Souk El Houts (Fish and Produce Market), Tetouan

Souk El Hout, the fish and produce market inside the Tetouan medina in northern Morocco, is the town's everyday food market and a contrast to the craft souks nearby. Local residents shop here for the day's fish, olives, vegetables and fruit, so the goods are authentic and there are no tourist trinkets. Tetouan sits close to the Mediterranean coast, and the fish stalls carry catches such as sardines, hake, sea bream and other seasonal species, usually sold by weight from around 30 MAD per kg depending on the type. Olive and pickle sellers display several cured varieties, and produce stalls offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, herbs and dairy products brought from the surrounding Rif countryside. The market is best suited to visitors with kitchen access who want to self-cater, though anyone interested in daily life will find it worth a walk. Bargaining is mild; prices are posted verbally per kilo, and a small reduction is possible when buying larger quantities, while olives and pickles are generally sold at set prices. Payment is cash in dirhams only, with small coins useful, and cards and tax refunds do not apply. Trading is concentrated in the morning, roughly 7AM to 1PM, when the selection is best and the atmosphere busiest and loudest; by the afternoon, many stalls are closed or have little left. Hours are approximate and worth confirming locally. Food is naturally the theme: the nearby medina has bakeries and snack stalls, and some fish is cooked at small eateries. Layout follows product, with fish sellers on one side, produce and olives on others, and some fishmongers who will clean and gut a purchase. Visitors should expect wet floors, strong smells in warm weather and brisk trading, and closed shoes help. Photographing vendors is best done after asking permission.