Morocco: Tourist Shopping Guide

Morocco’s most famous exports are its beautiful carpets – you can find them at most major tourist centers. It is important to make sure that you buy them at standard outlets since the risk of being ripped off is all too real. Leather is also a prime export – Moroccan leather is allegedly the softest in the world. The other major ‘buys’ are brasswork, cobalt blue enamelled pottery, wrought iron and woodwork.

The souks (traditional covered markets) and even the streets of Marrakesh stock a mind-boggling array of goodies and trinkets extremely alluring to the traveller but one must be careful when buying something, especially if its expensive merchandise like gold or silver – check the quality thoroughly. Travellers are subject to continuous hard sell by shopkeepers, so it is important to keep one’s calm and not get browbeaten into buying something. One golden rule is never to buy anything from the first shop you see it in; ask at various shops before making your purchase. Take your time, drink many tempting cups of mint tea and you may get incredible bargains in Morocco.

Note: it may not always be possible to use credit cards widely in Morocco, although this is changing rapidly in the bigger cities.