Good provisions are the best preparation for an adventure. So stock up on salted almonds and freshly squeezed orange juice at the huge main square, Djemaa el Fna (quite literally: Square of the Hanged Men). This famous square became the first site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity back in 2001. This traditional snack will give you the energy to spend hours strolling and browsing — and also to haggle persistently once you have discovered something you would really like to have. A little warm-up exercise: show your confidence here and make sure they’re not stretching your juice with sugary water.

Once you’ve been immersed in the maze and shadows of the bustling alleys, the Derb Rahba Lakdima will seem like an unexpected clearing — with its very own mountain range! That is because the rectangular square features mountains of colourful woollen hats that the traders knit them themselves while loudly advertising their wares. The roof of the Café des Épices is the perfect place from which to watch the hustle and bustle below, all while enjoying a kind of cappuccino known locally as ‘mis mis’. If you’re in need of a break and refreshment, the tajines, a kind of one-pot stew, are excellent here.

Café des Épices