Goldwing
Google
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is a mixed bag. The square itself and its main open areas are reasonably kept: you can see maintenance of the benches, the fountain, the pavement. But stray litter appears, especially later in the day: discarded wrappers, fruit peels, loose papers. In the narrower, more crowded alley-entrances toward the souks, there are uneven cobblestones, some dirt, smells from food stalls, fishmongers, etc. That’s normal in an old souk, but for someone sensitive, the smell (especially of fish + spices + humidity) can be intense. Also smells from garbage in side alleys sometimes. Overall: beautiful, atmospheric, but not “spotless European square” standard.
What’s Sold & Approximate Prices
The variety is huge, and goods are aimed both at locals and tourists. You’ll find:
Fresh produce: fruits, vegetables; fish and meat in the food market sections.
Spices: cumin, cinnamon, black & white pepper, ras el hanout, etc.
Leather goods: slippers (babouches), bags, wallets.
Textiles, carpets/rugs, fabrics.
Traditional cookware & metalware, lamps.
Clothing, shoes.
Jewelry & small trinkets.
Cafés & food stalls around: pastries, mint tea, street food.
Prices are a bit fuzzy (they vary by vendor, tourist vs local, how badly you negotiate), but here are some impressions:
Me and my husband bought something that amounts to 50 MAD worth about 500g from a kid who sold dates, sweet/ salty/ sour treats. The next 2 days, we went back to get more malhour dates from the same stall but the kid's dad was there instead, and it was 60 MAD per kg and we got 5kg worth of them.
Other items (leather, textiles) can be more expensive, especially if the seller recognizes you as a tourist. Rugs especially can run high; you’ll be quoted what seems steep unless you negotiate.
We were led by a man to a shop called, Moroccan Brocade, I wanted to buy these beautiful prayer mats but they were to expensive for us. I wanted to get 16 and he asked for 600 euros. That was such a shock to me. We did buy 2 pieces of table cloth from them to support their business and that was it. To top it off, after paying for the things, the salesman asked us for a 20 euro tip for his service.
Common Scams / Pitfalls:
1. Fake / Poor quality “handmade” goods
You may be told that a leather bag, rug, or lamp is handcrafted, genuine, high-quality. In some cases, it’s mass-produced or uses inferior materials. The price can be inflated accordingly. If you don’t know what genuine materials/textile patterns feel like, you may pay much more than it’s worth.
2. Overcharging / Tourist Pricing
If the vendor realizes you are a traveller, expect higher initial prices. Haggling is expected. If you don’t haggle, you may pay 2-3x what locals do. Also “best price” claims (this is the last one, my friend) are common.
3. Misleading “free guiding” or unwanted “help”
A classic: someone offers to “show you the way” or help you carry bags, then expects a tip that is far beyond what you’d reasonably expect.
And all that mentioned above, we have experienced it first-hand.
Overall Impressions & Advice
It’s a beautiful, lively place, full of character. Perfect if you like atmosphere, people-watching, absorbing culture, taking photos, enjoying food smells, colorful stalls.
But, be ready: use small cash, small notes; have patience for haggling; inspect closely; keep your valuables safe; don’t take offers that seem too good to be true.
If possible, bring a local with you, or ask for recommendations of trustworthy shops.
