Souk des Tapis (Carpet Souk / Criée Berbère)

The Souk des Tapis occupies the site of the former Criée Berbère, a historic auction square off Rue Mouassine in the Marrakech Medina that once hosted slave auctions before becoming the city's dedicated carpet market. Today dealers stack rugs floor to ceiling in narrow shopfronts and unroll them one by one across the square for prospective buyers, from bold geometric Beni Ourain-style wool rugs from the Middle Atlas to colorful flat-weave kilims from the south. Buying a carpet here is typically a slower, more theatrical process than other souk purchases - dealers often serve tea while showing dozens of rugs before negotiations begin in earnest, and the process can take well over an hour for a considered purchase. Prices vary enormously by size, wool quality, knot density, and age, with vintage and antique pieces commanding significantly more than new production. Shipping arrangements for large rugs can usually be organized through the dealer, though visitors should clarify customs and shipping costs before finalizing a price. Comparing prices at the fixed-rate Ensemble Artisanal beforehand gives a useful benchmark for what a fair starting point looks like.