{"id":413365,"date":"2026-06-29T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=413365"},"modified":"2026-06-29T11:15:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:15:42","slug":"discovering-morocco-through-its-souks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/discovering-morocco-through-its-souks\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Morocco through its souks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marrakech \u2013 Morocco is a globalized country. It is home to automobile plants, aircraft parts manufacturers, and major retail chains, offers air connections to much of the world\u2014including Brazil\u2014and yet preserves many traditional customs that serve as true refuges of its culture. Along the roads in the south, for example, traffic signs are written in Arabic, French, and Amazigh, the language of the country’s oldest peoples. Traditional Moroccan dishes are found on the menu of virtually every restaurant. And then there are the souks: the seemingly endless street markets that celebrate the Arab art of bargaining.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Jemaa
Jemaa el-Fna Square: Marrakech’s hub for leisure, sightseeing, and shopping<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On a trip to Morocco, your tour guide will do everything possible to keep you from getting lost in the souks. They’ll map out routes, set meeting points, and establish schedules. It makes sense: in Marrakech, for example, the souks within the medina\u2014the old, walled city that resembles a fortress\u2014stretch across more than 8,000 streets, many of them dead ends, forming a true labyrinth. These streets are home to souks specializing in spices and food, household crafts, clothing, jewelry, and more. Yes, these bazaars are more or less organized into themed sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a hallmark of local culture, souks tend to be remarkably similar. In Casablanca and Marrakech alike, the concept is the same: direct street commerce between vendor and customer, with little formality and a great deal of bargaining. A home d\u00e9cor item, for example, may start at MAD 300\u2014some USD 30. After some back-and-forth negotiation, the deal might be sealed at MAD 150, or roughly USD 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s perfectly acceptable to say the price is too high, that the shop next door is cheaper, or even that you’re not going to buy. It’s all part of the game. A conversation that begins with stern faces often ends with the vendor saying, “Brazil, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar, obrigado<\/em>,” as a way of connecting with\u2014and winning over\u2014a Brazilian customer, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to your tour guide’s worst nightmare, let yourself get lost in the souks. It’s in this aimless wandering that the best discoveries are made: a shop filled with lanterns, another selling handwoven hats, and yet another offering delicately handcrafted jewelry. Between one alley and the next, you’ll come across a square with a beautiful restaurant or even a museum worth visiting. And despite the maze of narrow streets, finding your way again is surprisingly easy\u2014just ask a shopkeeper how to get to Jemaa el-Fna Square.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Entrance to one of the souks: Getting lost is part of the experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Remember that name and everything will fall into place, especially since the square is an attraction in its own right. During the day, Jemaa el-Fna brings together a little of everything you’ll find in the souks. It’s not quite the same experience, but if you’re short on time, the shops there are good places to pick up souvenirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is at night that the square truly comes alive. Located near the El Koutoubia Mosque, it becomes the city’s beating heart. This is where street performers gather and where you can sample just about every Moroccan specialty at remarkably low prices alongside people from all over the world. It’s a true street food experience, accompanied by music, celebration, and constant bustle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, too, it’s worth getting a little lost. Just remember one piece of advice: if you really lose your bearings, stop, retrace your steps, and ask someone, \u201cHow do I get to Jemaa el-Fna Square?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the other articles in the series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morocco expects 20% more tourists from Brazil<\/a><\/blockquote>