Leaving Marrakech empty-handed is almost impossible — and leaving with a carpet you paid three times over is very easy. Between the two lies a Medina of remarkable craftsmen, a few simple rules and a few traps. Here is what we explain to guests at the Riad Mylaya before their first trip into the souks: where to buy what, how to spot quality, which prices are reasonable and how to bargain without falling out with anyone.
The prices below are ranges observed in the Medina in September 2026, for good-quality pieces, after bargaining. They vary enormously with size, material and shop: treat them as a bearing, not a tariff.
Where to buy: souks, fondouks, cooperatives, concept stores
- The Medina souks — north of Jemaa el-Fna, organised by trade: Semmarine (fabrics, jewellery), Attarine (spices, perfumes), Cherratine (leather), Haddadine (ironwork), Sebbaghine (dyers), Chouari (wood). Prices are lowest here and bargaining is expected.
- The fondouks — former caravanserais turned into workshops around a courtyard. You see the craftsman at work, which is the best guarantee of authenticity.
- Cooperatives — for argan oil and Atlas carpets, with fixed prices and verifiable working conditions. Slightly more expensive, no surprises.
- New-town concept stores (Guéliz, Sidi Ghanem) — contemporary Moroccan design, fixed prices, card payment, shipping available. Two to three times souk prices, for a tighter selection and complete peace of mind.
What to bring home, and what it should cost
Carpets
The biggest commitment. Three main families: Beni Ouarain (thick undyed wool, black diamonds, Middle Atlas), flat-woven kilims, lighter and cheaper, and boucherouites, made from recycled offcuts, colourful and often the most affordable. Expect roughly 800 to 2,500 MAD for a small kilim, and 3,000 to 12,000 MAD and well beyond for a large hand-knotted Beni Ouarain. Check the back: knots should be regular and visible, wool should smell of wool, and a handmade carpet never has two perfectly identical halves. A serious seller will let you photograph it, measure it and sleep on the decision.
Leather and babouches
Plain babouches: 100 to 250 MAD. Embroidered or lined: 250 to 450 MAD. Goatskin bag: 400 to 1,200 MAD. Poufs (sold unstuffed): 300 to 700 MAD. Smell the leather: a strong chemical smell means poor industrial tanning. Pull on the stitching. And beware of sizes, which are approximate — try them on.
Spices, argan and cosmetics
Real ras el-hanout sells for roughly 30 to 80 MAD per 100 grams; Moroccan saffron from Taliouine for 30 to 60 MAD per gram — be wary of "saffron" at 20 MAD a sachet, which is turmeric or safflower. Culinary argan oil (roasted, hazelnut-flavoured) and cosmetic argan oil (cold-pressed, almost odourless) are two different products: 150 to 300 MAD per 100 ml in a cooperative. Beldi black soap, rhassoul and rose water cost a few tens of dirhams and make the best gifts — they are also what you will meet at the hammam.
Lanterns, ironwork, trays
Small cut-iron lantern: 150 to 400 MAD. Large lantern: 600 to 1,500 MAD. Engraved brass tray: 400 to 1,200 MAD. Brass is recognisable by weight and sound; painted tinplate is much lighter. Ask whether a lantern is wired for European electricity — it often is not.
Ceramics, tadelakt and zellige
Cooking tagines (raw, unglazed clay) are not the same as serving tagines, decorated and glazed: 80 to 250 MAD for a serving dish, 150 to 400 MAD for a Salé clay cooking tagine. Fès and Safi bowls, zellige tiles and tadelakt objects travel well if properly wrapped. Have them wrapped on the spot, and carry them in the cabin if you can.
Textiles, kaftans, blankets
Cotton or viscose scarf: 80 to 200 MAD. Cashmere-blend scarf: 300 to 600 MAD. Sequinned wedding blanket (handira): 1,200 to 3,000 MAD. Embroidered kaftan: from 600 MAD, far more made to measure. The "cactus silk" (sabra) sold everywhere is almost always viscose: pretty, but not silk, and it should not be paid for at silk prices.
How to bargain, properly
- Visit three shops before buying. It is the only way to learn what something really costs.
- Let the seller name a price first, then offer 40 to 50% of it, with a smile.
- Aim to settle around 60 to 70% of the opening price for everyday crafts. On carpets the gap can be much wider.
- Only bargain for what you genuinely want. Haggling and then walking away is seen as disrespectful.
- Tea commits you to nothing. Accept it if you feel like it, decline politely if not.
- Stay courteous and keep the pace slow. Bargaining is an exchange, not a fight; humour works better than firmness.
- Pay cash, in dirhams. Cards are rare in the souks, and "the shop rate" is always bad.
The classic traps
- The "guide" you meet in the street who takes you to his cousin: his commission is inside your price.
- The "free" tannery visit with a complimentary sprig of mint, which ends in a leather shop at triple prices.
- Saffron and argan oil that are too cheap: they are not what they claim.
- The "cooperative's last day" and other invented deadlines.
- "Antique" and "Berber" pieces made in series — a genuinely old object has a coherent price and a precise history.
- Shipping promised by the seller: prefer an international carrier you choose yourself, or take the piece with you.
Practical: hours, luggage, customs
Souks open around 9-10am and close around 8-9pm; many craftsmen close on Friday at prayer time, and Sunday is quieter. Weigh your purchases: carpets and poufs fill a suitcase fast, and excess baggage costs more than the bargain you won. At the airport, liquids — argan, rose water, olive oil — must go in checked luggage. And keep cash in dirhams: souks almost never take cards. The Medina is five minutes' walk from the riad, and we are happy to keep your purchases at reception during the day. See also our prices and budget guide.
Photo: Traditional pottery from Marrakech — Houssain tork, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How do you bargain in the Marrakech souks?
Compare three shops, let the seller name a price, offer 40 to 50% of it and aim to settle around 60 to 70% for everyday crafts. Stay courteous, only bargain for what you genuinely want, and pay cash in dirhams.
How much does a Moroccan carpet cost in Marrakech?
A small woven kilim is often 800 to 2,500 MAD, a large hand-knotted Beni Ouarain 3,000 to 12,000 MAD, and much more for antique pieces. Check the regularity of the knots on the back and the smell of the wool, and take your time before buying.
How do you recognise real argan oil and real saffron?
Cosmetic argan oil is cold-pressed and almost odourless; culinary argan is roasted and smells of hazelnut. Expect 150 to 300 MAD per 100 ml in a cooperative. Taliouine saffron sells for 30 to 60 MAD per gram: a 20 MAD sachet is turmeric or safflower.
Can you pay by card in the souks?
Rarely. Bring cash in dirhams for the Medina; the Guéliz and Sidi Ghanem concept stores, cooperatives and larger shops take cards, usually at higher fixed prices. Be wary of in-store conversions into euros.
