Marrakech Shopping
It is inevitable that some part of any Marrakech holiday is spent shopping. The bustling marketplaces and ancient Marrakech souks are such major attractions to visitors in the city and most visitors find it hard to resist picking up some of the exquisite Marrakech crafts or indeed bartering with Marrakech market traders.
Marrakech shopping can be spilt into two distinct categories – the ancient markets and souks of the Medina (old Marrakech) and the many wonderful shops in Gueliz (the modern city).
Marrakech Shopping – The Medina
Shopping in Marrakech’s Medina centres around one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions – the Marrakech souks. Spreading north from the Djemma el Fna, the intricate labyrinth of stalls which makes up the Marrakech souk is a must visit, even of you have no interest in shopping in Marrakech.
Though it might not seem it at first, there is order in chaos in the souk. Each area has its specialism and similar stalls are purposely located next to each other so as visitors the these popular Marrakech markets can easily compare prices. Leather bags, spice carpets, ironwork , jewellery and textiles are amongst the most popular purchases when shopping in Marrakech.
If you have something specific in mind that you wish to buy during your Marrakech holiday it is a good idea to visit the government-run Ensemble Artisanal, (near the Kotoubia Mosque), this small craft store will give you an indication of the prices you should be paying. After visiting here you can return to the Marrakech souk prepared with how much you should pay and ready to start haggling – a vital part of the Marrakech shopping experience.
The Marrakech souk opens at around 9am and closes at about 7pm. On Friday some stalls may close for the whole day or just for a few hours at the middle of the day.
Marrakech Shopping – Gueliz
If you are looking for a slightly more relaxed Marrakech shopping experience head to Gueliz – or the modern city of Marrakech. Here, prices are fixed, shops are air conditioned and the elegant boutiques and artisan markets offer an array of exquisite and unique items from crafts, to textiles to antiques. While you may pay a little more in these Marrakech shops than in the Marrakech souks or markets, if you are looking to buy items such as carpets then the shops of the Gueliz may be a good option for you as they offer a very good shipping service.
Shops in Gueliz open at around 9am and will stay open to around 7pm. Unlike the markets and souks these Marrakech shops will close for an hour or so during the day however the timings will vary from shop to shop.
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