Souk Chouari Woodworking Marrakech
Where can you see woodworkers and basket makers at work in the Marrakech souks?
Souk Chouari is the woodworking and basketry souk of Marrakech, where carpenters carve cedar, woodturners shape thuya and lemonwood on old bow lathes, and basket makers weave palm leaves into baskets, bags and mats. It sits in the north of the souks, next to Souk Haddadine and close to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, about 1 km from Jemaa el-Fna. The air smells of fresh cedar, and many pieces are made right in front of you. Our Private Medina Walking Tour passes the woodturners on the way to Ben Youssef, and our Private Souks Shopping Tour takes you to the woodworkers and basket makers we trust, at fair prices.
Our private tours, every day at 9 am or 2 pm, about 3 hours, with pickup at your riad
• 1 to 2 people, 1,000 MAD
• 3 to 4 people, 1,200 MAD
• 5 to 6 people, 1,500 MAD
• 7 people or more, on request
• Family, 2 adults and up to 3 children, 1,200 MAD
Included a relaxing stop with a bottle of mineral water, a cup of mint tea and a small souvenir, all complimentary.
Message Us On WhatsApp or use our Booking Form.
The first thing travelers notice in Souk Chouari is a man sitting on the floor, holding a bow like a violinist. He pulls it back and forth, the piece of wood spins, and his bare foot holds the chisel steady. In a few seconds, a plain stick of lemonwood becomes a chess piece, a spoon or a kohl pot. Children stop and stare, adults pull out their phones. It's one of the oldest crafts still alive in the Medina, and it happens a few steps from the busiest souks of Marrakech.
Visit Marrakech Medina, The Best Shopping and Walking Tour Company in Marrakech, has guided travelers through the souks since 2004. Our Medina walking tour is featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide To Morocco, which says our guide “guarantees (unlike most guides) not to stop at any shops”. Our guiding is also Recommended By Rick Steves.
Choose your tour
• Who Can Show You The Real Craft Workshops In The Souks? Our private souks shopping tour, woodwork, baskets, leather, lanterns and spices at fair prices.
• Can You See The Woodturners Without Any Shopping Pressure? Our private walking tour, Jemaa el-Fna, the artisan souks, the Mellah, the fondouks and the herbalist.
• Which Berber Rug Fits A Cedar And Palm Interior? Our private rug shopping tour, Beni Ourain, Azilal and kilims, with DHL shipping.
• Can Your Family Discover The Craft Souks With One Guide? All our tours are private, one guide, one group, one truly personal experience.
• Can You Visit The Artisan Souks Today? Last-minute private tours, often within the hour.
Where is Souk Chouari and how do you get there?
Address Souk Chouari, next to Souk Haddadine, near the Ben Youssef Madrasa, Medina, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
Open Souk Chouari On Google Maps
From the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna, walk into Souk Semmarine through its big gate and follow the main covered lane north, past Rahba Kedima. Keep straight through Souk El Attarine and Souk Smata, toward the Ben Youssef area. When you hear hammers on iron and smell fresh cedar, you've reached Souk Haddadine and Souk Chouari, side by side. The walk takes about 13 minutes.
• How Do You Walk From Jemaa El-Fna To The Woodworkers' Souk? about 1 km, 13 minutes on foot
Your phone may lose its way under the souk roofs. Read Why Is Google Maps So Confused In The Souks?
How far is Souk Chouari from the other souks and monuments?
Souk Chouari is in the artisan north of the Medina, right next to the Ben Youssef monuments. Each link opens the walking route on Google Maps.
• Souk Chouari To Souk Haddadine, The Blacksmiths about 100 meters, 1 minute
• Souk Chouari To Souk Cherratine, The Leather Souk about 200 meters, 3 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Ben Youssef Madrasa about 250 meters, 4 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Almoravid Koubba about 250 meters, 4 minutes
• Souk Chouari To Souk Smata, The Babouche Souk about 250 meters, 4 minutes
• Souk Chouari To Souk El Attarine about 350 meters, 5 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Dyers' Souk about 400 meters, 6 minutes
• Souk Chouari To Rahba Kedima, The Spice Square about 550 meters, 8 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Bab Debbagh Tanneries about 900 meters, 12 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Koutoubia about 1.5 km, 20 minutes
• Souk Chouari To The Bahia Palace about 1.9 km, 25 minutes
• Souk Chouari To La Mamounia about 2.1 km, 28 minutes
Distances are approximate walking distances through the souks. Staying in a riad near Ben Youssef, Bab Doukkala or Mouassine? You're usually 5 to 15 minutes away on foot.
Which souks are near Souk Chouari?
Typing "souks near me" from a riad near the Ben Youssef Madrasa? Souk Chouari sits in the middle of the real craft souks, where Marrakech still makes what it sells.
• Souk Haddadine the blacksmiths, hammering wrought iron lanterns, gates and furniture next door
• Souk Cherratine the leather souk, bags, belts, poufs and fantasia saddles
• Souk Smata the babouche souk, leather slippers in every color
• Souk El Attarine the old spice and perfume souk, today brass lanterns, trays and teapots
• Souk des Teinturiers the dyers' souk, wool skeins in indigo and saffron. See What Happens In The Dyers' Souk Of Marrakech?
• Rahba Kedima the spice square, herbalists, baskets and straw hats
• Souk Semmarine the main souk back to Jemaa el-Fna. See How Do You Find Your Way Along Souk Semmarine?
So when you search for souks near me in the north of the Medina, start at Souk Chouari. The iron, leather, babouche and brass souks are all within a 5-minute walk.
What is the history of Souk Chouari?
In Darija, chouari are the big double baskets of palm fiber that hang on each side of a donkey or a mule. For centuries, the basket makers of this souk wove them for the farmers and traders who brought fruit, vegetables and grain into the Medina from the Haouz plain and the Atlas. The souk took its name from them.
Over time, the woodworkers settled in the same lanes. Carpenters used Atlas cedar for doors, ceilings and furniture of the riads, while woodturners made spindles, spoons and small objects on the bow lathe, a tool almost unchanged for centuries. Today the souk mixes both crafts, the smell of cedar shavings and the rustle of palm leaves, often passed from father to son. Read Who Are The Artisans Still Working By Hand In The Medina?
What can you buy in Souk Chouari?
Woodwork
• Cedar boxes carved and painted boxes in fragrant Atlas cedar
• Thuya pieces polished boxes, bowls and chess sets in thuya root wood, famous for its swirling grain
• Turned objects spoons, spatulas, kohl pots, spinning tops and chess pieces made on the bow lathe
• Kitchen pieces wooden bowls, salad servers, tagine stands and bread boards
• Mirrors and frames carved and painted cedar frames
• Mashrabiya panels carved wooden screens, made to order
Basketry
• Palm baskets market baskets and storage baskets woven from doum palm
• Beach bags woven palm bags, sometimes with leather handles
• Mats and placemats woven palm mats for the home
• Chouari the traditional double panniers, a beautiful decoration piece
• Straw hats wide hats for the Marrakech sun
How much do things cost in Souk Chouari?
Prices depend on the wood, the size and the handwork. These are the usual ranges after friendly bargaining.
• Wooden spoon or spatula, about 20 to 60 MAD
• Small cedar box, about 50 to 200 MAD
• Thuya box, about 100 to 500 MAD
• Wooden salad bowl, about 100 to 300 MAD
• Carved mirror frame, about 300 to 1,200 MAD
• Palm basket, about 50 to 200 MAD
• Woven beach bag, about 80 to 250 MAD
• Straw hat, about 50 to 100 MAD
Want honest prices for woodwork and baskets? Our Local Shopping Guide For The Craft Souks Of Marrakech knows what each piece is worth.
How do you know if woodwork and baskets are handmade?
• The smell real cedar smells sweet and strong, even years later
• The grain thuya shows natural swirls and knots, printed or stained imitations look flat and repeated
• The tool marks handmade pieces show small irregular cuts, machine-made ones are perfectly identical
• The weight solid wood feels heavy, light pieces are often plywood or resin
• The weave handwoven baskets are tight and slightly uneven, with no glue inside
• The finish good pieces are finished with oil or wax, very shiny varnish can hide cheap wood
On our Best Souks Shopping Tour For Handmade Crafts, we take you to the workshops where you watch the pieces being made before you buy.
When is the best time to visit Souk Chouari?
• Morning from about 9 am, the woodturners and basket makers start work, the best time to watch them
• Afternoon the busiest time in the souks, with more pieces on display
• Friday many workshops close for a few hours around midday prayer
• Combine it with the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Almoravid Koubba and Souk Haddadine, all a few minutes away
See When Do The Craft Souks Of Marrakech Open?
What are the best tips for shopping in Souk Chouari?
• Watch first stop and watch a woodturner for a few minutes, it's free and unforgettable
• Ask before photos artisans are proud of their craft, but they like to be asked
• Buy from the maker pieces bought in the workshop often cost less than in the bazaars near Jemaa el-Fna
• Bargain with a smile start around half the first price and take your time
• Pack baskets with clothes they keep their shape and protect fragile items
• Ignore street helpers young men offering to show you "the cooperative" usually lead you to a shop
• Find your way back follow Souk Semmarine south to Jemaa el-Fna. See How Do You Walk Back From The Craft Souks To The Square?
Want to discover the quiet corners around Ben Youssef? Read Which Hidden Places Hide Behind The Craft Souks?
What Happens On A Real Tour With Us?
Family from Canada
"He explained the history in a way that kept our whole family engaged."
What Do Our Guests Usually Ask On The Tour?
Traveler from the United Kingdom
"Our guide's walking tour was the highlight of our Marrakech trip."
What Surprises Travelers Most On Our Walks?
Traveler from Ireland
"Our guide tailored everything to our interests."
Our tours are rated 5 stars on Google. Read Our Google Reviews
Ready to discover the craft souks with a local? Book On WhatsApp for a fast reply, or use our Booking Form.
Who Wrote This Guide?
This guide was written by the Local Team of Visit Marrakech Medina, Marrakchis who were born and raised in the Medina and have guided travelers through the souks since 2004. Our Medina walk is featured in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and our guiding is recommended by Rick Steves. Everything here comes from what we see and hear on our tours every day.
Have a question about your trip, even if you don't book a tour? Ask Us On WhatsApp. We're happy to help travelers plan their days in Marrakech.
Found this guide useful? Save it for your trip or share it with a friend who's heading to Marrakech.
Writing about Marrakech? Feel free to link to this guide, or contact us for local insights and photos.
Discover our full range of authentic Marrakech tours on our Visit Marrakech Medina homepage.