Souks

A labyrinth of spices, food and eye-catching goods, these bustling markets are the colourful essence of Morocco.

TravelCurious Tip

Don't be afraid to get lost down side streets: you'll find your way eventually.

Absolutely bazaar

It’s all go in the souks. In this bewildering warren of bazaars and stalls you can find everything from jewellery and brassware to hats and leather bags, mehndi artists to snake charmers. Traditional tanneries fill alleyways with pungent aromas; cobblers hawk their wares alongside locksmiths; intricate lanterns, pyramids of fresh fruit, gorgeous woven rugs and clothes abound. The epitome of the Middle Eastern market experience, the souks are a spectacle of abundance and a real feast for the senses.

It’s practically impossible not to get lost in the souks - 3000 stalls selling many of the same goods quickly become confusing - but be wary of asking for directions, as you will likely be led by a tout who will take you to a particular business and ask you for money. Let yourself be absorbed in the labyrinth; you’ll find your way out eventually.


Work for your bargains

The main thing to be prepared for when buying at a souk is haggling: while it is friendly, this is not a place for hassle-free shopping. Stall owners will try their luck with tourists, but some vigorous bargaining will get you a long way and is the standard practice here - and don’t be afraid to walk away! It’s common to get a 1000 dirham asking price down to more like 300 dirhams.

Locals shop here as well, and are well versed in the art of the haggle. Go with a sense of humour and enjoy the experience. Share a cup of tea and a chat with a merchant, and come away with more than a souvenir. The souks make for an unmissable odyssey to the heart of Marrakech.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Marrakech
The Medina
Enclosed by ancient walls, the oldest quarter of the city is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Tagine
Tagine is a traditional North African Berber dish, named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked.
Communal Bread Ovens
Most homes in the medina don’t have the luxury of an oven, so bread is baked communally instead.
Ben Youssef Medersa
A koranic theological college, the Medersa is often labelled the most beautiful building in Marrakech - quite an accolade.
The Almoravid Koubba
Just south of the Ben Youssef Mosque, this small shrine is the oldest monument in Marrakech.
Tangia
A Moroccan speciality, the meat and spices in tangia are traditionally slow-cooked for hours in a public oven.

Related Tours

Marrakech in a Day: Private All-Inclusive Full-Day Tour
Experience the exhilarating riot of sights, sounds and smells of the ancient city of Marrakech. Bubbling with irrepressible energy, Marrakech is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. Filled with UNESCO World Heritage designated palaces, mosques and markets it is situated on the edge of the Sahara Desert and nestled at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. 

On your private full-day tour, you will:

  • Enjoy the personal attention of your expert private guide, with private transport included throughout;
  • Immerse yourself in the historic yet buzzing atmosphere of the souks, cobblestone alleyways, palaces and mosques of the Medina before seeking out the tranquil, sweet-smelling gardens beyond the walls;
  • Pass outside the city’s largest mosque, the highly-decorated Koutoubia Mosque with its 77-metre minaret (253 feet);
  • See the fortune-tellers, snake charmers, poets, and storytellers on the historic square Jemma el Fna; 
  • Discover the cultural importance of Marrakech’s UNESCO World Heritage sites;
  • Visit the Bahia Palace ‘The Beautiful’ (tickets included) a stunning, and sprawling, architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Medina, built in the 19th century;
  • Watch the silk spinners, spice sellers, rug stalls and basket weavers at work in the Souks of the Medina;
  • Have a go at haggling in the souks! 
  • Wander around the beautifully preserved ruins of the 16th-century El Badi Palace, constructed for Sultan, Ahmad al-Mansur, of the Saadian dynasty (tickets included);
  • Visit the only surviving remains of the Saadian dynasty (1524-1659), and admire the intricately decorated sepulchres of the Saadian Tombs;
  • Learn about the construction of the ramparts using Pisé, a reddish-pink clay, which glows spectacularly in the setting sun;
  • Enjoy the enchanting gardens of Jardin Majorelle created by French painter Jacques Majorelle (tickets included);
  • Finish back at your hotel, or drop off at a central location of your choice.

Marrakech is where Europe, Africa and the Middle East intermingle in an exhilarating riot of noise, smells and colour that defines the character of the great city of the Maghreb. Founded a thousand years ago, on the edge of the Sahara Desert, it is famous for the colourful pinkish hues of its walls and palaces, framed dramatically by the surrounding snow-dusted peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. 

Your full-day private tour of Marrakech begins in the historic Medina, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. Wander through the puzzle of historic streets, and maze of cobbled back alleys; experience the vibrant hustle and bustle and bartering at the souks, and the displays of street charmers, fortune-tellers and poets at the renowned Jemma el-Fna. Step back in time as you witness the mules towing pushcarts piled high with saleable wares, and admire the fine historic palaces juxtaposed to these street scenes. 

You will visit the renowned Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace ‘the Beautiful’, and the ruins of the Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs. You’ll also pass by the famous Ben Youssef Medersa, all of them steeped in ancient stories. 

After lunch, take a luxury private transfer to the Majorelle Gardens (tickets included). 
This is a stunning and unique 2.5-acre garden designed and created over a period of 40 years by the French artist Jacques Majorelle. Wander through this tranquil place with its marble pools, banana trees, cubist villa, coconut palms, raised pathways and peaceful groves of bamboo: a tranquil contrast to the sights and sounds of the morning!  Your guide and driver can return you to your hotel or drop you off at a location of your choice. 
Immersive Marrakech Experience: Cooking Class, Hammam & Massage
Discover a myriad of Marrakech’s wonders on this full-day private experience, including a guided tour of the city’s highlights, a delicious food tasting, a cooking class and traditional Moroccan lunch, and afterwards relax in a luxurious traditional Hammam. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Enjoy a private vehicle throughout the day for a hassle-free experience;
  • Explore the highlights of the Medina— the beautiful, bustling old town;
  • Walk around the famous Djemaa El Fna Square and pass by Koutoubia Mosque;
  • Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the souks and food markets.
  • Soak up the sights, smells, and sounds of Marrakech!
  • Enjoy a delicious food-tasting tour, stopping at the famous street food vendors;
  • Take part in a fabulously tasty cooking class for lunch;
  • Enjoy traditional, refreshing Moroccan teas including mint, wormwood, sage, wild thyme, and geranium;
  • Spend the afternoon relaxing in an iconic Hammam, a long-standing tradition in Moroccan culture;
  • Enjoy a traditional Morrocan Massage with argan oil;
  • Return to your hotel by private transfer. 

Bustling Marrakech is a byword for joyous chaos: a crowded tangle of souks, a maze of cobbled alleyways, and jostling vendors vying for trade. 

On this full-day experience, you will discover the myriad of marvels that Marrakech can boast! After being picked up from your hotel, begin with a guided walking tour of the Medina with your expert English-speaking private guide. The Medina is the medieval centre of Marrakech, filled with markets and open-air stalls, souks, traders, snake charmers, and so much more! Take in the vibrant atmosphere filled with plumes of grill smoke and the beguiling melody of the snake charmer’s flute amidst the throngs of people. Cries for custom echo around a zillion stalls piled high with spices, live chickens, richly-woven rugs, coffee pots, and silken slippers. 

Next, your guide will show you around the vast Djemaa El Fna Square for a food-tasting tour of the thousands of street food vendors. Morocco’s favourite spices are cinnamon, ginger, cumin, turmeric, paprika, coriander, saffron, anise, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, fenugreek and caraway to name a few. 

Marrakech cuisine is diverse and peppered with a unique mix of cultures. Your chef, a veteran of private dining experiences, will teach you how to create a delicious lunch. Each dish blends Berber staples with Arabic nuts and dried fruit, the cooking styles of the Ottoman Turks and the olives and citrus fruits of the Moors with plenty of Gallic culinary twists. 

Family, kinship, and the warmth of shared meals are highly prized in Moroccan life and are as central to the culture as another ancient tradition: the indulgent and sensuous Hammam. 

After lunch, you will be taken to a traditional Hammam, and spend the afternoon relaxing in the aromatic steam baths with Moroccan botanicals such as rose, patchouli, jasmine, geranium, bergamot, and eucalyptus. 

In ancient times, a copper gong sounded at dawn, heralding the opening of the baths. Today the gongs have long gone, yet the baths remain an integral part of the social fabric of Marrakech communities. Interiors are largely unchanged by time, with dazzling wall-to-ceiling tiled mosaics, ornate gilded domes and gleaming marble. 

Note: Please be sure to bring swim trunks, and a towel for the hammam experience. You can leave these in the vehicle throughout the day before the hammam experience.
The Best of Marrakech Live Virtual Tour
Let's virtually to Marrakech, a centuries-old trading hub and Morocco's first of four imperial cities on this Live Virtual Tour with your professional Tour Guide.

Founded almost a thousand years ago, Marrakech is a city where Europe, Africa and the Middle East mingle and merge and this virtual tour is the perfect opportunity to discover the city's history, see the most popular squares and immerse yourself into its globally famous exotic souks.

You will :
  • See fortune tellers, snake charmers, poets, and storytellers on historic square Jemma El Fna,
  • Discover Café de France, one of the best-known cafés on the square and a Marrakech institution,
  • Explore Tangia and Machoui local cooking ovens and stalls,
  • Walk down the Olives Market where you can find green olives, matured black olives (Marrakech speciality), pink olives and even harissa marinated olives. 
  • See the Souk Semmarine, a covered alley where you can find from pâtisseries and pottery to high-quality fabric and textiles shops. 
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