Why Shop in Fes?
Fes is Morocco's craft capital. While Marrakech has more tourists and flashier displays, Fes has been making things for over a thousand years. The leather tanneries of Fes el-Bali have operated since the 11th century. The pottery studios of the Dyers' Quarter produce ceramics that end up on walls across Morocco. The metalworkers, weavers, carpenters, and embroiderers of Fes follow techniques passed down through generations.
Shopping in Fes is not a transaction; it is a tour of living workshops. You will see the craftsman hammering brass in his tiny shop, the women weaving woollen blankets in a cooperative, and the tanners standing knee-deep in dye pits that have not changed technique since the Middle Ages.
The medina of Fes el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban area, with over 9,000 narrow lanes. It can be overwhelming at first, but with a basic sense of direction and a willingness to get lost, it is one of the most rewarding shopping experiences in the world.
Trimyo local note: Fes is generally cheaper than Marrakech for the same quality of crafts. The competition is lower, the rents are cheaper, and the craftsmen are often the actual makers, not resellers. If you are buying quality pieces, do it in Fes.
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The Main Shopping Areas
Talaa Kebira (The Main Spine)
The main thoroughfare running from Bab Boujloud into the heart of the medina. This is where you will find a mix of everything: spices, slippers, scarves, bags, and tea sets. Prices here are slightly higher because of foot traffic. Wander into side alleys for better deals.
Talaa Seghira
Runs parallel to Talaa Kebira. Quieter, with more textile shops and a few good carpet sellers. Worth walking down for the atmosphere alone.
Souk el Henna (near the Chouara Tannery)
The dye and henna souk. You will see piles of coloured powders, natural soaps, and traditional beauty products. This is also where the entry points to the Chouara Tannery overlooks are located.
Kissariat El Kifah (The Textile Souk)
A covered market within the medina dedicated to traditional Fassi textiles: silk brocade (known as "mejdoub"), embroidered caftans, and woven blankets. This is the place to buy high-quality fabric by the metre or a finished caftan made to measure.
Nejjarine Square (The Carpenters' Souk)
A beautifully restored square with the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts (entry ~20 MAD). The surrounding shops sell carved wooden objects: jewellery boxes, chessboards, trays, and decorative panels. The quality here is excellent.
What to Buy in Fes
1. Leather Goods (The Tanneries)
Fes is most famous for its leather. The Chouara, Sidi Moussa, and Ain Azleten tanneries form the largest and oldest tanneries in Morocco. You can see the whole process from the surrounding terraces.
What to buy: Leather bags, belts, wallets, jackets, pouffes. Quality check: Real leather smells earthy, not chemical. The dye should not rub off on your hands. Good leather from Fes will last for years. Prices: A small leather bag starts at 200–350 MAD. A simple belt: 50–120 MAD. A leather jacket: 800–2,000 MAD depending on quality.
Haggling tip: The leather shops around the tannery overlooks are tourist-oriented. Walk 2–3 streets deeper into the same souk for the same quality at 20–30% less.
2. Ceramics and Pottery
Fassi pottery is distinctive: white and blue geometric patterns on tagine pots, plates, vases, and tiles. The glaze is lead-free, so tagines bought here are genuinely usable for cooking.
Where to buy: The Pottery Quarter (near Bab Ftouh) or the cooperatives along the road to Sefrou. Quality check: The base colour should be an even white. Blue patterns should be crisp, not blurry. Flipping the piece over, check for smooth, even glazing on the bottom rim. Prices: Small decorative plate: 30–80 MAD. Tagine pot: 80–200 MAD. Large vase: 150–400 MAD.
3. Carpets and Rugs
Fes is a good place to buy a Moroccan rug, though the best Berber rugs come from the Middle Atlas and the desert regions. Many shops in Fes import from these areas, which means a good selection but not always the best price.
What to look for: Wool Beni Ourain (neutral, geometric), Azilal (colourful, abstract patterns), Taznakht (red, fine weave). Prices: Small Beni Ourain (2×1.5 m): 1,500–3,000 MAD. Large Azilal: 2,000–5,000 MAD. What you pay depends heavily on the design and knot count. Red flags: If the price starts below 1,000 MAD for a 2×3 m rug, it is probably a machine-made import from India. Walk away.
4. Metalwork and Brass
Fes has a strong tradition of engraved brass and copper work. Look for hand-engraved trays, lanterns, teapots, and mirror frames. The finest work is done in the Medina's metalwork souk near the Andalous neighbourhood.
What to buy: Engraved brass tray (200–500 MAD), lantern (150–600 MAD), mint tea teapot (100–250 MAD). Authenticity: Tap the piece — real brass rings. Tin-lined copper is heavier and more expensive but traditional.
5. Spices and Natural Products
The spice souk in Fes is atmospheric and aromatic. Saffron (from Taliouine), cumin, ras el hanout, paprika, ginger, and dried rose buds are all worth buying.
What to buy: Saffron (20–50 MAD per gram — real saffron, not dyed threads), ras el hanout (20–40 MAD for 100g), argan oil (80–150 MAD for 250 ml). Quality check for saffron: Real saffron threads are deep red with orange tips. Cheap dyed saffron is uniform red and will not flavour properly.
6. Traditional Fassi Clothing
The "caftan" and "takchita" (two-piece caftan) are traditional Fassi garments, often worn for weddings and celebrations.
Where to buy: The Kissariat El Kifah or specialist tailors in the Medina. Prices: Simple ready-made caftan: 400–800 MAD. Made-to-measure silk takchita: 1,500–5,000 MAD depending on fabric and embroidery.
Haggling Guide for Fes
Haggling is expected in the souks of Fes, but the approach here is less aggressive than in Marrakech. Sellers in Fes tend to quote closer to a fair price from the start.
| Step | What To Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Inspect | Examine the item carefully. Ask about materials and origin. |
| 2. Ask price | "Bshhal?" (How much?) or "Combien?" |
| 3. Counter offer | Offer 40–50% of the asking price for high-value items (leather, carpets). Offer 60–70% for small items (spices, ceramics). |
| 4. Meet in the middle | Most transactions settle at 50–70% of the first quote. |
| 5. Walk away | If the price does not feel right, thank them and walk. They may call you back. If they do not, the price was genuine. |
Golden rule: Only haggle if you intend to buy. It is not a game.
Practical Shopping Tips
- Bring cash. Most souk shops do not accept cards. There are ATMs near Bab Boujloud and at the edge of the Medina.
- Carry small bills. Shopkeepers get frustrated when you pay a 50 MAD item with a 500 MAD note.
- Go early. The best time to shop is 9:00–11:00 AM, when the light is good and the crowds are thin.
- Say no firmly but politely. "La shukran" (no thank you) is enough. You do not need to explain.
- Shipping. Large items (carpets, lanterns) can be shipped home. Most shops offer this service. Get the shop to write the shipping cost on the receipt.
FAQ
Is it safe to shop in the Fes medina?
Yes. The medina is generally safe during daylight hours. Keep your wallet in a front pocket or a cross-body bag. Do not flash large amounts of cash. Shops are used to tourists and prices are generally fair.
How do I know if a product is authentic?
Look for imperfections — handmade items are never perfectly symmetrical. Ask to see the workshop. If a shop cannot tell you who made an item and where, it is probably a factory import. Real Fassi products come from Fes.
Can I buy a carpet in Fes and have it shipped home?
Yes. Most carpet shops offer international shipping. The cost is typically 200–500 MAD for a standard-sized carpet to Europe or North America. Get a written receipt with the shipping details.
What should I avoid buying in Fes?
Avoid "antiques" — most items sold as antiques are new pieces aged artificially. Avoid fossil items unless you are certain of provenance. Avoid products made from endangered species (coral, tortoiseshell).
How much should I tip a guide in the medina?
If you hire a local guide for a shopping tour, budget 200–300 MAD for a half-day. For one-off guidance (someone walks you to a specific shop), 20–50 MAD is fair.
Are credit cards accepted in Fes souks?
Most small souk shops accept cash only. Larger carpet shops and cooperatives near Bab Boujloud do accept cards. Always carry enough cash for the day's shopping.
© Trimyo — Original Morocco tourism intelligence. This article was researched and written by the Trimyo editorial team. If you find this content useful, please link to the original article rather than copying it.
Published · Updated · Original article on trimyo.com
Sources & Verification
- Lonely Planet Fes Shopping(high trust)
- Journey Beyond Travel(medium trust)
- Visit Morocco Official(high trust)
Needs Verification
- Saffron prices 20–50 MAD per gram in Fes souks — Estimated from general pricing. Actual price depends on season (saffron harvest is October–November).
- Carpet shipping costs 200–500 MAD to Europe — Estimated from traveller reports. Verify actual shipping rates in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to shop in the Fes medina?
Yes. The medina is generally safe during daylight hours. Keep your wallet in a front pocket or a cross-body bag. Do not flash large amounts of cash.
How do I know if a product is authentic?
Look for imperfections — handmade items are never perfectly symmetrical. Ask to see the workshop. If a shop cannot tell you who made an item and where, it is probably a factory import.
Can I buy a carpet in Fes and have it shipped home?
Yes. Most carpet shops offer international shipping for 200–500 MAD to Europe or North America. Get a written receipt with details.
What should I avoid buying in Fes?
Avoid "antiques" — most are artificially aged. Avoid fossil items unless provenance is certain. Avoid products made from endangered species.
How much should I tip a guide in the medina?
If you hire a local guide for a shopping tour, budget 200–300 MAD for a half-day. For one-off guidance, 20–50 MAD is fair.
Are credit cards accepted in Fes souks?
Most small souk shops accept cash only. Larger carpet shops and cooperatives near Bab Boujloud do accept cards. Always carry enough cash.