Fez holidays

As you’d expect, the colourful souks are the place to bag the best bargains, and haggling’s expected. The smell of spices will hit you as soon as you walk in, and they’re just one of the local specialities you can pick up here, along with everything from bags and slippers to lamps and teapots.

If you prefer some familiar favourites from home, head to Borj Fes Mall. It’s just a 15-minute drive from the centre of town and it’s a lot more laidback than the medinas. Alongside local brands, the likes of Adidas and Lacoste have stores here, while Burger King and Pizza Hut are among the well-known eateries.

With three tanneries in town, leather products are easy to come by here – think bags, belts, jackets and shoes. Chouara Tannery is the largest, and lots of the surrounding shops sell the leather made here for a fraction of the price you’d pay at home.

You’ll find a mix of street food stalls, cute boutiques and locals hanging out in Baghdadi Square. When the weather’s toasty, take a seat on the grand steps and watch singing and dancing shows against the backdrop of the Medina.

Nightclubs are few and far between here, but there are plenty of places to grab a cocktail and watch some live music. Lots of hotels have lively bars which major in both. Head to Le Golden Bar for cocktails with a view from its terrace – especially at sunset when the old city turns to gold.

Start the day with m’sem – a popular local pancake that’s a breakfast favourite here. It’s usually served with honey and mint tea or stuffed with tomatoes and onions for a savoury treat. You’ll find it on street stalls in lots of the souks.

This traditional tomato soup’s packed with lentils and chickpeas, then topped off with a bit of spice – turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and paprika – which gives it a warm flavour. It’s a popular pick with the locals during Ramadan to break the fast.

Tagine is iconic in Morocco. It’s named after the pointed-top terracotta pot it’s cooked in. Pick between lamb tagine with prunes, almonds and cinnamon or chicken with lemons and olives, all dished up with fluffy couscous.

Get a sweet and savoury mix with pastilla – the Spanish word for pill. It’s a mix of shredded chicken, spices, cinnamon and crushed almonds, then topped off with icing sugar and honey, wrapped in a dough just like filo pastry, and fried.

Bissara’s another favourite if you like your street food. This thick fava bean soup’s drizzled with olive oil and cumin, then usually eaten with warm bread for a hearty, filling snack.