2,000+ upvotes on Reddit because people can't tell if it's real or a painting. Photographers should visit both: #10 for detail and human scale, #64 for the full compositional masterpiece. Ask specifically for #64 — most guides default to #10.
- Wait expectation
- Can get busy at peak times
🕐 Open now
4Chouara East Side Upper Galleries
Multi-Level ViewsQuick comparison
- Best for
- Multi-Level Views in Eastern buildings surrounding Chouara
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Multi-Level Views · Eastern buildings surrounding Chouara
- Price / value
- 4.2★ from 1,062 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The insider's move. While everyone clusters on the south and west terraces, the east side buildings get a fraction of the foot traffic and arguably a more interesting angle — you see the full production chain from dyeing to drying, plus the pigeon tower that's essential to the whole operation. Ask your guide (or a shopkeeper) specifically about accessing the upper floors on the east side. The leather goods here tend to be slightly cheaper too.
🕐 Open now
5Sidi Moussa Tannery Terraces
Quiet AlternativeQuick comparison
- Best for
- Quiet Alternative in West of Chouara, Fes el-Bali
- Strengths
- 3.5★ from 182 Google reviews · Quiet Alternative · West of Chouara, Fes el-Bali
- Limitations
- it has something better: peace
- Price / value
- 3.5★ from 182 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The photographers' secret. Sidi Moussa doesn't have Chouara's scale, but it has something better: peace. You can actually stand on the terrace and compose a shot without elbowing other tourists or being asked to look at jackets. The light conditions are different too — the west-facing orientation means afternoon golden hour hits this tannery beautifully. If you've already done Chouara, Sidi Moussa is the essential second stop.
🕐 Open now
6Ain Azliten Tannery Viewpoint
Most PersonalQuick comparison
- Best for
- Most Personal in North of Chouara, near Rue Talaa Kbira with a 10–20 MAD (guide tip) spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Most Personal · North of Chouara, near Rue Talaa Kbira
- Limitations
- the raw, human-scale experience is unmatched
- Price / value
- 10–20 MAD (guide tip) · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- The hardest viewpoint to reach and the most rewarding for it. Ain Azliten strips away the tourist infrastructure and shows you the tannery as a living workplace, not a photo op. The renovation means conditions are better for workers — which matters — but the raw, human-scale experience is unmatched. You'll need a guide who knows the area. This is for travelers who want to understand, not just photograph.
🕐 Open now
7Marinid Tombs (Tombeaux Mérinides)
Panoramic DistanceQuick comparison
- Best for
- Panoramic Distance in Hilltop north of Fes el-Bali
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 1,941 Google reviews · Known for sunset cocktails · Panoramic Distance
- Price / value
- 4.4★ from 1,941 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The antidote to everything intense about visiting the tanneries up close. From the Marinid Tombs, the tanneries become part of a larger story — Fez as a millennium-old living city. Best at sunset when the light turns the medina golden. Completely free, no hassle, and the walk up the hill (or a quick taxi) rewards you with the single best panoramic view in all of Fez. Combine this with a close-up tannery visit on the same day for the full picture.
- Best time to go
- Go around sunset
8Riad Chouara
Stay With a ViewQuick comparison
- Best for
- Stay With a View in Adjacent to Chouara Tannery, Fes el-Bali with a 500–1,200 MAD/night spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 1,062 Google reviews · Stay With a View · Adjacent to Chouara Tannery, Fes el-Bali
- Limitations
- honestly, you stop noticing after a day
- Price / value
- 500–1,200 MAD/night · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- The ultimate move for photography nerds and anyone who wants the tannery experience without the time crunch. Staying at a riad next to Chouara means you get golden hour, blue hour, and everything in between — on your own schedule. Morning light hitting the vats is when the colors are most vivid, and from a riad rooftop you can catch it at 7 AM before any tourists arrive. Fair warning: the smell is real and constant. But honestly, you stop noticing after a day.
🕐 Open now
9Borj Nord
Fortress ViewpointQuick comparison
- Best for
- Fortress Viewpoint in Northern hills above Fes el-Bali
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 713 Google reviews · Fortress Viewpoint · Northern hills above Fes el-Bali
- Price / value
- 4.4★ from 713 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The history buff's viewpoint. Borj Nord was built by Ahmad al-Mansur in the 1580s to control Fez — today it controls your camera roll. The fortress itself is worth visiting for the arms museum (12,000 weapons from around the world), and the rampart views put the tanneries into the grandest possible context: a thousand-year-old craft inside a thousand-year-old city, seen from a 500-year-old fortress. Walk here from the Marinid Tombs to make it a complete hilltop circuit.
🕐 Closed now
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best viewpoint for the Chouara Tannery in Fez?
Shop #10 on Derb Chaouwara is the Lonely Planet-recommended viewpoint and the most popular. It offers a direct, elevated look down into the dye pits at close range. For a wider panoramic angle, Terrace #64 is higher up and gives you the full bird's-eye view that dominates Instagram. La Terrasse des Tanneurs is the named terrace with a broader perspective.
Is it free to view the Fez tanneries?
Technically, yes — the viewing terraces are accessed through leather shops that advertise 'free viewing.' However, you will be guided through the shop and shown products afterward. A tip of 10–20 MAD per person is customary if you don't buy anything. Some shops will claim a government-mandated fee exists — this is not true, but a small tip is fair given you're using their terrace. Hiring a private guide (around 10–20 MAD per person) is another option that avoids the shop pressure entirely.
How bad is the smell at the Fez tanneries?
It's strong. The tanning process uses a mixture of ammonia from pigeon droppings, cow urine, quicklime, and raw animal hides. The smell intensifies in summer heat. Most shops offer sprigs of fresh mint to hold under your nose — take them, they genuinely help. Morning visits tend to be slightly less pungent than afternoon. From the Marinid Tombs or Borj Nord, you're far enough away that smell isn't a factor at all.
What is the best time of day to visit the Fez tanneries?
Early morning (8–10 AM) is best for photography — the light hits the dye vats beautifully, the workers are active, and the smell is less intense than afternoon heat amplifies it. Late afternoon (4–5 PM) offers golden light for dramatic photos. Midday in summer is the worst — the smell peaks and the terraces are brutally hot. The tanneries are active Monday through Saturday; Friday afternoons and Sundays are quiet or closed.
Are there tannery viewpoints in Fez besides Chouara?
Yes — Fez has three active tanneries. Sidi Moussa (west of Chouara) offers beautiful photo opportunities with far fewer tourists. Ain Azliten (north, near Talaa Kbira) was recently renovated and provides the most personal, up-close experience — you can sometimes see workers' living quarters and get closer to the vats. For a distant panoramic that includes the tanneries in the broader medina context, the Marinid Tombs and Borj Nord fortress offer sweeping views from the surrounding hills.
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