Marrakech is a great city to visit because you can really get around everywhere by foot although this does require quite a lot of footwork, it is split into two parts the Medina, the historical part and the new city but most of the interest for me was in the historical part of the city.

The thing about Marrakech that I remember the most was the markets or souks. These were one of things I enjoyed the most in the whole of Morocco and if you consider yourself a good negotiator or simply enjoy haggling then these are the places to visit.

The souks sell a bit of everything, with some specializing in certain items such as the Souk des Bijoutiers (which specializes in Jewellery and gold), generally you will find, spices, foods, perfumes, handicrafts, leather goods and clothing, accessories and of course carpets. Walking around a souk is a great way to get lost which is not in itself a problem but trying to find your way back to a shop can be extremely frustrating, so having a natural sense of geography will help you no end but try to spot the more bizarre shops or obvious landmarks to help you navigate.

I found that the souks next to Place Jema El Fna were where I spent most of my time; they have a good range of products but do tend to be more touristy and as such prices are inevitably higher.

Bargaining/haggling is the key to enjoying the souks and if you are the type or person who feels the price is the price then save yourself the money and the time and go to a department store. Here you need patience, some guile and a healthy sense of skepticism. Some people will feel they are being ripped off but I always got the impression that the traders enjoyed haggling, therefore starting high was the key to maintaining a long and enjoyable negotiation, do not be afraid by this and simply come back with a price equally unrealistic, do it with a smile and the fun will start.

Some of my haggling tips are to try to come up with a reason why the price should be lower so inspect the workmanship carefully as you will find discrepancies between items and the quality can vary greatly. Always compare what different traders are prepared to do, some will offer you substantially better deals than others and don’t be afraid to walk away if you are uncomfortable with the price no matter how long you have spent negotiating it. Also try to keep a price in mind that seems to you fair, if they get to it quickly then lower it and if you get to it quickly, either raise your expectations or try somewhere else.

Other salient pieces of advice are to never pay with credit card as this may lead to fraud and never tell people where you are staying. Marrakech like Casablanca and other Moroccan cities can be dangerous, so be aware of your surroundings and do not flash your money about or else your visit to the markets could be more expensive and a lot less rewarding than you hoped.

I had a great time at the markets and if you use some good haggling tips and advice then you should be able to get good prices, but above all make sure you enjoy yourself, things are generally quite cheap in Morocco so even paying slightly over the odds is not going to hurt your budget.