Al-Attarine Souk (Spice Market), Fes

As you stroll down Tarafine Street (Tal芒a Kebira), your nose is greeted by the sweet smell of cinnamon, cumin, and cloves, floating through the air like a fragrant welcome mat to the Al-Attarine Souk, also known as the "Spice Market". Once the pinnacle of sophisticated shopping, this market now offers an eclectic array of goods, from lamps to teapots, mirrors to sunglasses, and even those kitschy souvenirs you can't resist buying. Follow one narrow side street and you'll find yourself surrounded by a rainbow of "babouches", those colorful slippers that beckon you to slip into comfort.

Dating back to the days of the early Idrisid rulers (think 9th-10th centuries), this bazaar has seen its fair share of drama, from fires to floods to the inevitable modern touch-ups involving lots of concrete. But fear not, the recent renovations in 2016 and 2017 brought back the charm with new wooden roofs, spiffy tile decorations, and several practical upgrades.

And don't forget the golden rule of Moroccan market economics: where there's a grand mosque, there's fancy stuff for sale nearby. Just take a peek around the Kairaouine, and you'll see the spice sellers giving way to silk traders and shops peddling those intricately embroidered takchitas, perfect for any fancy occasion鈥攅ven if it's just lounging at home binge-watching your favorite shows.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Fes. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Al-Attarine Souk (Spice Market)
Sight Location: Fes, Morocco (See walking tours in Fes)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Fes Old Town Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Fes, Morocco

Create Your Own Walk in Fes

Creating your own self-guided walk in Fes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Fes New Town Walking Tour

Created by the French in the early 20th century, Ville Nouvelle (New Town) is a relatively modern central district of Fez. A far cry from the sensory overload provided by the old Medina, this neighborhood was originally designed to accommodate foreigners and affluent Moroccans only.

Still, Fez's Ville Nouvelle is as much 'real' Morocco as any donkey-packed lane in the old city.... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Fes Old Town Walking Tour

North and west of the fabled Atlas Mountains of North Africa is the ancient city of Fes, or Fez. It is centered on the Fes River.

In the year 789 Idris I founded the city and the Idrisid dynasty. The city was two settlements on either side of the river. In the 11th century, Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin established Almoravid rule. He united the settlements into Fes el-Bali. The Almoravids were... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

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