World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Marrakech  - Shopping
Shopping


Leading off from the northern edge of Djemmaa-el-Fna are the winding alleyways of the souks, the shops and markets of Marrakech, which sell anything from jewellery and textiles to herbs and love potions. These are well worth exploration, regardless of whether you intend to buy anything. Divided into sections according to the trade they conduct, they are best approached from Rue Souk Smarine, a busy thoroughfare, covered to provide protection from the sun, which runs for half the length of the souks before forking into Souk El Attarin and Souk El Kebir. The area the souks cover may at first seem like a labyrinth but it is, in fact, deceptively compact. Bargaining is essential - start at around one third of what you want to pay. Having said that, it is unlikely that you will get a real bargain, however hard you haggle. The exchange rate is managed firmly by the government and people have enough exposure to tourism and Western media to know the value of things. You will not have to walk far before the first offers on carpets come your way, and if you have the time and patience you could easily spend hours drinking mint tea, head shaking, sighing and smiling as rugs and carpets are unrolled before you.
For those serious about purchasing a carpet, a good place to go is Bazaar Chichoua, 5 Souk des Ksous. Other things to look out for are copper and silverware, silk or cotton garments, wooden articles and jewellery, which can be found in L'Orientaliste, 15 Rue de la Libertie, Guéliz. For leather, Place Vendome, 141 Avenue Mohammed V, is a good bet.
Shopping hours are 0830-1230 and 1400-1830 Monday to Saturday. Some shops may close on Friday (religious holiday of the week) and stay open on Saturday and Sunday. There is no provision for tourists to reclaim any sales tax on goods they buy.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
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