Jemaa el-Fna is the great public square of the Marrakech medina, a few minutes' walk from the Koutoubia minaret and at the entrance to the souks. Born around 1070, in the Almoravid era, as a marketplace in front of the city's fortress, it has gathered storytellers, musicians, herbalists and vendors for centuries. In 2001 UNESCO proclaimed it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and since 2008 it has been on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The square changes face over the course of the day: orange juice sellers and snake charmers by day, then, from late afternoon, rows of grill stalls and circles of musicians and storytellers. Since May 2025 it has been undergoing a major redevelopment (new natural stone paving, an area reserved for horse-drawn carriages, a tourist information kiosk), carried out sector by sector: in June 2026 the works were announced to be in their final phase, and a tender launched in September 2026 plans to replace the food vendors' stalls. Expect a few areas still under works.
Highlights
The square by day
In the morning and afternoon the square is calmer: parasols of orange juice and dried fruit sellers, herbalists, henna artists and snake charmers. It is the right time to take in its size and see the Koutoubia minaret standing out above the rooftops.
The evening grill stalls
In late afternoon, dozens of numbered stalls set up in the centre of the square: skewers, fried fish, harira, snails, sheep's head. Expect to pay 40 to 80 MAD per person for a full meal in general. Choose a stall with displayed prices, confirm the price of each dish before ordering and refuse any plates you did not ask for, which otherwise end up on the bill.
Storytellers, musicians and halqas
In the evening, spectators form circles (halqas) around storytellers, Gnawa musicians and troupes of acrobats. This oral tradition is what UNESCO set out to protect. If you stay to watch a show or film it, a small coin is expected when the hat comes round.
Snake charmers and monkeys: the photo traps
Handlers put a snake or a monkey on your shoulders, then demand a large sum, often several dozen or hundred dirhams, for the photo or even just for watching. Decline with a clear gesture and do not take pictures without agreeing on a price first. The monkeys on show are Barbary macaques, an endangered species whose international trade is banned under the CITES convention: animal welfare organisations advise against encouraging this trade by paying for a photo.
The terraces around the square
Several cafés, such as the Café de France or the Grand Balcon du Café Glacier, have rooftop terraces overlooking the whole square and the Koutoubia. Access is by ordering a drink. Arrive before sunset to get a seat at the edge of the terrace.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Access to the square is free; for the evening stalls, expect generally 40 to 80 MAD per person for a full meal (a rough range reported by guidebooks, with no official price list); ask the price or choose a stall that displays it before ordering. The evening crowds attract pickpockets: keep your phone and wallet in a closed pocket and carry your bag in front. Be wary of henna tattoos offered insistently, sometimes done with "black henna", which can cause severe skin reactions, and of "guides" who approach you to lead you to the souks or the tanneries. If you have a problem, contact the tourist police brigade.
How to get there
Place Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech medina. The square is pedestrianised: petits taxis drop you at its edge, on the Koutoubia or avenue Mohammed V side (insist on the meter or agree the fare before getting in). The Koutoubia is about 5 minutes' walk away, and the entrance to the souks opens directly onto the north of the square. Several city bus lines (Supratours network), including line 19 from Marrakech-Menara airport, serve the area around the square.
Opening hours
Nearby
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