Whether it’s your first trip to Morocco or your 25th time visiting this wonder of a country, we assure you that souks will be something to look back on and, dare we say, go back to.
So, what are souks?
Souks or souqs are basically open-air marketplaces or commercial centers selling all sorts of wares, ingredients, spices, foods, and virtually all kinds of goods.
The rest of the world knows of souks by different names—there’s the bedesten in the Balkans, monti or suq in Malta, and in the English-speaking parts of the world, bazaar.
In Morocco, souks sell everything from spices, meats, dried fruits, leatherwork, pottery, jewelry, Berber carpets, lamps, lanterns, preserves, artworks, woodworks, shisha pipes, balgha or Moroccan slippers, traditional musical instruments, and more. The largest souks in the country are found in the imperial city of Marrakech.
Here are some of the reasons why souks are a must-go for anyone visiting Morocco:
- Souks give you a piece of Moroccan culture
It’s not an exaggeration to say that a large part of Moroccan culture is embedded and preserved in its souks. Rising out of necessity, souks also allow the Moroccans’ creativity, resourcefulness, warmth, and hospitality to be on full display. - Souks are affordable
Ninety-five percent of the wares sold in souks are made and grown locally or, at least, locally sourced which makes them cheap. - Souks offer you just about everything
Souks are a necessity in the daily lives of Moroccans, so it’s no surprise that they have everything you need and more. From the spices you need to make that tagine or couscous to the perfect souvenir to bring home, all you need to do is show up your local souk, and voila! instant everything! - Souks will train your haggling skills
Ask anyone their first time haggling and an overwhelming number of them will say that nothing really prepares you for all the craziness that comes with shopping in souks. So, if your haggling skills need affirming or you want to train them, souks are the place to go. - Souks are an experience in and of itself
As the leading travel agency in Herndon, Virginia, we at Morocco Travel and Tour have seen how souks have remained consistently atop the bucket list of our clients.
We’re honestly not surprised. Imagine being under the warm buzz of the sun, hearing the shouts of stallholders, seeing the stalls of bright colors piled high, and smelling the mix of spices and barbecued meats—it’s no wonder why wading through the crowd at souks is an experience in itself. You can even say it’s the most fun part and makes exploring souks worth it.
Ready for that unique souk experience? See our travel and tour in Virginia packages today!
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