Hotels near The Medina Souks

The souks of Marrakech are a maze of covered lanes spreading north from Jemaa el-Fnaa, organised traditionally by trade: Souk Semmarine for textiles, the Souk des Teinturiers where dyed wool hangs to dry, the Souk Haddadine of metalworkers, and lanes of leather slippers, ceramics, spices and brass lanterns. The medina as a whole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In October the covered lanes stay pleasantly cool, and shopping is far more relaxed than in the heat of summer. Bargaining is expected: a counter-offer of around a third to a half of the first price is normal, and walking away politely is part of the game. Mopeds zip through even the narrowest lanes, so keep to the side.

Getting lost is inevitable; offline maps help, and politely declining unsolicited guides avoids requests for payment.

Pro Tip: Explore in the morning, when stallholders are setting up and more relaxed, and head for the Rahba Kedima spice square for mint tea on a terrace above the market.