What to Bring Back from Marrakech: My Guide to Crafts and Shopping in the Souks

At the end of every stay, the same scene plays out at Villa Soukarya: suitcases open on the bed, a pair of babouches slipped in, a rug rolled up tight, a lantern wrapped in a jumper. And the same question comes up, often with a touch of worry: "Did I buy well?"

The souks of Marrakech are an immense pleasure, but they can also be intimidating. Thousands of stalls, skilful sellers, objects that all look alike at first glance. Here is what I tell my guests so they bring home real treasures, at a fair price, without spoiling the experience.

Before you go: a few host's reflexes

Do a first scouting trip without buying. Your first visit to the medina is for looking, touching and comparing. Note the items you like and the shops where you were made welcome. You will buy with far more confidence on a second visit.

Carry cash in dirhams. Many small craftsmen do not take cards, and cash makes haggling easier. Keep small notes.

Plan space in your luggage… or shipping. A rug or a zellige table rarely fits in the cabin. Reputable shops often offer shipping: ask for a detailed receipt, the transport method and a written delivery time.

Start at the Ensemble Artisanal. Located on Avenue Mohammed V, between the medina and Gueliz, this crafts centre displays fixed prices. It is the ideal place to get a feel for quality and prices before entering the haggling game of the souks.

The essentials of Moroccan craftsmanship

The rug: a souvenir for life

A rug is often the biggest — and trickiest — purchase. The main styles include:

• Beni Ouarain rugs: white or cream wool with dark geometric patterns, highly sought after in contemporary interiors.
• Azilal rugs: light background with colourful motifs, more graphic and cheerful.
• Boucherouite: woven from recycled fabric scraps, colourful and often more affordable.
• Kilims: flat-woven, light and easy to carry.

To judge quality, turn the rug over: tight, regular knotting on the back is a good sign. Smell the wool and rub it: natural wool leaves no dye on your fingers. And take your time — a seller who rushes you is not a good sign. The mint tea ritual is part of the experience, but it does not commit you to anything.

Babouches: light, useful, timeless

Leather babouches make the perfect gift. Pointed models (known as "fassi") and rounded ones come in dozens of colours. Check the stitching of the sole and the smell of the leather: well-tanned leather has a clean, not harsh, smell. The babouche souk, continuing on from Souk Semmarine, offers an impressive choice.

Lanterns and lighting

In Souk Haddadine, the blacksmiths' souk, you hear hammers striking metal. This is where the openwork brass, copper and iron lanterns that cast those famous shadows are made. Ask whether the model can be taken apart or packed flat: it makes all the difference for transport.

Ceramics and pottery

Moroccan ceramics are a feast for the eyes: decorative tagine dishes, painted bowls, plates with floral patterns. The green glazed pottery of Tamegroute, from the south of the country, has a unique rustic charm. If you want to cook with it, ask explicitly whether the piece is meant for cooking or purely decorative.

Leather goods

Bags, poufs, pouches, belts: Marrakech is a city of leather. The tanners' quarter bears witness to age-old know-how. Note that a pouf is often sold empty: you stuff it once you get home, so it slides flat into a suitcase.

Beauty products and flavours

Argan oil

This is probably the most requested souvenir. Be sure to distinguish two products:

• Cosmetic argan oil, made from unroasted kernels, for skin and hair.
• Culinary argan oil, made from roasted kernels, with a nutty taste, delicious on a salad or in amlou.

Favour cooperatives, often run by women, and be wary of prices that are too low: pure argan oil takes considerable work. If you take a day trip to Essaouira, the road crosses argan country and passes many cooperatives.

Spices, black soap and rose water

On Rahba Kedima square, herbalists sell spices, black soap, ghassoul clay, orange blossom water and rose water. Ras el hanout, a spice blend unique to each house, is a perfect gift for food lovers. Ask to smell before buying: a fresh blend is wonderfully fragrant.

If you have stayed with us and tasted the cooking of our private chef, it is also a chance to bring home the spices of your favourite dishes and recreate them at home.

The art of haggling, stress-free

Haggling is part of souk culture. It is done with a smile, never aggressively. A few simple rules:

1. Only ask the price if you are really interested. Asking already means entering the discussion.
2. Let the seller name a price first, then make your offer, clearly lower, and move up gradually.
3. Set yourself an inner budget: the fair price is the one you are happy to pay.
4. Knowing how to walk away politely is your best argument. Often the seller will call you back with a better offer.
5. Buy several items from the same shop to get a discount.

And remember that behind every object there is a craftsman. Haggling is not about crushing a price: it is about reaching an agreement that pleases both sides.

Beyond the souks: Gueliz and concept stores

If you prefer a calmer experience, the Gueliz district and the area around the Majorelle Garden are full of designer boutiques and concept stores. Prices are displayed and pieces are often more contemporary: a lovely way to discover today's Moroccan design, which reinterprets traditional crafts.

My practical tips for a successful shopping day

• Go in the morning, when the medina is calmer and the heat bearable.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the alleys are long and sometimes cobbled.
• Beware of improvised "guides" offering to take you to a shop: their commission ends up in the price.
• Photograph your purchases and receipts, especially if you are shipping.
• Take a break on a rooftop or in a medina café to recharge between souks.

Back to the villa, arms full

What my guests enjoy most is coming back to Villa Soukarya after an intense morning in the medina: putting down the bags, unpacking their finds by the pool and finding the calm of Amelkis again. On request, we can arrange a driver for your shopping days, so you do not have to carry your purchases or look for a taxi.

The best souvenirs of Marrakech are not necessarily the most expensive. They are the ones that tell the story of an encounter: the craftsman who showed you his gesture, the merchant who offered you tea, the object found around the corner of an alley. Those are the ones you will look at back home, already thinking of your next stay.