Shopping
Shopping in Marrakech
Written for Morocco Gateway by author and Marrakech shopping expert Susan Simon
Shopping in Marrakech is a experience which will take you through the cacophony and delightful confusion of Morocco’s Red city, through its labyrinth of alleys and streets, through every souk and market inside the city’s walls, the Medina, and outside too.
Surprise – here’s the bonus – you will not only see more shops and stalls that you could ever possibly imagine – Marrakech’s marketplace is the largest in the country – you will also stroll past historical monuments like the Saadian Tombs and the royal palace Dar el Bacha – the palace of the pasha.
I came to Marrakech for the first time almost four decades ago. For me, it was love at first sight. I was captivated by the city’s persimmon-colored ramparts, and bedazzling square, Jemma el Fna chock-a-block filled with water sellers, story tellers, snake charmers, henna artists and fresh orange juice stands. I was excited by 360-degree explosion of color, floral and spicy aromas, and mesmerized by the sight of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains that serves as a fire-screen for a blazing sunset.
When I returned to Marrakech, thirty-five years later, it was a bit less dusty but the intense color, cinnamon fragrance and smiling population were there, just as I had remembered. I told myself that I’d never again let so much time pass between visits. And, I didn’t. I came back again, three years later to gather the information for my guide to shopping book.
What satisfaction. A journey with a focus on shopping! The amount of merchandise that you’ll see is dizzying - breathe deeply and make careful choices. Bargain if you must – some vendors might expect it – but if you really love the object don’t let a few dirhams get in your way. More and more sellers have prixe fixe signs which takes away the anxiety of haggling – unless, of course, you consider it sport!
If you do need some guidance on haggling, the simplest approach is to ask the price, divide the response by 4 and then go up in decreasing increments until you are paying around half the starting price. A final counter offer from you may then be needed to seal the deal. Other good advice is to decide in advance about what items you want. This will allow you to start bargaining without wasting anyone’s time. There is nothing more embarrassing for you (and irritating for a merchant trying ot make a living) for you to decide, at the end of the bargaining process, that you don’t want the 4 pairs of slippers after all!
After haggling, being hassled seems to be a big concern for the traveler to Marrakech. Not to worry. Aside from the occasional – and non-threatening - tap on the shoulder, Marrakech and the whole country is much less hassle-free than you hear. In 1999, the young king, Mohammed VI, instituted the la brigade touristique – the tourist police dressed in plainclothes who roam the souks with the specific purpose of keeping an eye out for over-zealous merchants. Aggressive behavior is not tolerated in Marrakech and is punishable by law.
What should you buy (and this should be a pleasurable, not daunting exercise)?
Leather goods – made with goat, camel, sheep and cow skins; babouches plain or highly embellished, they are the slippers worn by every Moroccan, coin-studded belts; straw baskets – plain or decorated; trimmings – especially tassels and curtain tie-backs, anything embroidered; bags, caftans, pillows and table linens, Berber crafts and jewelry; pottery, rings, necklaces (beware of imitation Berber items) spices; I’m unusually fond of the cinnamon and always ask my Morocco-bound friends to bring some home for me, native saffron, ras al hanout the “house” blend of herbs and spices – a great present; and fragrances and make-up; anything made with rose oil or petals – roses are the flowers of Marrakech, kohl to rim your eyes, lip pomades and skin creams. This way of exploring Marrakech will be an adventure that you won’t soon forget.
And, if you only learn one Arabic word to help in your shopping adventures, it should be “shukran”, or thank you.
About Susan Simon
Susan is a well known author and caterer. To learn more about Susan, visit her website Her popular book Shopping in Morocco can be viewed and purchased here
More about Shopping in Marrakech
If you are interested in coming to Marrakech for shopping, almost all the hotels and riads on Morocco Gateway can offer further advice on shopping and arrange guides as well as of course something wonderful to stay. View all Marrakech riads and hotels by clicking here