Jemaa el-Fnaa
Jemaa el-Fnaa
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksFlea & Street Markets
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
This is the entrance to the outdoor market and food court of the city center.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Mark H
    Sawbridgeworth, United Kingdom33 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One visit is simply not enough!
    If you come to Marrakech then several visits to the square are a must. It changes throughout the day and is just filled with life. Never felt uncomfortable just really uplifted! Having a drink on the many rooftop terraces to people watch is incredible… a small number sell alcohol too but whether it’s a margarita, a mint tea or a water the views are stunning. By day it’s lively, by night it’s exciting. Music, storytelling, food … be prepared to have a few coins when watching performers and you may even be invited to take a seat!!! Chose to take a wider berth of the performing monkeys and snake charmers but hey … this ain’t Kansas Toto!!! Whatever time of day… if you can take the time to be still during the call to prayer you will be immersed… as a firm Christian, the call to prayer became both an alarm clock and a very spiritual moment … what a great world we live in!!! Not sure? Just go and experience it.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 20 March 2023
  • DiviFilius13
    Salzburg Region, Austria194 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stand No. 51
    The fruit and juice dealer No. 51 (Chez Khalid) is the best in the square. The only polite guy, who doesn't want to rip you off. The juice was very tasty for fair price. We came here every day during our holidays. I can only recommend!
    Visited March 2023
    Written 21 March 2023
  • LexiV
    Cleveland, Ohio919 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wild Square
    This is an area that you simply cannot miss when visiting Marrakesh. Yes, it's crowded and dirty, and you're going to get hassled, but you can always escape to a rooftop cafe and watch the chaos from above. The ATM with the best rates in the area is right on the square (sort of toward Koutoubia) and a new museum just opened up in the old bank building, which is well worth anyone's time. I purchased a huge box of fancy and delicious cookies to take home here from a stall and shopped a bit. Of course, always bargain down from the asking price. You can get your picture taken with costumed characters and pick up a tuk-tuk if you don't want to walk back to your room. Also, watch where you're going; I was taking a video on my last day and almost stepped on a cobra!
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 27 March 2023
  • TB.
    277 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic Spot, but the animals are not treated well.
    This is popular tourist stop. It's crazy at night with large numbers of people, food, activity, and and quieter during the day. Snake charmers have sewn the mouths shut of the snakes. They let them starve to death then go get new snakes. Avoid the snake charmers and monkey handlers. They are sadly abused.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 31 March 2023
  • MikeLinda23
    Llandudno, United Kingdom434 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great holiday in Marrakesh
    Great place to experience life in Marrakesh. Lots of positives- locals want your trade obviously but we never felt hassled or uncomfortable. Only negative- the monkeys- why do tourists keep having pics with these poor creatures? End it/ban it!!
    Visited April 2023
    Written 10 April 2023
  • Mer21maid
    826 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Boring
    Not sure about the hype of Jemaa el-Fnaa? It is really just a big, half-empty square with no shade and the occasional sleepy vendor or snake charmer? For me it is just a square you cross on your way somewhere else. Nothing to see or do at Jemaa el-Fnaa.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 15 April 2023
  • WanderingOttersons
    Denver, Colorado1,380 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Come here several times to take it all in
    This place is fantastic. Unlike the traditional medinas of tight and winding streets, this large square offers an open sight line to so much. During the day, it is busy with a lot of activity and open stands but at night this place REALLY comes alive. All the food stands move in to open up around 6pm, more vendors come out and (apart from during Ramadan), the locals flood in as well. It is filled with energy and a vast amount of people. At the north end of what was empty ground space just a couple of hours before is about 20-30 food stations, all with the grills and large pots making food to order and warming up the soups that were created in homes just hours before as well. So many food options I don’t know where to start. Definitely make sure you pick a place and sit down for some food. Most of them have exactly the same things, so I don’t know if there is much difference. We got directed to a specific stall by a local friend (but another local we were with went to a different one – it's really just preference and who you know for the locals). Around these food stalls is stands of fresh fruits and nuts and then around those is more vendors with their good displayed on the ground. Live Berber music and drums fill your ears as does the din of all the people. At night, it will become hard to get around the main square and you will be called by vendors from every direction trying to get your attention to their stall. Keep your head on a swivel as there is just SO MUCH activity. We were told when we arrived to be really aware of pickpockets but honestly, we spent 4 weeks in and around this square and never even had a small moment of worry – doesn't mean you shouldn’t be aware. Also be aware of some more aggressive tactics that can be there (though again we saw none of this). If you are taking photos or video of any performer or stall – they will expect you to pay them for that. Be aware of the live animals and know that if you get one of them on you for photos (fortunately not the cobras), there is an expected fee for that as well. There are also several bars (most bars don’t serve alcohol) and restaurants with terraces all around the square so take some time to sit and watch from above as well.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 26 April 2023
  • randall524
    Centennial, Colorado17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An evening at the square
    A must see for anyone visiting Morocco. While there are many tourists, that only makes sense as it is so interesting to see. We went on our own and had no problems. Every type of vendor imaginable, along with acrobats, monkeys, snake charmers and many restaurants from which to watch this famous place.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 May 2023
  • Heli P
    Helsinki, Finland6,406 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bargains and eager traders
    Traders arrive in the afternoon with carriages selling popular leather sandals as cheap as 30 dirhams a pair. The local artisans are feverishly producing new articles so old stock must go. The stalls bordering the square usually have higher asking prices and more arrogant shopkeepers than those in the depths of the proper souk. Fresh herbs like rosemary, mint and sage make a nice souvenir and are sold near cafe Argana.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 May 2023
  • Lise H
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Assault on the senses
    The square is somewhat quiet in the day but the evening is crazy with the sounds of the street entertainers and smells of the food stalls. Considering the crowds I felt perfectly safe walking around. Watch out for the guys with the monkeys, they jump on your shoulders and then demand payment for having your photo taken
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 June 2023
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles53,299 reviews
Excellent
22,369
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16,798
Average
8,691
Poor
2,883
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2,558

Babyshouts
Bristol, UK61 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Disturbing abuse of animals ruined our trip to Marrakesh - the treatment of the snakes, horses and in particular the monkeys 6 months after this trip still haunts me.

The snakes are drugged and slapped to wake up, horses stand in the blistering heat all day with no shade or water and worst still are the monkeys that are chained, abused and dressed in baby clothes and nappies. When the monkeys are not being dragged around on chains for photos they are locked in tiny metal boxes in the middle of the square extreme heat of 30 degrees plus with no shade or water. Their hands and faces reaching out desperate for help. It is absolutely barbaric and reduced my children to tears seeing it. Even the people having photos taken look scared.

I said to one of the monkey handlers as I walked past how upsetting it was and he called me a 'f**king Wh*re’ in front of children. It was so bad that I felt traumatised and couldn’t bring myself to walk through the square again.

Marrakesh is a beautiful vibrant city, with so much going for it but this practice is outdated, vile, upsetting and an embarrassment to the authorities who seem to be under the impression that it’s about their heritage (read the national geographic article). The majority of people in the square are visibly revolted by it and I would guess it turns away more tourism than it brings in.

I have spent time looking into it since this encounter and there are now less than 10,000 of these monkeys left in the wild and they are endangered. Why is this allowed to continue??? Please consider signing the Born Free petition and supporting them, I found this after this encounter or write your own review. It is only when it hits the authorities in their pockets that they will start to take notice. These monkeys need to be removed and allowed to live out their days in their natural habitat or a suitable sanctuary.
Written 14 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

phutty
Tallinn, Estonia1,404 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
No trip to Marrakech is complete without at least one stroll through this, the city's main square. That said, for me at least it held very little attraction: the surrounding places to eat generally aren't as good or well priced as others hidden away elsewhere in the medina, and the touters and stall-holders here tend to be more aggressive and insistent. Then there's the 'snake-charmers' and monkey-wranglers and such, who are basically only there to swindle money out of you. If you manage to swerve all of them, the square is worth a cursory visit, but I wouldn't come here especially. Just pass through.
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sameer
Mumbai, India383 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Great place to hand around in the evening when in Marrakech. Great Food and the place is lively and has a lot to offer. Great shopping place if you have a lot to spend. The fun in shopping is the haggling you have to do get your right price. There is no right price but you will know if the seller wants to sell or not when you offer a price. But its fun.
Written 6 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

A7890
Sugar Land, TX36 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Our tour guide us walked us through and it was nice having her because she was able to dodge people coming at us trying to sell us something. However, it is an experience to walk through and wander and take in everything
Written 3 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mathilda L
47 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Horrible place. No order no structure, huge crowds and motorcycles driving in the middle of the marketplace. Feels very uncomfortable and unsafe because they are not exactly driving slow. Everything is for tourists only, bad quality products - you get nothing for the money. Other than that there is a lot of animal abuse. People who keep monkeys on a chain around their neck and horses that have to stand in the heat without water all day long.
Impossible to avoid this place because the exchange offices are there and you can buy stamps there and all the souk streets lead to this horrible place.
Written 28 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BenGriffiths2000
London, UK4 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Whilst we loved the medina, wandering through the souks and old shopping streets, the main square is best avoided. It’s the central hub for fleecing tourists. Individual sellers who do not have their own stores try to sell their goods at inflated prices, the poor monkeys are dragged by chains for photos, the snake charmers throw a snake on you and then turn agressive if you don’t pay them a lot, and the beggars are pushy.

Marrakesh is beautiful as are the people and this square sadly has none of that charm (though viewing it from a high rooftop which we don’t do might be nice). Stick to the souks instead, the deeper the better
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

suzytoo
Maidenhead, UK33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
While in Marrakesh a few weeks ago we walked to this square late one evening, it’s also referred to as the night market & what an experience it turned out to be…Our hotel the brilliant Medina Gardens built within the medina wall & walking distance of Jemaa-el-Fnaa square, we asked at reception how to get there, it was a 10 minute easy stroll, once you pass the mosque, he said, just follow the sound of the drums & was he right about that..the noise, the people, the smells & the stalls, what an amazing experience it turned into..it’s something you need to experience…
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sean G
Cardiff, UK19 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Serious safety incident
May 2023 • Couples
The food looked really good, unfortunately we were unable to try any of it due to being continually harassed by the locals. They will touch you, grab you, block you from walking away, stroke your hair if you're a women... It is unbelievable how women are treated here although men are treated almost as badly. I would never come here as a solo traveller and in a group i would only stay for 5 minutes. 5 minutes of being physically and verbally assaulted is enough. We followed all of their rules regarding dress code. I wish we had turned up wearing swim wear as they deserve the respect they give to others, which is zero.
Maybe if this place can sort out how they treat tourists they will receive the benefit from it. We didn't spend any money here because of how we were treated. Probably the most backwards place I have ever visited in the world. I travel a lot.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jelena J
3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
My recent visit to Jemaa el-Fnaa left me deeply troubled by the distressing treatment of animals, including caged falcons, snakes, and particularly monkeys. These poor creatures were chained, had their teeth removed, and were subjected to beating, all for the sake of entertaining visitors. In the 21st century, it is disheartening to witness such cruelty for amusement. I urge everyone to be conscious of the well-being of these animals and reconsider supporting activities that exploit and harm them. Let's promote responsible tourism and prioritize the ethical treatment of animals.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy W.
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Interesting experience visiting the square at night. The men tempting you to eat at they're stalls were entertaining (for a while). Ended up eating at stall number 9. Good experience and the food was tasty. The tiny side dishes that we thought came the meal turned out to be all extras. Ended up being very expensive, at least double what we'd thought when we read the menu. Would suggest be very clear about what you're ordering with the menu in your hand and not be taken in by the patter which changed when querying the bill.
Written 21 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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JEMAA EL-FNAA: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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