Rug Shopping Tour Nobu Marrakech
Staying at Nobu Hotel Marrakech, formerly The Pearl Marrakech, and dreaming of a Moroccan rug? Our private Rug Shopping Tour picks you up in Hivernage and takes you to trusted rug houses in the Medina souks, about a 5 to 10 minute drive away, with a local specialist who helps you choose without pressure. Message us on WhatsApp and a guide can often meet you at the hotel the same day, or see our Rug Shopping Tour.
Choose your tour:
• Rug Shopping Tour: find an authentic Moroccan rug with an expert by your side.
• Marrakech Shopping Tour: the souks with a local shopping specialist, without pressure.
• Medina Walking Tour: palaces, hidden courtyards and the stories of the old city.
• Things to Do in Marrakech: plan the rest of your stay like a local.
Visit Marrakech Medina is the shopping specialist of Marrakech. Shopping is not a stop on our tours, it is what we do every day, with the rug weavers, leather artisans and argan oil cooperatives we have trusted for years. Our guides have walked these souks for more than 20 years. We have been recommended by Rick Steves, featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and we have guided some very well-known guests whose names stay private. Private luxury and VIP rug shopping is available on request.
Visit Marrakech Medina is an independent local guide service. We are not affiliated with Nobu Hotel Marrakech.
You spent the morning by the rooftop pool, admired the Atlas from the terrace, and maybe had black cod for dinner. Now your room is perfect, and you are thinking: "A real Moroccan rug would look incredible at home." Then you remember the stories about the souks: the maze, the mint tea, the man who swears this rug is 200 years old and also a special price only for you.
Good news. From Hivernage, the real rug houses of the Medina are only minutes away, and with the right guide, the stories become the fun part instead of the stressful part.
Where Is Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Nobu Hotel Marrakech is in the Hivernage district, at the corner of Avenue Echouhada and Rue des Temples, just outside the Medina walls. Many travelers still know the building as The Pearl Marrakech, its name before it became Nobu's first hotel in Africa in 2023. Its spa still carries the name: The Pearl Spa.
• Address: Angle Avenue Echouhada et Rue des Temples, Hivernage, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
• Google Maps: View Nobu Hotel Marrakech on Google Maps
Hivernage is the elegant, palm-lined part of the new town, full of hotels and restaurants, and very close to the old city. The hotel is approximately a 5 to 10 minute drive from Jemaa el-Fna and the souks, or around 20 minutes on foot.
What Is the Rug Shopping Tour from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
It is a private, guided visit to trusted rug houses in the Medina, starting from your hotel, built around the rug you have in mind. Here is what we offer:
• Pickup at Nobu Hotel Marrakech: your guide meets you in the lobby, and we go to the Medina by car or on foot, as you prefer.
• The rug quarter: we head to Rahba Kedima and the old carpet market, the historic heart of the rug trade, behind Jemaa el-Fna.
• Family rug houses: we visit workshops and dealers we have trusted for years, where you sit, drink mint tea and see dozens of rugs unrolled.
• Real knowledge: how to read the back of a rug, the difference between Beni Ourain, Azilal, Boujad and kilims, and what wool, viscose and "cactus silk" really mean.
• Fair prices and shipping: we help you bargain respectfully and understand packing and international shipping.
• No obligation: you can look, learn and leave without buying anything.
We have welcomed guests staying at Nobu Hotel Marrakech, and they were very happy with their private Medina experience and our local guidance.
Hotel pickup is available, and the tour usually lasts 2.5 to 4 hours depending on how many rug houses you want to see.
What Is There to Do Near Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Hivernage puts you between the new town and the Medina, so most highlights are a short walk or drive away.
• Koutoubia Mosque and gardens: about a 10 minute walk.
• Lalla Hasna Park: about a 10 minute walk, next to the Koutoubia.
• Jemaa el-Fna: around 20 minutes on foot, or a 5 to 10 minute drive.
• Ensemble Artisanal: the fixed-price craft center on Avenue Mohammed V, a short walk or quick taxi ride away.
• Menara Gardens: a short drive south-west.
• Jardin Majorelle: about 15 minutes by car.
What Souks Are Closest to Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
The closest souks start on the north side of Jemaa el-Fna, about 20 minutes on foot from the hotel.
• Souk Semmarine: the main covered street of the souks, starting right off the square.
• Rahba Kedima: the old spice square, a few minutes deeper in.
• The carpet market: next to Rahba Kedima, where rugs have been traded for generations. This is where our rug tour spends most of its time.
How Far Is the Medina from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Very close. The Medina walls are a few minutes from the hotel, and Jemaa el-Fna is about a 5 to 10 minute drive, depending on traffic. The rug quarter is about 10 more minutes on foot from the square, through the souks.
Can I Walk to the Souks from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Yes. It is about 20 minutes to Jemaa el-Fna, then another 10 minutes to the rug quarter. The walk passes the Koutoubia gardens and is pleasant in the morning or early evening. In summer, or if you plan to carry rugs back, a short car ride is more comfortable. With our tour, you choose: walk with your guide or go by car.
What Is the Best Shopping Area Near Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
For rugs, the Medina souks offer the widest choice by far. Depending on your style:
• The Medina souks: the biggest selection of traditional Berber rugs, vintage pieces and kilims.
• Ensemble Artisanal: fixed prices, perfect to get a feel for prices before bargaining in the souks.
• Sidi Ghanem: the design district, about 20 minutes by car, with contemporary rugs and interior design studios.
• Gueliz: boutiques and concept stores in the new town.
Which Moroccan Rug Suits a Modern, Minimalist Home?
If you love the clean, calm style of a design hotel like Nobu, look at neutral, natural rugs.
• Beni Ourain: cream wool with simple dark lines. Soft, warm and easy to place in a modern room.
• Mrirt: dense and refined, often in neutral tones. A favorite for elegant living rooms.
• Kilims and flat-woven rugs: light, graphic and practical for dining rooms and hallways.
• Azilal: for one bold, colorful statement in an otherwise minimal space.
Not sure which one?
Our guide to the difference between Beni Ourain and Azilal rugs helps you decide.
How Much Does a Rug Cost in Marrakech?
Prices depend on size, wool, density and age. As a rough guide in the Marrakech souks:
• Small kilim, mat or runner: about 800 to 2,500 dirhams.
• Medium Azilal or Boujad: about 3,000 to 8,000 dirhams.
• Large handmade wool rug: about 7,000 to 18,000 dirhams.
• Large vintage or exceptional piece: about 12,000 to 30,000 dirhams and more.
For the full picture, read our Marrakech Rug Prices guide.
Can I Ship a Rug Home from Marrakech?
Yes. Small rugs and kilims often fold into your checked luggage. Larger rugs are usually shipped by courier from the rug house. We help you check tracking, insurance and delivery time, and photograph the rug and receipt before it is packed.
Can I Order a Rug Made to My Size?
Yes. Many workshops weave to order in your size and colors. Allow several weeks, agree every detail in writing, and bring your room measurements and photos to the tour.
Which Tour Options Can You Choose from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Every rug tour is private and shaped around you. Our guests at Nobu Hotel Marrakech often choose:
• Private rug shopping tour: from 900 MAD for your group, with pickup at the hotel.
• Small group option: around 250 MAD per person, up to 6 people, meeting near Jemaa el-Fna.
• Same-day and last-minute: already in Marrakech? A guide can usually meet you at the hotel within one hour.
• Rugs and more: combine rugs with leather, lanterns and spices on our Marrakech Shopping Tour.
• Rugs and history: add the palaces and hidden courtyards of our Medina Walking Tour.
• Antique and vintage rugs: visit specialist dealers with our Antique Shopping Tour.
• Argan oil stop: add a visit to our partner boutique with its own certified lab, or book a private Argan Oil Tour.
• Design and interiors: add Sidi Ghanem's design studios for contemporary rugs and furniture.
• Italian or Spanish speaking guide: available on request.
• Luxury and VIP: private showrooms, collector pieces, private car and complete discretion, on request via WhatsApp.
Rug Shopping Tour from Nobu Hotel Marrakech: FAQ
Is Nobu Hotel Marrakech the same as The Pearl Marrakech?
Yes. The Pearl Marrakech was transformed into Nobu Hotel Marrakech, which opened in 2023 at the same address in Hivernage. The hotel's spa is still called The Pearl Spa.
Do you pick up from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
Yes. Your guide meets you at the hotel, and we go to the Medina by car or on foot, as you prefer.
How long is the rug shopping tour?
Usually 2.5 to 4 hours, depending on how many rug houses you want to visit and how much time you take to compare.
Do I have to buy a rug?
No. Shopping is always your choice. Many guests come to learn and look, and buy only if a rug truly speaks to them.
Can you help me ship a rug to the US or the UK?
Yes. We help you understand packing, courier options, tracking and insurance before you pay.
Can I book a rug tour from Nobu Hotel Marrakech today?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp with your preferred time and a guide can usually meet you at the hotel within one hour.
Are you part of Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
No. Visit Marrakech Medina is an independent local guide service and is not affiliated with the hotel.
Ready to Find Your Rug from Nobu Hotel Marrakech?
The best rug is the one you choose calmly, with someone beside you who knows the souks. Let us take you from Hivernage to the real rug houses of the Medina.
• Rug Shopping Tour: private rug shopping with a specialist.
• Marrakech Shopping Tour: rugs, leather, lanterns and argan oil in one afternoon.
• Medina Walking Tour: palaces, hidden courtyards and the stories of the old city.
• Things to Do in Marrakech: our local guide to the rest of your stay.
Book on WhatsApp at +212 614 905 398.
Discover our full range of authentic Marrakech tours on our Visit Marrakech Medina homepage.