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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 10 March, 2024
Expert travel writer: Mandy Sinclair

Marrakech’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed central square epitomises the exotic allure of the city. From dawn until well after dusk it hums with activity, like an open-air theatre.

The scene here has changed little down the centuries; snake charmers, Gnaoua musicians, magicians and myriad other performers congregate here, mainly for local audiences – though at peak times it’s very touristy.

By early evening part of the square becomes a giant open-air kitchen and is given over to countless food stalls serving local specialities. The Medina’s famous souks start on its fringes.

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Just stroll around and soak up the sights and sounds. In the evening the smoke billows up from the food stalls, the entertainers and musicians are out in force and the square pulses with people and atmosphere.

Many of the food stalls wash their dishes and cutlery in the same, untreated water. Bring your own cutlery and eat off a paper plate or napkin – or play safe and eat elsewhere. Forgo ice in your drink.

When to do it

There’s usually not a whole lot going on in the daytime (due to the heat, amongst other things). The action really starts from dusk.

Who to go with: organised tours

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Experience Marrakech: Gastronomic and Market Adventure Inside the Medina

Marrakech

Experience Marrakech: Gastronomic and Market Adventure Inside the Medina
Indulge in exotic Moroccan foods and feast your senses on the spectacle of Marrakech’s chaotic main square, Djemaa El Fna, during this unforgettable walking tour. With the help of your local guide, learn about Morocco's vibrant spices, witness the art of haggling at a local meat market, and sample local delicacies including cow’s hoof, sheep’s head and ghoulal, a snail soup. Your gastronomic adventure culminates with a traditional Moroccan dinner amid the snake charmers, henna artists and fortune tellers in eye-popping Djemaa El Fna. This small-group tour is limited to 12 people to ensure more personalized attention from your guide.

Price: €37

Min age: 6

Rating 4.65 / 5 [257 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Marrakech

Marrakech-Safi, Morocco

Ornate, tiled doorway with round door

An exotic time capsule of ancient streets and souks, blending Arab culture and French colonial heritage. Soak it all up in the wonderfully evocative atmosphere of the Jemaa el-Fnaa.