Marrakech travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Argan oil (culinary and cosmetic) from women's cooperatives — MAD 60-250 (~$6.45-$27) for a genuine 100-250ml bottle; buying from a certified cooperative helps confirm authenticity
Babouches (leather slippers) — MAD 60-400 (~$6.45-$43) depending on leather quality and embroidery
Hand-woven Berber carpets and Boucherouite rag rugs — MAD 500-8,000+ (~$54-$857+) from Atlas cooperatives or the Criée Berbère
Safi ceramics and hand-painted pottery — MAD 80-1,200 (~$8.60-$129) for bowls, tagines and decorative plates
Thuya wood boxes and carvings from Souk Chouari — MAD 100-1,500 (~$10.70-$161)
Moroccan lanterns (metal and colored glass) — MAD 150-1,200 (~$16-$129) depending on size and metalwork
Spices sold by weight in Rahba Kedima or Souk el Attarine — ras el hanout, saffron, cumin — MAD 15-100 (~$1.60-$10.70) per 100g depending on spice
Caftans and hand-embroidered textiles — MAD 300-3,000+ (~$32-$322+) depending on fabric and detail
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Souk Semmarine
General entry souk: textiles, leather, jewelry, lanterns, spices, babouches — the main covered market street
Where: Main artery of the Medina souks, north of Jemaa el-Fnaa
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-8pm (some stalls close Friday midday)
Souk el Attarine (Spice & Perfume Souk)
Spices, perfumes, essential oils, traditional apothecary and cosmetic ingredients
Where: Off Souk Semmarine, central Medina
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-7:30pm
Souk Cherratine (Leather Souk)
Leather goods: bags, belts, jackets and poufs; closest souk to the Marrakech tanneries
Where: Eastern edge of the souk district, near the tanneries route
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-7:30pm
Souk Smata (Slipper Souk)
Babouches (traditional Moroccan slippers) in leather and embroidered fabric, all colors and styles
Where: Central Medina souk district, near Rahba Kedima
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-7:30pm
Rahba Kedima (Spice Square)
Herbalists' square: spices, natural cosmetics, argan products, traditional remedies, dried chameleons and amulets at curiosity stalls
Where: Open square just off Souk Semmarine
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-7pm
Souk des Teinturiers (Dyers' Souk)
Hand-dyed wool, silk skeins and textiles hung to dry overhead; scarves and fabric by the meter
Where: North of Souk Semmarine, near the dyers' workshops
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-6pm (dyeing activity mainly mornings)
Souk Chouari (Carpenters' Souk)
Woodworking and carpentry: cedar boxes, thuya wood carvings, furniture and inlaid mirrors
Where: Northern souk district near the dyers
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-6:30pm
Criée Berbère (Carpet Souk)
Berber carpets and kilims from Atlas Mountain cooperatives; vintage Boucherouite rag rugs
Where: Historic former slave and auction square, central souks
Hours: Daily approx. 9am-7:30pm
Ensemble Artisanal
Government-run fixed-price craft complex with workshops on site: pottery, leather, weaving, woodwork and metalwork under one roof
Where: Avenue Mohammed V, between the Medina and Gueliz
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-7pm
Mellah Spice & Argan Market
Argan oil (culinary and cosmetic), olives, spices and household goods in a lower-key, less touristic market
Where: Former Jewish quarter (Mellah), southeast of the Royal Palace
Hours: Daily approx. 8am-7pm
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Marché Central de Guéliz
Hours: Daily approx. 8am-1pm and 3pm-7pm
33 Rue Majorelle (Concept Store)
Hours: Daily 9am-7pm
Menara Mall
Hours: Daily 10am-10pm
Chabi Art Ceramics (Safi Pottery Boutique)
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-7:30pm