Jemaa el-Fnaa is a bucket list tourist hotspot if you’re visiting Marrakesh, Morocco. Often referred to as “The Square”, it bustles with energy at day and night. Among UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO describes Jemaa el-Fnaa as “one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakesh and has become one of the symbols of the city since its foundation in the eleventh century. It represents a unique concentration of popular Moroccan cultural traditions performed through musical, religious and artistic expressions.“
You’ll find food & drink, music, performing artists, restaurants, stalls and lively discussions and debates among locals. The Square also has various routes that lead into the labyrinthine maze of souks for tourists to shop, people watch or simply enjoy the sensory stimulation.
Beware that some stall holders may be particularly insistent that you buy something from them. Being firm with a polite “No, thank you” usually does the trick. And while it can be off-putting for some, others relish the direct and forthright communication you get in Marrakesh.
