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There are almost endless opportunities for shopping in Fez el-Bali, site of the city's souq, or marketplace. The souq is characterized by a maze of narrow streets and alleyways in which hundreds of small, hole-in-the-wall shops are located. Most of these shops cater to locals, rather than to tourists, so any foreigner shopping in the souq will probably end up paying more for an item than a local will. However, bargaining is the way here, so most of the goods are not very expensive by Western standards. Most merchants will accept Dirhams, dollars, or Euros. And the merchants here are not as aggressive as those in other Middle Eastern cities, such as Istanbul or Cairo.
The souq is divided into sections in which each of the shops in that section specializes in a certain product, such as clothing, shoes and slippers, gold and jewelry, carpets, ceramics and pottery, metalware, cooking utensiles, leather goods, and food (including meat, fish, dates, olives, fruits, and vegetables), among others. Most of the products available in the souq are locally made or grown, so the quality varies.
Many tourists who visit the souq like to shop for carpets. Most of the carpet shops contain a showroom where guests are seated, plied with mint tea and maybe a snack, and shown a variety of carpets that vary in quality, rarity, and price. As with any other shop in the souq, anyone who engages in serious bargaining should have the intention of actually buying something.
Written Jan 15, 2012
Metal / silver craft -- Tiznit
(I do not know why this tip keeps coming up 2 times -- I have tried to get rid of one but it keeps on coming back -- )
This workshop is located near Bab Al Khramiiz in Tiznit in the south of Morocco. In the shop you can find different kinds of local craft, but the real specialty is craft in metals - and especially silver. The quality of the products is fine -- and the prices reasonable, but can sometimes be negotiated.
If you want to see some of the Southern Morocco -- the landscape, and a truely beautiful city, at the same time as some very fine craft, Tiznit is a really fine destination. It's not difficult to find a hotel and there are several good restaurants.
I can recommend you to take a walk in the quiet streets away from the busy main streets – you will find here a really exceptional and peaceful atmosphere. If you bring your camera please remember, that not everyone wants their photo to be taken – ask for permission and respect a no !
In the landscape around Tiznit you can see nomads.
It’s easy to take a bus to Tiznit – some potions here: http://www.oncf.ma
What to buy: Different kinds of metal-craft (and other), speciality: jewellery, everything best quality
What to pay: As much as you like or can afford -- but you can have a nice piece of jewellery for a reasonable price as 400-500 dh
Updated Nov 14, 2011
Address: Tiznit near Bab Al-Khamiiz
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My husband went on cruise with the Navy to the Mediterranean. He grew a mustache and came home with this hat. We still have the hat, but he quickly shaved the mustache because every time the kids looked at him, they would giggle.
Updated Sep 30, 2011
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Petite taxi's take 3 people and are very economical for short journeys in and around Marrakech. Be sure they use the meter, or ask the price before you get in. Ask in your hotel what the normal fare is, then you will have an idea what you should pay.
Once in Essaouira you will not need transport. Everything is within walking distance. From the Medina the beach is only a 5 minute stroll. Essaouira has a delightful jewellery souk where you will find some excellent Berber jewellery. However you will also find jewellery made in India, Thailand & Bali that is passed off as Moroccan and silver that is not. Moroccan silver jewellery is not hallmarked and rarely stamped.
If you need more info on Essaouira, I live here so always happy to help.
Sue
What to buy: Leather Slippers & Bags, Carpets, Ceramics, Thuya wood, Baskets, Djellabas, Fabrics, Paintings, Jewellery, Spices, Foscils, Dates, Lamps
What to pay: As much as you care to part with
Updated Sep 26, 2010
On the square of Jemaa El Fna, starts at approx 18:00. Stall number 65 is called Chez Ali and the food is really good. Stall 117 has great food too and one of the guys that works there is lovely. He likes to rhyme off all his English like "lovely jubbly" and "117 takes you to Heaven".
What to buy: Anything from soup 3DRH to Mixed Kebabs 60DRH, they also sell salads and vegetables. Watch out for the goats brains!
What to pay: Approx 90 DRH for a meal including a drink
Written May 16, 2010
Address: Jemaa El Fna, Marrakech
Large supermarket selling food, drink, baby items, toiletries, cleaning products.
What to buy: Great for general groceries. Sells a range of baby items including nappies, wipes, jars of food.
What to pay: Slightly more expensive than Tesco/Asda in England
Written May 16, 2010
Address: Mohammed V, Marrakech
If your short on time, Marrakesh has anything and everything you need. However, unlike Fez or Meknes, it difficult to actually see craftsmen at work. Shop owners are more like salesmen not artisans and the best place to shop is where the crafts are actually made, usually in the villages of the countryside. You can find, however, unique items from all over Morocco.
To find artisans making crafts you have head to the northern souks. In the dyers souk you can see dyed wool hanging and weaving machines spinning away. The dyers are friendly and eager to show you their trade and their wares with no pressure. You may even get to dress up like an authentic Berber. Babouches or slippers here are little works of art you can put on your feet.
See the video Shopping in Marrakesh
What to buy: Carpets, slippers, wool robes, ceramics, berber jewelry,
What to pay: More than other parts of Morocco, but it is more convenient
Written Mar 15, 2010
Address: Marrakesh Medina
Metal / silver craft -- Tiznit
This workshop is located near Bab Al Khramiiz in Tiznit in the south of Morocco. In the shop you can find different kinds of local craft, but the real specialty is craft in metals - and especially silver. The quality of the products is fine -- and the prices reasonable, but can sometimes be negotiated.
If you want to see some of the Southern Morocco -- the landscape, and a truely beautiful city, at the same time as some very fine craft, Tiznit is a really fine destination. It's not difficult to find a hotel and there are several good restaurants.
I can recommend you to take a walk in the quiet streets away from the busy main streets – you will find here a really exceptional and peaceful atmosphere. If you bring your camera please remember, that not everyone wants their photo to be taken – ask for permission and respect a no !
In the landscape around Tiznit you can see nomads.
It’s easy to take a bus to Tiznit – some options here: http://www.oncf.ma
What to buy: Different kinds of metal-craft (and other), speciality: jewellery, everything best quality
What to pay: As much as you like or can afford -- but you can have a nice piece of jewellery for a reasonable price as 400-500 dh
Updated Feb 7, 2010
Address: Tiznit near Bab Al-Khamiiz
Helpfulness
Here's the skinny on the confusing rial, franc, dirham issue:
When converting ryals to dirhams, divide by 20.
e.g. 100 ryals: 100 ÷ 20 = 5 DH.
From franks to ryals, divide by 5. For example, 200 franks ÷ 5 = 40 ryals.
From franks to dirhams, divide by 100. For example, 200 franks ÷ 100 = 2 DH.
From ryals to dirhams, divide by 20. For example, 40 ryals ÷ 20 = 2 DH.
From ryals to franks, multiply by 5. For example, 40 ryals × 5 = 200 franks.
From dirhams to ryals, multiply by 20. For example, 2 DH × 20 = 40 ryals.
From dirhams to franks, multiply by 100. For example, 2 DH × 100 = 200 franks.
What to buy: Shop with confidence, boo.
Written Nov 3, 2009
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Cabeyp has given you a lot of what you need to know. ive got a bit of info in amongst my pages and yes Telouet is where I recommend - if you get there tell them the connection. otherwise no the tour leaders wont necessarily know much other than the commission theyll get and 3/4 of the salesmen in the shops dont know a really good one from a commercial one (good for good dealers when they go shopping!) - but when you are on tour out in the country if you get taken to any town's weekly souks look out for carpets there tho its still necessary to be in the know as the dealers buy a lot of the womens rugs these days so that the real stuff is not sold at the souks anymore.
but there are some places/ town souks that do still and this is where its best to buy - direct from the women as the shops that you see all over the place have bought from the dealers who make ENORMOUS amounts of money by buying from the ladies whove worked hard to make them and accept such small amounts of money for them - ie a pittance - while the dealers and carpet shop owners grow rich and fat - check out what sort of cars theyve got! and whether the women who make the carpets have a donkey, mule or pony!
and yes theres a huge factory line business in morocco - especially towns like Tazenakht churning out copies - sometimes made from cheaper wool with cheaper dyes and on machines.the market is absolutely flooded. and really there is no reason why carpets - unless they are antique top quality or special (which the guys i know at Telouet were always good for having and having a good knowledge of) - should be the asking price that moroccan rug rip off merchants are expecting to get from tourists. so thats the next thing - you have to haggle. Even a third of the asking price will be a long way off what they paid for them!
visiting an artisanal ensemble is a good idea. eg ive been and it was interesting but there was a difference in quality from the ones Ive come across in shops around Morocco - but you get an idea of price and quality without the relentless hassle when inside a privately owned. you get a good idea too of prices for loads of other enticing goods that will appeal to you. you will get to see how so much cheaper the slippers/babouches should be in the souks. and how much cheaper things can be got for than at the ensemble artisanal! and get an idea of quality there too.
On top of that even a western carpet dealer I met in London whos been dealing in international carpets for years has said theres a new machine thats out making carpets that even the professionals now cant tell are made by machine! but if its a rug you really like and if you believe the wool is good quality theres not really a problem with it being machine made!
Another comment Ive had from carpet dealers in London is to bear in mind that Morocco has been using synthetic dyes for a long time now which tend to run when washed and fade in the sun. Ive seen a lot of old Moroccan carpets being washed though that havent run and are still looking what I love about them many years later!
Updated Jun 24, 2009
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