Shopping in Morocco

Morocco appears to be filled with bargains, but look closely before buying. Good buys in wool carpets and leather goods can be found, but most of what is sold is of poor quality. (A quick test for real wool is to take a small tuft from the carpet and burn it with a match or lighter. If it smells like burning plastic, it's acrylic fiber.) Other items available include gems, fossils from the Sahara, wood carvings, pottery, beaten brass, silk, hand-embroidered clothing, copperware, silver and gold. Bargaining is the rule in the medina. Offer a quarter to half of the price quoted (less, with carpets) and take it from there. Be patient and polite but insistent. If bargaining is not your game, or you'd like to avoid the hassles of the medina, you can find goods with fixed prices at craftsmen's cooperatives, called Syndicat d'Initiative, in most of the larger cities.

Pay with cash whenever possible; credit cards can be overcharged. It is also better to take goods home with you than to have them shipped. Stores sometimes substitute cheap goods for purchased items when they ship overseas.

Shopping Hours: Generally Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-12:30 pm and 2-6:30 pm. Many shops, however, especially those in the medina, close on Friday. In some souks, shops may be open on Sunday.

Banking Hours: Monday-Friday 8:15-11:30 am and 2:15-4 pm. In summer, Monday-Friday 8 am-3 pm. During Ramadan, 9:30 am-2 pm.