One of the most popular attractions in Marrakech are the souks. They are a true highlight of any visit to this bustling city.


A unique atmosphere, an array of spices, leather goods, shoes, jewellery, lanterns and more…you’ll walk away with things you’ll treasure for years to come, and it’ll give you a chance to practice your haggling skills!

A souk is an historic open-air market that locals relied would rely on for day-to-day items, available from not just people working and living in Marrakesh but also travelling merchants passing through. The souks were traditionally located at important trading routes with people coming from all directions to trade their wares. They would travel by camel or donkey with a heavily laden caravan. Marrakech has many gates and entry points for this very reason – in the past this would make it easier for merchants to come and go. The large gates would open every day with merchants and their animals sleeping in mosques at night or waiting outside the walls if arriving after the gates had shut. Trading would take place at the city’s large square where they would all gather and set up stall during the day.

As the city grew, so did the souks. Vendors started to hold smaller souks close to smaller neighbourhoods. Creating trading areas close to home made it easier for the merchants to make money rather than spending time travelling. As more, smaller souks popped up, they would grow until they merged with other nearby souks. Today there are huge souks that have grown over many hundreds of years.

Craftsmen would often live and work close to others selling the same wares and so artisan communities would grow and develop as they sold products close to their workshops. That’s why today you will find souks or areas of souks dedicated to specific goods and produce such as carpets, leather items and spices.

The souks are made up of small winding alleyways with overflowing stalls that all look similar – so visitors can easily get lost. We would recommend walking the souks with a local guide or as part of a tour group, so that you won’t get lost. If you’re visiting independently, make sure you have a paper map or use Google Maps on your phone so that you can make your way around using mosques or monuments to guide you. If you do get lost, don’t ask for help from a local who could show you around and expect a tip at the end – if you need to ask for help choose a family, shop owner or female.

When you’re in the market to buy goods rather than just browsing, there’s so much to choose from. Tagine pots, glassware, ornate lanterns and candle holders, spices and spice pots, traditional woven rugs, leather bags, shoes and wallets, clothes, head coverings, artwork, shisha pipes, musical instruments, souvenirs, toys and more. Haggling is an essential part of purchasing goods – keep it friendly and reasonable when negotiating and if you can’t settle on a price, simply walk away. However, it’s bad etiquette to agree on a price and not follow through with the purchase so avoid this if you can.

You can also see how the leather tanneries work to give you an idea of how items are crafted before they are used to make goods – it’s fascinating to see the workmen in action sewing, hammering, sculpting, and cutting.

In the evening the souk really comes alive. The many lamp and lantern shops are lit up and the atmosphere is magical. You can wander the souk and find a place to grab a bite to eat from the local food vendors.

If you keep your wits about you – keeping your money and personal possessions secure – you’ll enjoy the souks of Marrakech immensely and buy treasures that you won’t find anywhere else.