(Last Updated On: September 12, 2020)

Marrakech souks: Ready to haggle is an extension to budget traveling Marrakech: What to expect.

The Marrakech souks are as famous as Moroccan tea.

While the Marrakech Medina might be the heartbeat of Marrakech, the main square; (Jemaa El-fnaa) might be the vibrant ball of electricity, the Marrakech markets are the pulsating epicenter of it all.

Stepping into the Marrakech souks; which are the largest and busiest souks in Morocco, is like stepping into an enchanted world. The smells, the hustle bustle, the noise, and vibrant visual delights can put you in a mesmeric trance and be quite the pulse raiser but overwhelming the first time (or even the second time.)

The Marrakech souks are like no other, these markets in Marrakech are special, a unique, unforgettable experience. In this Marrakech souks post, we’re gonna dive right into the heart into these Marrakech markets to give you an insight into what they’re like for us backpackers. Oh yeah, and get ready to haggle!

Where the Marrakech souks are, & to get inside them

Getting into the markets in Marrakech is the easy part! It’s the getting out that’s the hard part – at first.

The Marrakech souks are a labyrinth of interconnecting lanes and ally’s, which are filled with stalls and shops practically compressed into each other. At first glance, the Marrakech souks seem to just mesh into one and it’s quite easy to lose yourself in them. However, once you have your bearings, navigating them becomes a little easier.

As I mentioned in my previous post Budget traveling Marrakech: Inside the Medina, everything is in touching distance of the main square. The main entrances to the Marrakech souks are found from the corners and side of the square in the Medina.

However, you should know, although the main entrances into the Marrakech souks are from the square, some of the markets are interconnecting. It can be like wormholes; you enter through one entrance, and pop out in another pocket of space, like on the other side of the medina.

Now before you start panicking, or thinking you’ll get lost in them, that they seem a bit overwhelming – Ah who am I kidding! – Yeah, you’re gonna be overwhelmed by the chaos, you might panic when the hawkers try approaching you and everybody gets lost in the Marrakech markets the first few times. THAT’S HALF THE FUN!

The first time I stepped into the Marrakech Markets, I didn’t know which way to turn, and with all the chaos in them, it just made it harder to get my bearings. But after a few visits, getting around became easier, and it was just fun and games in them.

Here’s a simple way to help you navigate through the Marrakech markets.

Navigating the markets in Marrakech

*Follow the general flow of the crowd: Following the crowd is just like letting the current take you, eventually you’ll find land, In this case, you’ll find a way out of the Marrakech souks .

of the Marrakech souks *Leave breadcrumbs for yourself: Not literal ones, but pick out some noticeable signs, or something you will recognize and use them to backtrack.

*Go with somebody who knows their way around the Marrakech souks . My first few days I was with friends who had been in Marrakech a few days before, so they were my guides inside them.

the Marrakech souks *Familiarise yourself with certain stalls inside the Marrakech souks, use them as landmarks and after a few days, you’ll pass them knowing where you are. There will be some places that just stand out to you.

*Once you’ve been in the Marrakech medina, and in the Marrakech souks a few days, you’ll get used to the layout, so even if you walk into one entrance you’ll know the general direction of another from inside.

Marrakech *Also after a few days, you’ll know which souks sell what, which are quieter, and which ones you’ll be harassed in more.

*Once you’re familiar with a few stalls inside the Marrakech souks, you’ll also find yourself constructing a mental map in your head. A couple of the souks have little courtyards to separate them before joining onto another. You can use them to help navigate around too.

What’s sold in the Marrakech Markets?

Pretty much anything and everything you can think of. One of the reasons why so many tourists flock to souks is because there is such an abundance of choice. Yes, a lot of the stalls just like in most heavily populated markets around the world do sell much of the same but there is also so much uniqueness on offer. It’s funny because if you’re in one shop inside the Marrakech souks and they’ve run out of something you want, they’ll just run over to another stall, grab it from them and come back to sell it to you themselves rather than pointing you to the other stall.

In the Marrakech souks you’re going to find a mixture of authentic Moroccan craftsmanship and handicrafts, you’ll feel Moroccan history as you venture through. But, at the same time, you’ll also see cheap knockoffs, items that have been mass-produced for tourists and cheap souvenirs. It really is a mixed bag but one thing is for sure your senses are going to explode.

Most common things you’ll find in the Marrakech souks

Textiles: Authentic, hand-crafted Moroccan items such as handmade carpets, rugs and all types of fabrics. However, you need to keep an eye out as some are just some cheap factory made items mass-produced for tourists, who can’t tell the difference between authentic or not.

Pottery and ceramics of all shapes and sizes: Vases, bowls, cutlery, cups, teapots, all with intricate Moroccan designs.

Colorful spices, Moroccan tea, and herbs.

Handcrafted ornaments and trinkets of all sizes.

All kinds of Moroccan lamps and oil lamps (Genie not included, trust me I rubbed a few but nothing.)

Unique historic weapons: Guns, knives, blades, swords, daggers, spears, shields.

Tacky and cheap Sunglasses and hats.

Furniture.

Handmade Moroccan slippers, made from leather and locally called ‘Babouches’.

Traditional medicine.

Amazing Moroccan artwork, made from traditional paints and dyes.

Fake and knock off clothing and shoes apparently from designer brands (wink, wink.)

Cheap souvenirs to take home with you.

All types of electronics from old to new.

Bags of all kinds, homemade and handcrafted from all kinds of materials.

A whole lot more: Whatever you’re interested in; it will be here.

Casually looking around/window shopping in the Marrakech markets

There are certain things that don’t seem to be allowed in the Marrakech markets, and walking around peacefully seems to be one of them. So, if for a second, you think you’ll be able to leisurely walk around the Marrakech souks without being bothered; you’re quite mistaken.

In the busier souks, every stall you walk past the owners will entice you to look in their stall or shop. Some will be more aggressive than others. Some will try to entice you with a tea, they might try telling you a fable, others will compliment you, or might just try to strike up a conversation. If you have a beard, no matter where you’re from you will be called ‘Ali Baba’ – Don’t get offended nor take it seriously, they’re just trying to get your attention. I was called ‘English brown Alli Baba’ all the time.

However, in saying that I’m making it sound worse than it is, yes you will get hassled by some, some of them are very persuasive but there are other souks that are quieter. Some will let you walk by, even peer into their stalls without batting an eyelid but once you step into the stall and show some interest they will latch onto you like a rash. To us westerners, we prefer to be left alone and shop on our own accord but to these guys, it’s what they know.

No…Maybe?

If you aren’t interested in buying anything inside the Marrakech souks, don’t be afraid to say NO. Some stall owners can be quite persuasive but a firm ‘no‘ will dispel your interest. However, if you feel just saying no is quite rude then just like with the merchants on the square the word ‘maybe’ works just as well but with more interaction.

Here’s how it usually goes – You say, “Maybe tomorrow” – They will reply with “Maybe?” – Which you come back with a nod, smiling and say “Maybe” – They know you’re brushing them off but not being rude by ignoring them or just saying no. Remember they are just trying to make a living.

Play the game – Haggle, haggle, haggle!

If you are interested in buying something, you’re going to need to haggle if you don’t want to get ripped off.

Now, I know for a lot of people haggling is a daunting task and some of you may never have had to do it. For most of us that come from western countries, haggling is a foreign concept. We’re used to walking into a shop and buying something at the stated price, sometimes we shop in different places to find the cheapest option, and sometimes there are discounts. However, we don’t do what seems to be arguing over something.

I only learned to haggle after I started backpacking in 2010, and at first, it was a daunting experience, I didn’t know how to do it nor did I know the ‘rules’ to haggling. You see there is an art to haggling and I’m sure even when I started I still got ripped off. However, it’s a learning curve and over the years I’ve learned to play the game.

And, that’s exactly what it is; a game! Some people think haggling needs to be serious, or some think they shouldn’t haggle because what’s a few pennies, they can’t be bothered with the hassle.

Haggling is not being rude, It’s part of the culture, haggling is expected and if you don’t want to haggle, well you’re just going to get ripped off, it’s as simple as that.

Playing the haggling game in the Marrakech markets

When you’re in the Marrakech Medina, not just the souks, haggling is essential if you don’t want to get ripped off. And even more so for us budget travelers.

Here’s a basic method that works for me and a lot of backpackers I know.

Don’t be too serious, ask them to name a price. Smile, shake your head and offer just less than three quarters of the price they stated. They will laugh and refuse it, they will stick to the original price. You shrug, shake your head and put the item back saying it’s too much and start to walk away like you’re not interested. They will call you back with an “Ok, Ok, new price’ – which will still be substantially too much but less than the original price. This time you stick to your original offer, – you will go back and forth a few times. Once they’ve gone down quite substantially, they will stick to their latest offer in which you offer a little higher than your original price. There will be a bit more back and forth and eventually you will agree on a price that suits you both. You will then agree on a price, they will try to be sneaky and up the price but you shake your head or laugh – they will laugh back and the price you agreed on will stick.

It can get a little more complex sometimes, there can be multiple items involved but sometimes it can be even easier and just simple. The important factor is: never take the first, second or even third offer, and also do shop around before you commit. And also don’t be rude, remember It’s a game/

Visiting the Marrakech souks can be hard for budget backpackers

What I mean by this is, we budget travelers obviously have a tight budget. We are quite strict about our spending habits and we only spend when we need to. So, when visiting the souks there is going to be an urge to spend, and like I said before there is always something in the Souks that you will want to buy.

So, if your eye does catch something that you just have to have, you’re going to need to be on your haggling game. No matter how cheap something seems it’s going to make a difference if you haggle.

Things to keep in mind when in the Marrakech markets

*They can get very overcrowded, although generally safe, keep your valuables close.

*Like everywhere else in the world, the more you look like and act like a wide-eyed tourist, the more you’re likely to be targeted. Try to blend in.

*Don’t be afraid to get lost in them for a few hours. Remember getting lost is half the fun.

*Taking photos is quite difficult unless you’re willing to pay the shopkeeper a tip a take them.

*Some will have signs saying ‘no pictures’ some will tell you straight up that you can’t take a picture.

*Shop/market owners are savvy, some are quite persuasive, some will try striking up a friendly conversation just to get you into their shop. Some will even offer you a tea as you’re looking around, it’s their ‘in’ but it’s ok to take the tea, especially if you’re thirsty.

*However in saying you can have some great fun and banter with the shop owners too.

*Be mindful of your budget, it’s quite easy to start overspending, especially if you get on a roll with haggling. You might think as you’re haggling you have enough budget left, that is until you get home and realise you spent way more than you thought.

*If you do buy things, think of the practicality of it – Are you going to carry on traveling? How will you carry what you’ve bought, will it fit in your backpack, do you have space? (It might sound stupid, but I meet so many travelers who over buy then wonder how they are going to carry things around.)

*Be mindful of asking for directions, some people will tell you the wrong direction on purpose.

*Don’t accept any offers from anybody offering to guide you if you don’t know them.

*Take a break, there are lots of cafe’s dotted around the souks.

*Most importantly don’t forget to have fun.

My overview of the Marrakech souks

I can honestly say, even though I didn’t buy that much in the souks I had so much fun in them, I had lots of friendly banter with store owners in the Marrakech souks.

Over the years, I’ve lived in Bali where the streets of Kuta are lined with markets. I’ve been to huge night markets in Thailand and Vietnam and experienced other open-air markets in central America but nothing compares to the energy, colors, smells, and atmosphere generated through the Marrakech souks.

Apart from getting a bit weary and tired of people trying to entice you – this is an experience not to be missed and one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Not confident to explore the Marrakech souks on your own? Want to try guided tours instead? The tours listed below might be more convenient to you.

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