Mmorocco

Markets in Morocco.. Souks in morocco

Travel to Morocco & Shop the worlds best Souks & Markets
Souks and markets are a major feature in Moroccan life, and among the country’s greatest attractions for Moroccan traverls. Each town has its special souk quarter, large cities like Fes and Marrakech have labyrinths of individual souks (each filling a street or square and devoted tone particular craft), and in the countryside there are hundreds of weekly souks, on a different day in each village of the region.

Whether or not you are a big shopper, going to a Souk is a cultural experience that should not be missed on a trip to Morocco. Find the medina, the central and oldest part of the city, and your journey has almost begun. If you feel slightly overwhelmed when you enter a lively area filled with artisan shops, aromatic bakeries, and excited shopkeepers eager meet you, you have found the souk.

Travel to Morocco and shop the souks of Marrakech, Fes & Ouarzazate (Book a Tour or call (800) 787-8806. Let us be your guide to Morocco Travel.

When the first souks appeared within Morocco, they were nothing more than small areas outside the city for merchants to display and sell their goods. Yet, as city populations grew, so did the souks. Today souks have become an important part of the culture socially and act as the heart of any large Moroccan city. Some souks are seasonal or annual while others like the Djemaa El Fna market in Marrakech are famous for snake charmers, storytellers, musicians, dynamic acrobatic events.

Some of the villages or areas between villages are in fact named after their market days therefore it’s easy to see when they are held. The souk days are:

Souk el Had – Sunday (first market)
Souk el Tnine – Monday market
Souk el Tieta – Tuesday market

Souk el Arba – Wednesday market
Souk el Khamees – Thursday market
Souk el Sebt – Saturday market

There are few village markets on Friday (el Djemma – the “assembly”, when the main prayers are held in the mosques), and even in the cities, souks are largely closed on Friday mornings and very subdued for the rest of the day. Village souks begin on the afternoon preceding souk day, as people travel from all over the region; those who live nearer set out early in the morning of the souk day.

It can be helpful to be accompanied by a guide if it is your first trip. A souk can feel a little bit like a labyrinth, and it is easy to get disoriented. One suggestion is to find a map and get familiar with the layout of the souk to minimize chances of getting too lost. There are various sections within a souk specializing in a unique skill or craft. Examples include the textile souk, rug souk, jewelry souk, the fabric souk, the spice souk, and the leather souk.

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The Best Markets in Morocco ..The Souk.

Aït Ben Haddou: One of the country's most picturesque kasbahs is also one of its most easily accessed. Just a 15-minute drive from the country's movie capital, Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has also seen its fair share of Hollywood stars, having been used in movies such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that sees more than 130,000 visitors a year, the kasbah is best visited early in the morning before both the crowds and heat arrive. This is when the first rays of sun light up the kasbah's earthen walls, and imaginative minds can conjure images of a time when this was one of the most important stops on the lucrative West African caravan trade route.

Fes el Bali: Within this ancient medina's walls lies a medieval city as alive today as it was 1,200 years ago. Its 9,500 alleyways, lanes, and streets are largely pedestrian-only, and one turn can reveal a heaving mass of people, donkeys, mules, and produce, while another brings a calm, quiet, and cool picture of serenity. Considered Morocco's spiritual heart, it's also one of its most creative, with workshops housing skilled craftsmen found throughout. This is more than a must-see -- it's a must experience.

Essaouira: This seaside resort's medina is Morocco's most traveler-friendly. Large enough to wander around for a couple of days but small enough to never get too lost, it's a delightful mix of modern and traditional. There's a range of stylish yet affordable accommodations to suit all budgets and tastes, as well as a good choice of restaurants and cafes, all combining with traditional sights such as the fish market and jeweler's souk. There's also a large square that's perfect for a coffee break and quality people-watching, which leads onto a quaint port where fishermen still bring in the daily catch and mend their nets.

Kasbah des Oudaïas: Rabat's elevated and compact kasbah looks out over the mouth of the Oued Bou Regreg, and over the centuries it's seen dynasties come and go and has housed a band of notorious pirates. It's a quiet and airy quarter with a few attractions, a quaint maison d'hôte, and both a cafe and viewing platforme that afford sweeping views of the river mouth and adjoining beaches. A welcoming sea breeze usually sifts its way through the kasbah, making for a very pleasant stroll through its winding alleys, past whitewashed houses and brightly colored doors.

Marrakech

: Fes's jet-setting sister is riding a massive tidal wave of popularity at the moment, largely thanks to a sharp rise in international airline routes flying directly from Europe. And who wouldn't want to come here? This city's ancient medina has got it all: shops and souks specializing in most of the country's renowned crafts; a central square, Jemaa el Fna, where the most fascinating spectacle takes place daily; and a plethora of accommodations and restaurants ranging from traditional and conservative to ultrachic and sexy.

Taroudannt: Enclosed by an almost unbroken circuit of 16th-century walls and largely ambivalent to the proclaimed marvels of tourism, Taroudannt is as authentic as they come. Lacking any great sights, the attraction of coming here is the staunchly Berber town itself. Travelers can walk the streets without any hassle from touts or faux guides, watching the locals go about their everyday lives without the haste of many other Moroccan towns and cities.

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Food and Drink in Marrakesh at Night

Food and Drink in Marrakesh

Each evening as the sun goes down, dozens of open-air kitchens set up on the east side of Jemaa El Fna. Serving areas are erected and tables and benches are put out to create one vast alfresco eatery. Beneath a hanging cloud of smoke from the crackling charcoal grills, locals and visitors alike tuck into a vast array of Moroccan cuisine. Nearly every stall has its own speciality, from snails in spicy broth and chunks of lamb stuffed into sandwiches to humble hard-boiled eggs.

A dry-fruit stall
Although Marrakech has a very low crime rate, the crowds milling around Jemaa El Fna at night are perfect cover for pickpockets. Be careful with handbags and wallets. If you find the food stalls at the Night Market to be intimidating, you can always opt for the relative familiarity of salads, pizza and pasta at the Terrasses de l’Alhambra instead. More on Moroccan cuisine. During the International Film Festival a large screen is erected on Jemaa El Fna,.

Moroccan, is now one of my favourite cuisines, with it's tasty tagines, cous cous, etc.

Whenever I travel, I usually try to buy spices, a recipe book or other food related objects.

On this trip I bought a teracotta tagine (see my off the beaten tracks tips for more details) I'm afraid I haven't used this yet, it's more of an ornament at the moment, but I have cooked a few tagines using my old faithful cast iron casserole dish.

Argan oil (the new olive oil!!) Afraid I only bought a small bottle, for moisturising purposes from Essaouira- but I spent the exorbitant sum of £9 in Sainsburys for a bottle of organic Argan Oil for culinary purposes-
Top Tip- If You're visiting Essaouira, snap up a bottle or 2- or a crate load of Argan Oil, to sell to foodies back home for a fraction of the price of Sainsburys!! (See my Essaouira page for lots more info on Argan Oil

35 spices- a versatile spice mix, used in many Moroccan dishes, I've used most of mine already, in lots of non Moroccan dishes too.

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