The Souks of Marrakech are a must-see when visiting Marrakech.
No visit to Morocco would be complete without a visit to the souks of Marrakech! With over 40,000 artisans, the souks are said to be the most beautiful in the entire Maghreb. The souks of Marrakech are located in the city's medina, the historical center of the city. It is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The souks are a real treasure: slippers, carpets, clothes, spices, nuts, olives, and local cuisine. My first piece of advice is to get lost. Forget your sense of direction. Do not use a compass. Only in this way will your experience be special. When visiting the souks of Marrakech, keep one thing in mind.
History of the souks of Marrakech
The history of the souks in Marrakech dates back several centuries. We must go back to the foundations of the city in 1071, when the city's first souks were built. These daily markets were a meeting place for the inhabitants of the desert. The latter came regularly to buy or exchange food. The souks in Marrakech also allowed caravans to replenish their supplies. At the time, the caravans were crossing the desert. They needed to survive these journeys to stay alive.
When it comes to souks in Marrakech, there are 18 markets. They are all located in the heart of the old city of Marrakech. Each market is dispersed in the form of businesses. In general, there are souks that specialize in jewelry, souks that specialize in vases, and so on.
Throughout the centuries, souks have become increasingly important. In our time, they have retained all their authenticity. Merchants continue to sell unique spices and handicrafts, even as they succumb to the ease afforded by selling their products produced on a large scale. You can always find over 40,000 artisans spread across the city's 18 souks. Another feature: great little restaurants in the medina that serve unique cuisine.
What to do and see when visiting the souks of Marrakech?
Expect to be completely confused when you go to visit the souks of Marrakech! You will find an explosion of colors and smells. You will find an explosion of colors and smells. Whatever it is, you will be able to discover unique flavors in the various souks of the artisans.
What are the most interesting souks from a tourist's point of view?
Smata Souk
It is really necessary during a visit to the souks of Marrakech. The souks of Sumata are where you will find hundreds of models of slippers in all colors, some are more whimsical than others.
The Cherratine souk
In this souk, you can find all objects and accessories made of leather. Here is a temple of wallets, belts, bags, shoes and other leather objects.
The Ahiak souk
Ahiak specializes in clothing items such as T-shirts, jeans, dresses, and traditional clothing.
The Zrabia souk
The Zrabia souk is typical! This is a souk of items such as carpets, vases, ashtrays, and souvenirs.
The Attatine souk
A true paradise for gourmets, Atatinsuk is perfect. You can find all kinds of spices from all over the world.
The Dhabia souk
This souk specializes in a variety of jewelry, be it necklaces, bracelets, earrings or any other jewelry you can think of.
How to get to the souks of Marrakech?
The souks of Marrakech are located in the historic center of the city, called the Medina. The souks are scattered all over this area. You can therefore reach most of them on foot in a few minutes, or with the local buses and cabs. Nevertheless, there are many ways to get to Medina.
By taxi
Knowing that the traffic in Marrakech can quickly become chaotic, and that it is not advisable to travel by car if you are not used to it, it is advisable to take a cab to go to the medina and visit the souks of Marrakech.
You can get there from all corners of Marrakech, all cab drivers obviously know the way to get to the medina. However, be aware that the price per kilometer costs between 0.18 euro and 0.75 euro depending on the company, the place where you get into the cab and the driver.
By bus
Many buses go to the medina of Marrakech, and this from any district of the city. Therefore, you can take not only Line 2 around the Medina, but also Lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 66, and by walking or taking Line 2, you can get closer to the souks of Marrakech and see the sights.
And if you have just arrived at the airport of Marrakech, it is possible to take the bus n°19 going to the city center in 20 to 25 minutes. You will just have to get off at the Arset El Bilk stop to visit the souks of Marrakech.
What is the budget for visiting the souks in Marrakech and when to go?
Life in Morocco is much cheaper than in France. At the time of this writing, one euro is equivalent to just over 10 dirhams in Morocco; you can find meals worth 4.50 euros (or 50 dirhams).
The budget for visiting the souks of Marrakech cannot be defined for everyone. Some will be enamored with the gems of jewelry, while others will settle for a simple visit. Nonetheless, one must remember that admission to the souk is free.
Prices of goods range from 30 to 60 DH for spices, 80 to 120 DH for almonds and nuts, 90 to 300 DH for luxury clothing, and 30 to 150 DH for gifts such as teapots and vases.
Therefore, to get the most out of the souks in Marrakech, it is recommended to go for at least 300DH, but in any case, be careful not to forget to negotiate. It is important to know that in Morocco, price negotiation is a real system that applies to foreigners as well. Note: When dealing with foreigners, sellers often tend to raise their prices.
As far as schedules are concerned, the souks are generally open every day from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm approximately, but be aware that they are almost all closed on Fridays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm for the great prayer, and the same on religious holidays.
