Shopping · Marrakech · Morocco
Shopping in Marrakech
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Viault, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The souks are the main event: leather, carpets, lanterns, ceramics, spices and argan products, all priced by negotiation. For fixed prices, design boutiques in Mouassine and Gueliz and the Ensemble Artisanal crafts centre are calmer alternatives. Best souvenirs: Argan oil, Carpets and rugs and Babouches.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Argan oil
Where to shop
Souk Semmarine and the central souks
Textiles, babouche slippers, leather bags, lanterns and spices along the main covered lanes north of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Mouassine
Concept stores and design boutiques selling modern Moroccan homeware and fashion.
Gueliz
Galleries, boutiques and supermarkets with fixed prices, useful for food gifts.
Ensemble Artisanal
A fixed-price crafts centre on Avenue Mohammed V near the Koutoubia, useful for checking quality and prices before bargaining in the souks.
Markets
Rahba Kedima
A small square in the souks with spice stalls, woven baskets and traditional remedies.
Place des Ferblantiers
Metalworkers and lantern makers beside the Mellah and El Badi Palace.
Souk el Khemis
A sprawling flea and second-hand market near Bab el Khemis, busiest on Thursdays.
What to buy
Argan oil
Cosmetic and culinary argan oil from women's cooperatives; buy sealed bottles from reputable shops.
Carpets and rugs
Amazigh rugs and kilims; compare quality before negotiating, and get any shipping agreement in writing.
Babouches
Pointed leather slippers in every colour from the souks.
Lanterns
Pierced metal and coloured-glass lanterns from Place des Ferblantiers; some shops flat-pack them for travel.
Ceramics and tagines
Painted plates and decorative tagines; glazed cooking tagines are heavier but usable at home.
Spices and saffron
Ras el hanout blends and saffron; buy saffron from trusted sellers, as fakes are common.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · Medina
The souks
North of Jemaa el-Fnaa, a maze of covered lanes is divided by trade: Souk Semmarine for textiles and slippers, the dyers' souk with skeins of coloured wool drying overhead, the metalworkers of Souk Haddadine, and stalls of leather, lanterns, spices and carpets.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Mellah
The Mellah
Founded in the 16th century beside the royal palace, the Mellah was Marrakech's Jewish quarter.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Mint tea, Fresh orange juice, Moroccan pastries and Amlou. Everywhere, from rooftop cafés to carpet shops; ask for it 'bla sukar' if you want it without sugar. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) | $$ | Riads, souks and the main square inside the old city walls |
| Mouassine | $$$ | Calmer medina lanes with design shops and restored riads |
| Kasbah | $$ | Royal quarter by the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace |
| Gueliz | $$ | French-built new town of cafés, galleries and modern hotels |
| Hivernage | $$$ | Resort hotels, pools and nightclubs between the medina and Gueliz |
| Palmeraie | $$$$ | Palm groves, villas and resorts on the city's northern edge |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in MAD. Leave about 10% in restaurants and small tips for porters, riad staff, guides and drivers; keep small coins for musicians, parking attendants and toilet attendants.
- Bargain with good humour, but don't start haggling over something you don't intend to buy.
- Bargain for anything without a fixed price, and compare several shops before buying carpets or leather.
- Shopping stops arranged by guides or drivers usually include a commission that raises prices.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in June–July; the busiest months are April.
- February: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (usually February)
- June: Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira (usually June)
- November: Marrakech International Film Festival (usually late November to early December)
- December: Marrakech International Film Festival (usually early December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, shopping and culture
Mouassine
Calmer medina lanes with design shops and restored riads
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Marrakech?
Argan oil, Carpets and rugs, Babouches and Lanterns.
+Where is the best shopping in Marrakech?
Souk Semmarine and the central souks: Textiles, babouche slippers, leather bags, lanterns and spices along the main covered lanes north of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
+What are the best markets in Marrakech?
Rahba Kedima, Place des Ferblantiers and Souk el Khemis.