The Old Medina souks of Casablanca, Morocco, occupy the Ancienne Médina, the historic walled quarter near the port and the Hassan II Mosque side of the city. The medina is smaller and less polished than those of Fez or Marrakech, and its souks serve residents as much as visitors, which gives them a practical, everyday character. Stalls and small shops sell clothing, fabrics, household goods, kitchenware, spices, dried fruit, olives, bread and sweets, alongside handicrafts such as leather slippers, brass and copper items, ceramics, scarves and costume jewellery. Compared with generic shopping, the draw is local texture and low prices rather than designer quality. The share of authentic craftwork is moderate: genuine handmade items exist, but a good portion of the souvenir stock is mass-produced, so visitors should look closely at finishing and ask where an item was made. Bargaining is the norm for crafts and clothing, and a counter-offer at roughly half the first price is a typical starting point; food items are priced per kilo or per piece with little negotiation. Payment is in Moroccan dirhams (MAD) cash, and cards are uncommon in the lanes. VAT refunds are not practical for stall purchases. The atmosphere is lively and compact, with narrow lanes, local shoppers and occasional touts, and crowds build in the late afternoon and before holidays. The layout follows winding alleys behind the old gates, with food and spice sellers near the entrances, clothing and fabric stalls in the central lanes and small craft workshops tucked into side streets. Must-visit corners include the spice and olive stalls, the fabric and slipper sellers and the walls and gates themselves, which give a sense of the pre-colonial port town. Food options are simple: bakeries, juice stands, snack counters and small cafes serving tea, sandwiches and tagines within a few minutes' walk. Visitors are generally best served by exploring in daylight, keeping valuables secure and treating the souks as an everyday market with a few good craft finds.
| Hours | Daily about 9am-7pm |
|---|---|
| Price | MAD 20-800 (~$2.15-86) |
| Address | Ancienne Médina, Casablanca 20250 |
Location
Ancienne Médina, Casablanca 20250
33.6012, -7.6190 View on map
Highlights
- Walled old quarter near the port
- Spice, olive and dried-fruit stalls
- Leather slippers, brass and ceramics
- Fabric and clothing sellers at local prices
- Gates and walls from the pre-colonial port town
Tips for visiting
- Explore in daylight, ideally before 4pm when lanes are less crowded.
- Offer about half the first price for crafts and clothing, but pay stated prices for food.
- Carry small dirham notes, as card payment is rare.
- Politely decline unofficial guides and agree any fee beforehand.
- Look for even stitching and weight to separate handmade items from imports.
When to visit
Mornings to mid-afternoon in spring or autumn are most comfortable; late afternoons and holiday periods are the busiest.
Accessibility
Lanes are narrow, uneven in places and crowded, which makes wheelchair access difficult.
Frequently asked questions
What do the Old Medina souks of Casablanca sell?
Everyday goods such as clothing, fabric, spices and food, plus handicrafts like slippers, brass and ceramics.
Is the Casablanca medina as touristy as Marrakech?
No. It is smaller and more local in character, with fewer tourist-oriented shops and a more everyday atmosphere.
Should visitors bargain in the Old Medina?
Yes, for crafts and clothing, where a counter-offer of around half the first price is common. Food is usually sold at stated prices.