Morocco | A Day in Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknès (November 2025)
Last updated on : December 21, 2025
In November 2025, during our trip to Morocco, we spent three days in Fez – a fascinating and intense city, rich in history and heritage. From there, we chose to take a day trip to explore Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes, three emblematic sites located nearby.
Initially, we had considered an excursion to Chefchaouen. However, after some reflection – and taking into account travel time and our overall pace – we opted for this alternative, which turned out to be an excellent choice.
This day offered us a welcome pause away from the hustle and bustle of the medina, while allowing us to discover another side of Morocco – more open, more historical, and easier to breathe in.
Day Trip : Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknès
From Fez, it’s easy to explore the surrounding area thanks to several organized day trips. The excursion combining Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes is one of the most popular – and for good reason: it allows you to visit three very different sites in a single day, without having to worry about logistics.
We chose to book this excursion through GetYourGuide, a simple and reassuring option that included transportation by minibus and the services of a guide. The pace of the day felt well balanced, with enough time to truly enjoy each stop without feeling rushed.
First Step: Volubilis
On our way to Volubilis, we made a first stop at a truly stunning viewpoint. Surrounded by mountains, with a body of water visible in the distance, the landscape was absolutely breathtaking. We took a few minutes to admire the view, breathe, and enjoy the calm, while small kiosks nearby offered a handful of items to visitors, creating the feel of a small local market.
We then continued on to the archaeological site of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As with most of the excursions we did in Morocco, the day was organized with a driver and a guide. The guide shared explanations during the minibus ride, and once on site, we were given free time to explore at our own pace. An entrance fee of 100 dirhams per person (cash only) was required to access the site. This fee was not included in the excursion price, but it was clearly mentioned in the GetYourGuide description, so we were prepared.
At Volubilis, we had about 1.5 hours to explore. Before arriving, I had the impression that this might be too long… but from the very first steps on the site, we quickly realized that it wouldn’t be. The site is vast – much larger than we had imagined – and offers plenty of space to take your time, wander around, and observe every detail.
We were completely captivated by the site and by the impressive state of preservation of many of its structures. The floor mosaics, in particular, left a strong impression on us: numerous, intricate, and remarkably well preserved.
This is exactly the kind of site we love, and the visit instantly brought us back to our recent trip to Greece, where we had thoroughly enjoyed exploring ancient ruins – although here, Volubilis felt larger than many of the sites we had visited before.
Surrounded by open landscapes and rolling green hills, the site has a peaceful, almost timeless atmosphere. We spent most of our time simply walking, observing, contemplating, and enjoying the moment. Stepping away from the bustle of the medina to find ourselves in such an open space, rich with history, felt incredibly refreshing.
Second Step: Moulay Idriss
After leaving Volubilis, we got back on the road for a short stop in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, located just a few kilometers away. The stop was brief, but meaningful enough to leave a lasting impression.
Once we stepped off the minibus, the guide invited us to follow him through a few narrow streets and, within just two or three minutes, we found ourselves on a terrace offering a spectacular panoramic view of the town. Perched on the mountainside, Moulay Idriss unfolded before us, with its white houses cascading down the slopes and the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I, easily recognizable by its green roof.
This stop was not meant to be an in-depth visit, but rather a visual introduction to this holy city, considered one of the most important spiritual sites in the country. Despite the short duration of our visit, the view alone was more than worth it. The contrast between the mountain landscape, the architecture, and the peaceful atmosphere of the place was truly striking.
Third Step: Meknès
We arrived in Meknes in the early afternoon. As we stepped off the minibus, the guide gave us a few quick indications: where the medina was located, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and a few other points of interest we could visit if time allowed. The explanations, however, were fairly brief and, I’ll admit, not particularly clear for a first introduction to the city.
First and foremost, I wanted to see Bab el Mansour, the famous monumental gate of Meknes, often described as one of the most beautiful gates in Morocco. After seeing it in person, I can confidently say it lives up to its reputation.
We then hoped to visit the Bou Inania Madrasa of Meknes, but fairly quickly, we found ourselves wandering in what was clearly part of the medina. That’s when the experience shifted in tone. We started going in circles while trying to locate the madrasa, which immediately brought back memories of the previous day in the medina of Fez, when we had gotten lost in the maze of narrow streets. The fear of getting lost again, our limited time, and the need to return to the minibus all took over, and we decided to turn back instead of pushing the exploration further.
Feeling a bit discouraged – and especially hungry – we decided to stop for lunch. We found a restaurant called Palais Salma, with a terrace offering a nice view, located close to our starting point. The meal was simple – for me, a hamburger – but it was very good. The staff was warm and welcoming, and the conversation was pleasant. One of them even told us he had studied at Polytechnique in Montreal, which led to a small, unexpected, and very friendly moment.
After lunch, we headed to the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, which is open to visitors – including non-Muslims – and free to enter. This visit was a real highlight. The place is beautiful, filled with calm and elegance, and the architecture is absolutely worth seeing.
We then made our way to the Royal Golf of Meknes. Honestly, the interest was fairly limited: a nice entrance and a glimpse of the grounds, but nothing particularly memorable. For us, a golf course remains a golf course – royal or not – and it wasn’t what we were most interested in seeing at that point in the trip.
We ended our time in Meknes with a short walk through a quieter neighborhood, followed by a moment of rest in a park, simply letting time pass before heading back. And even though we didn’t explore the medina of Meknes in depth – a deliberate choice influenced by fatigue, our experience the day before in Fez, and time constraints – we still shared some lovely moments in this city.
If I Had More Time
Looking back, I think time was one of the elements we missed the most during this excursion.
In Moulay Idriss, a holy city and one of Morocco’s most important spiritual sites, I would have loved to linger longer. Making such a brief stop there left me with a feeling of “not quite enough.” With more time, I would have liked to wander through the town, observe daily life, and soak in more deeply the unique energy that emanates from the place.
In Meknes as well, I would have liked to explore the medina more thoroughly. However, the stress of getting lost – combined with the fear of not making it back to the group’s meeting point on time – held us back. Our experience the day before in the medina of Fez, where we had felt constantly solicited, also weighed heavily on our decision. For both my husband and me, the idea of reliving that kind of situation within a tightly timed visit was far from reassuring.
In the end, this excursion offered us some truly beautiful discoveries, but it also made me realize just how deeply pace and available time shape the travel experience. With more time, there’s no doubt our approach would have been different – slower, more confident… and perhaps even richer.
In Conclusion
This day trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, and Meknes remains one of the most memorable moments of our stay in Morocco.
Among the three stops, Volubilis was without a doubt my personal highlight. The site left a deep impression on us, both for the richness of its history and for the atmosphere that surrounds it. Walking among these Roman ruins, set against such beautiful open landscapes, felt almost timeless. A visit that was both fascinating and deeply soothing – a true pause that did us an immense amount of good.
Our stop in Moulay Idriss, although very brief, offered us a spectacular view of this holy city perched in the mountains. A short moment, but a powerful one.
As for Meknes, it was perhaps a bit of a missed encounter. That said, visiting the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismaïl was a wonderful surprise, and the architecture alone made the stop worthwhile.
Looking back, I have absolutely no regrets about choosing this excursion, even at the expense of Chefchaouen. It turned out to be an excellent compromise: rich, varied, well balanced, and deeply interesting.
It’s a day trip I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone staying in Fez who wishes to discover another side of Morocco – one shaped by history, landscapes, and cities full of meaning.
In Video
Because some discoveries are best experienced through images, here is the video of our excursion to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes. A visual immersion into impressive Roman ruins, beautiful landscapes, and places rich in history – capturing one of the most memorable days of our stay in Morocco.
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