A stunning African city packed with history, culture and colour has been named one of the best places to visit this year by Condenast Travel, and flights from the UK can cost as little as £35 return. Fes, Morocco's cultural and intellectual capital, is fast emerging as a must-visit destination for travellers looking for something authentic without the crowds of Marrakech.

Despite its global significance, the city still flies under the radar for many British holidaymakers, helping to keep prices low and the experience refreshingly unspoilt. Budget airlines are making the journey easier than ever. Ryanair currently operates direct flights from London Stansted to Fes-Saiss Airport, with fares starting from around £14.99 one way.

Return flights can be found for roughly £38, including required taxes and fees for one adult, although optional extras such as checked baggage may cost more.

A typical nonstop flight departs mid-afternoon and takes just over three hours, making Fes an accessible short-haul escape rather than a long-haul trek.

Once there, visitors are met with a city unlike any other. Fes is home to the world's oldest continuously operating university and one of the largest car-free urban areas on the planet.

Its medieval medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of narrow alleyways filled with artisans' workshops, spice stalls, leather tanneries and hidden courtyards that feel frozen in time.

The city's reputation as Morocco's spiritual and cultural heart is well earned.

From the intricately tiled Bou Inania Madrasa to the bustling souks around Bab Bou Jeloud, Fes offers a deeper, more traditional side of Moroccan life that appeals to travellers seeking history over nightlife.

Interest in the city is expected to grow further in 2026 with the long-awaited reopening of the Palais Jamaï, one of North Africa's most storied hotels.

Built in 1879 by a grand vizier to the sultan, the palace has undergone a decade-long renovation and is set to reopen as a luxury heritage hotel. Often compared to Marrakech's La Mamounia, Palais Jamaï is one of only a handful of surviving centenarian hotels in the region, famed for its grand architecture, sweeping gardens and views over the old city.

Despite its cultural weight, Fes remains affordable. Accommodation ranges from budget riads hidden inside the medina to high-end hotels, while meals at local restaurants can cost just a few pounds.

Combined with cheap flights from the UK, it makes the city one of the best-value long-weekend destinations available right now.

With bargain air fares, rich history and a major tourism revival on the horizon, Fes is being tipped as a standout destination for the year ahead, and one savvy travellers may want to visit before the rest of the world catches on.