MARRAKESH: Jemaa el Fna (ساحة جامع الفناء)

Introduction

During the day, you can find plenty of orange juice stalls, sweets sellers, snake charmers, henna artists, and people selling things like lamps, bracelets, and bags. Around dusk the juice vendors move out and the square is taken over my outdoor food vendors making all sorts of Moroccan food that’s cheap and delicious. There are also vendors selling lamps, storytellers telling tales to audiences of locals, musicians playing songs, and games being played. A must-visit destination if you’re in Marrakesh! (Be aware if you are a woman that men will sometimes use the darkness as an excuse for inappropriate groping. I didn’t have any major problems, but I did have one person grab my butt as he passed by. If you have any issues start yelling and creating a scene and they’ll be scared off. Another tactic is to employ the help of local women, who will shame the men on your behalf.)

About

The Jemaa el Fna is the largest and most popular public square in Morocco. It’s over a thousand years old and has been the center of life in the city since founding of Marrakesh. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site for its importance as a center of culture. It was once the location of public executions, but today is surrounded by shops, and is filled with vendors and entertainers.
More on Wikipedia See on TripAdvisor

Know Before You Go

Hours: Stores start opening around 8am, food stands come out around dusk
Admission: free
Address + Coordinates: 31.6245141, -7.9913417
How Long To Spend There: As much or as little time as you’d like.
Know Before You Go: Pickpockets can be common here, so be aware of your surroundings
Website: www.jemaa-el-fna.com/