The souks of Marrakech are organized, more or less, by guild: metalworkers in one alley, dyers in another, leather in a third. They’ve operated this way for around a thousand years and they will eat any tourist who tries to approach them as a mall.
What’s actually worth buying
Argan oil — cosmetic grade is the real value; culinary grade is often adulterated. Visit a women’s cooperative outside the city if you want quality.
Leather goods — babouches, bags, and cushion covers. Quality varies wildly. Look for stitching tightness and consistent dye; reject anything with a harsh chemical smell.
Lanterns — the ones made of punched brass, not stamped tin. You’ll know the difference when you hold one.
What to skip
Everything in the first hundred meters of any souk entrance. The real craft workshops are deeper in.
How to haggle
The starting price is almost always three to four times the final price. Counter at a third, settle around half. Walk away at least once. Don’t haggle if you don’t plan to buy — it’s rude. And once you agree on a price, you’re buying: backing out is a cultural foul.
