Exercise Increased Caution
“Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise increased caution in Morocco due to terrorism.”
Updated Mon, 21 Apr 2025
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Is Fès al Bali safe? 🇲🇦
Morocco · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Fès al Bali scores 68/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Fès al Bali is generally safe for visitors who exercise normal city sense, with petty crime being the main concern. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Fès al Bali 🇲🇦
Morocco · Assessed 13 September 2026
68
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~69% of countries
What drives this score
Crime73/100GoodCrime index 47.1 / 100
Sentiment84/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories50Caution
Stability63Fair
Health72Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Caution
No advisory against travel
“Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide.”
Updated 2026-08-20T08:04:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Morocco: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-09T09:13:43.6473013-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Mugging & robbery risk
Low risk
92
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
78 / 100 (Mostly positive)
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
156k residents
84
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
1.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Morocco1.7World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
88
Robbery / mugging
LowArmed robbery against visitors is rare; most incidents are non-violent petty theft in crowded areas.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in busy medina lanes and souks; keep wallets and phones front-pocketed or in a zippered bag.
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03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
84/100
Reported feel78Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Visitors consistently report feeling safe during the day, praising the hospitable atmosphere and low threat of violence, though some note discomfort from persistent touts and disorientation in the medina.
Yes — Fès al Bali is generally safe for visitors who exercise normal city sense, with petty crime being the main concern.
The multi-database profile gives Fès a moderate composite safety index of 65/100, reflecting low violent crime but notable pickpocketing risks in crowded areas. Government advisories from the U.S. and Canada urge increased caution due to terrorism concerns, while the UK finds no blanket travel warning. Recent reports confirm that violent incidents against tourists are rare, with day-to-day issues limited to scams, overcharging, and disorientation in the medina’s labyrinthine lanes.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Guide notes that petty scams and getting lost in the Fes el-Bali medina are the main day-to-day issues for travelers, both easily managed.— fesdaytrips.com
- Jul 2026Travel site reports Fes has a moderate level of petty crime, including pickpocketing, mostly in touristy areas where valuables are exposed.— travelsafe-abroad.com
- 2026Local safety guide affirms Fes is safe for visitors with ordinary city sense, noting violent crime against tourists is rare and risks are largely commercial like inflated fares or fake guides.— staysafemorocco.com
Common scams
- Fake guides offering unsolicited help and steering tourists to commission-based shops or tanneries
- Inflated taxi fares from unregistered or unofficial drivers
- Persistent henna artists or snake charmers demanding payment after unsolicited service
Full briefing
Fès al Bali remains a welcoming and generally safe destination for travelers who exercise basic precautions. The city’s safety profile is shaped more by petty crime and commercial hassles than by violence — violent incidents against tourists are rare, and the medina’s car-free, densely populated lanes foster a strong sense of community oversight. Government advisories from the U.S. and Canada recommend increased caution primarily due to nationwide terrorism concerns, though no recent attacks have been recorded in Fès itself, and the UK finds no reason to issue a blanket warning. The moderate composite safety index of 65/100 reflects this balance: low homicide and terrorism risks are offset by moderate scores for institutions and everyday hazards, while health and environment score highly thanks to good hospital access and air quality.
On the ground, the real challenges for visitors are navigational and commercial. The vast, unmarked labyrinth of Fès el-Bali’s 9,000-plus lanes often leads to disorientation, which touts exploit by offering unsolicited “help” that steers tourists toward commission-based shops or tanneries. Pickpocketing is a moderate risk in crowded souk areas, particularly near major gates like Bab Agnaou and the tanneries, where distraction is high. Taxi scams involving unregistered drivers overcharging or taking longer routes persist, especially after dark. However, these issues are routinely described as manageable with calm assertiveness — a firm “no thank you” and walking away is usually sufficient. Travelers consistently report feeling safe during daylight h
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 5 Fès al Bali districts for visitors: 4 safer, 1 needing caution. See them plotted on the Fès al Bali safety map.
Fes el-Bali MedinacautionHistoric heart, can be disorienting; watch for petty theft and scams, especially from unofficial guides.
Ville NouvellesaferModern district, generally considered the safest area for visitors.
BathasaferA recommended area to stay, offering good access and a safer environment.
Upper TalaasaferAnother recommended area, known for being safe and well-situated.
Areas around Fès–Saïss airportsaferGenerally safe, with good infrastructure for arriving and departing travelers.
07 · After Dark
Is Fès al Bali safe at night?
Armed robbery against visitors is rare; most incidents are non-violent petty theft in crowded areas.
After dark, be most careful around Fes el-Bali Medina. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Fès al Bali safety FAQ (2026)
Is Fès al Bali safe right now (2026)?
Yes — Fès al Bali is generally safe for visitors who exercise normal city sense, with petty crime being the main concern. The multi-database profile gives Fès a moderate composite safety index of 65/100, reflecting low violent crime but notable pickpocketing risks in crowded areas. Government advisories from the U.S. and Canada urge increased caution due to terrorism concerns, while the UK finds no blanket travel warning. Recent reports confirm that violent incidents against tourists are rare, with day-to-day issues limited to scams, overcharging, and disorientation in the medina’s labyrinthine lanes. (Assessed 13 September 2026.)
Is Fès al Bali safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Fès al Bali report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Fès al Bali should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Fès al Bali (2026)?
- Fake guides offering unsolicited help and steering tourists to commission-based shops or tanneries
- Inflated taxi fares from unregistered or unofficial drivers
- Persistent henna artists or snake charmers demanding payment after unsolicited service
How does Fès al Bali compare with other places in Morocco (2026)?
Fès al Bali ranks #6 of 9 Morocco destinations we've assessed, scoring 68/100. See the Morocco safety overview for the full list.
How is this fes-al-bali safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
More Morocco reports
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4 reportsBrowse the Morocco safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: fes-al-bali.json (CC BY 4.0).