Under $100: Fes, Morocco

Fes is often considered the cultural capital of Morocco. The city’s wealth of fine dining, medieval architecture, vibrant marketplaces and friendly people make it the perfect place to spend 24 hours. Cruising by on a budget of $100 isn’t easy, but certainly doable.

Start your day with a traditional Moroccan breakfast at the hotel. If they don’t include food in their service, you can quickly pop into a nearby shop for a krachel or bghrir with coffee for less than $10.

Afterwards, it’s time to explore a tannery. Fes is widely known for its handcrafted leather products and the city is littered with tanneries. The smell here is incredibly strong and, even with herbs to hold under your nose, it can make you queasy, so come prepared. Chouara Tannery in the medina has been around since the 11th century and is famed for its dyeing vats. Touring the place is free. When you’re done there spend some time wandering the medina to take in the architecture and cultural of the region.

For lunch, make a pit stop at Chez Rachid for delicious couscous or other traditional Moroccan cuisine at fair prices. People watching from the patio outside is always entertaining. A meal here will cost $20.

Begin the afternoon by visiting the Al-Karaouine Mosque and University. It’s the oldest university in the world, founded in 859 AD, and inside you can learn everything you’d like to know about Moroccan and African history. The mosque is prohibited for non-Muslims. Touring the grounds is free.

Finally, pop into Nagham Café for dinner on the rooftop to take in the spectacular views. The mix of Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes is filling and fairly priced. A meal here with cost you $20.