The souks of Marrakech are one of the great craft markets of the Arab world. You can find everything there, from the finest to the most touristy. Here are the souvenirs worth the space in your suitcase, how to spot a good piece, and the rules to know before the flight home.
Souvenirs worth buying
- Argan oil. Produced in the south-west of the country, as a cosmetic (cold-pressed, no strong smell) or for cooking (roasted kernels, nutty taste). The practices and know-how around the argan tree have been on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2014. Choose a bottle labelled "100% argan", bought from a cooperative or a reputable shop.
- Babouches. Leather slippers, pointed or rounded. A good pair has a stitched sole, not a glued one.
- Lanterns and metalwork. Copper, brass, pierced iron: lit up, the lanterns throw patterns on the wall.
- Rugs. Woollen Berber rugs, flat-woven kilims, colourful boucherouites made from recycled fabric. It is the most expensive purchase: take your time, and ask whether shipping is possible.
- Ceramics. Decorated plates, bowls and tagines; the blues of Fes and the pottery of Safi are the best known. A decorative tagine is not always meant for cooking: ask.
- Spices. Ras el hanout, cumin, saffron, paprika. Buy them whole or in small sealed bags, from a seller with a busy stall.
- Leather. Bags, poufs, belts. Hand-tanned leather smells strong at first; it fades.
- Tea. A metal teapot, decorated glasses and green tea to make mint tea at home.
Haggling in the souks
In the souks, prices are negotiated; in fixed-price shops and cooperatives they are not. A few pointers:
- Look around several stalls before buying, to get a feel for prices.
- Stay friendly and relaxed: haggling is a conversation, not a fight.
- Only name a price if you are ready to buy at that price.
- Keep a calculator and a currency converter handy: with a connection you know at once what the sum is in your own currency.
On the way home: flight and customs
- Liquids in cabin bags (argan oil, rose water) are limited to 100 ml per container: put large bottles in the hold, well wrapped.
- The duty-free allowance for air travellers is €430 of goods per adult entering the European Union, and £390 entering the UK; above that you must declare and pay duty.
- Banned or restricted goods (some animal or plant products, counterfeits) will not get through: if in doubt, check with your country's customs.
Finding your way in the souks
The souks are a maze, and GPS is often approximate there. Save your riad's location, download an offline map and keep a connection to find again a shop you spotted the day before; see lost in the Marrakech souks.
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