Genie’s Cave of Wonders – The Souks of Marrakesh

The Souks of Marrakesh are a collection of streets which are full of all kinds of different shops. Almost anything can be bought there.

Marrakesh’s Souks are one of the city’s top attractions even if you don’t intend to buy anything. Walking through the Souks feels a bit like walking in a huge labyrinth of streets. In case you see something rare and wish to buy it you should consider buying it, because finding the place later might get complicated.

I don’t know where to start as there’s so many things to do and see. The Souks are grouped by the goods sold, so there are parts for spices, jewellery, lamps, … There are many craftsman that can be watched while working. By prepared to give a little tip of 10-20 MAD for pictures or explanations.

A typical product that can be found in Morocco is Argan Oil. In some shops the vendors explain the production of the oil and you can even get a massage there. There are different types of Argan Oil: one for cosmetics and one for cooking. I bought some cosmetic one for my hair.

If you look up to the roofs everything seems a little improvised with many cables and cardboard. But this very chaotic structure seems to function 😉

As a tourist it’s impossible to walk through the Souks without being interrupted by a merchant trying to sell you something. After a while I’ve found that quite annoying. Haggling is an important part of business, I personally don’t like it but it seems to be a part of culture in Morocco.

To keep orientation I’ve used a little compass which was way better than a map. All provided maps aren’t detailed enough. Some major places are signposted quite well. If you ask someone they might ask you for a little tip or you might end up in a shop. It’s not often, but you should be aware of that.

I found that the Souks are like Genie’s cave of Wonders, where many nice things can be found. I would highly recommend the spice and the lamp Souk to visit. Both Souks are very worth to visit.

Don’t Panic!