I found the hidden capital of vintage shopping just three hours from London

‘Have you got lost yet?’ a street seller asks me with a grin in front of a stall stacked high with colourful vintage leather goods. ‘In Marrakech, this is the only way to find true hidden gems.’

He isn’t wrong. In the depths of the sprawling medina of Morocco’s tourist capital, losing your way is practically guaranteed. Its markets, or souks, are a maze of thousands of stalls selling handmade goods crafted from leather, textiles, metal and wood.

And that’s exactly what I am here to do — get lost in the wonderful chaos and discover what the city has to offer. 

And it seems I’m not the only one. A growing number of travellers are now planning holidays around shopping, with ‘thrift-tripping’ tipped as one of the next big travel trends.

‘Vintage junkets are part of a pushback against how generic travel has become,’ says Americana expert Zoey Goto.

TikTok has played its part, with videos showcasing ‘thrifted souvenirs’ racking up millions of views.

And as a self-proclaimed Vinted obsessive, I decide it’s time to put the trend to the test.

Day 1: A little paradise awaits

Touching down in Marrakech feels like stepping into another world.

Just three hours from sleet-grey London, the city greets me with winter temperatures in the mid-20s, a welcome shock to the system.

The sun shines generously here, with locals enjoying around 340 days of sunshine a year. My guide, Mohamed Mellak, tells me that everyone is freezing, but to me, it feels like summer.

Known as the Red City for its distinctive red sandstone buildings, Marrakech hides treasures behind its ancient walls.

‘Rich and poor are all neighbours here,’ Mohamed explains. ‘That’s why everything is painted the same colour — so no one feels lesser than or excluded. Behind each door, you might discover a little paradise.’

He proves his point moments later. Stepping through a heavy green door in the Bab Doukkala district, I enter Riad Botanica, a tranquil oasis far removed from the dusty street outside.

A tall orange tree shades the narrow courtyard, where a plunge pool reflects the glistening afternoon sun. Intricate plasterwork, cedarwood doors and geometric handcrafted zellige tiles fill the space. Everything flows and feels carefully curated.

Before Mohamed and his wife, Angela, restored it, the riad was a multi-generational family home.

‘It hadn’t been touched in decades,’ Angela tells me. ‘We aimed to restore it to its former glory while preserving its history.’

During the renovation, they found a key belonging to the original family and created a mural in their honour, a small but touching tribute.

Championing local artisans sits at the heart of the project.

‘There are so many talented craftspeople who can’t promote themselves,’ Angela explains. ‘The brassmaker down the street might not speak the language, so he can’t teach or share his work. We help connect people, travellers, artisans and culture.’

Later, a frantic tuk-tuk ride through the medina takes us to dinner.

On the way, Angela explains how the souks are roughly organised by trade: there’s Souk Cherratine for leather, Souk Haddadine for blacksmiths, and the bustling Souk Semmarine — the ‘Bond Street of Marrakech’, a perfect starting point for first-timers. I’m chomping at the bit to explore them all.

@louanneckoo

le souk de Marrakech à mon cœur 💌 #souk #morrocosouk #moroccan #soukmarrakech #marrakech #pourtoi #sacmarrakech #saccuir #haulsouk #exvoto #shoppingsouk

♬ Ouda – Hamid El Shaeri

The day ends with cocktails and dinner on the rooftop of the chic Le Trou au Mur.

I try berkoukesh, a traditional Atlas Mountains pasta dish laced with rich tomato sauce and spices.

As the sun sinks low and the sky turns crimson, we marvel at the breathtaking spectacle the Red City puts on at night.

Day 2: Exploring the souks

I wake to the gentle but arresting call to prayer. It starts at the Kutubiyya mosque and reverberates across the city, answered by hundreds of others.

The mosques serve as community hubs as much as places of worship. That’s why tourists are not allowed to wander in — something is happening at every hour of the day. 

Marrakech is a feast for the senses. As we head into the souks, the smells, colours, textures and bustling streets are magnificent, but could overwhelm the unprepared. 

Sunlight slips through gaps in the canvas, painting golden patterns on walls draped in textiles, ceramics, brass and woodwork.

Artisans hammer at copper lanterns, the air is perfumed with spices and cedarwood, and shopkeepers beckon you to examine their wares. 

Our guide for the day, Soufiane, grew up here and navigates the medina effortlessly. Our first stop is Atelier de Marrakech, where Omar – one of only three calligraphers in the medina – greets us.

‘Calligraphy is about balance and harmony,’ he explains, while writing my name in Arabic. ‘The artist who can’t say they mastered calligraphy, cannot call themselves an artist.’

Every door reveals new wonders. We step into Mustapha Blaoui, a vast interiors space filled with antique lamps, rugs, glassware and furniture. ‘It’s like Ali Baba’s cave,’ Soufiane remarks.

I briefly consider whether a chest of drawers might fit in my luggage. Thankfully, many souk sellers offer to ship your purchases home. 

Next comes a ceramics shop stacked high with handmade cups, plates and vases. I leave with a set of espresso cups for 25dh (around £2.15) apiece, a fraction of what they’d cost in London.

Then it’s on to babouches: rows upon rows of brightly coloured traditional Moroccan leather slippers hanging from the walls.

At trendy L’Atelier Michi, most pairs cost around 180dh (£15), and I quickly decide everyone I know is getting them for Christmas.

Deeper into Souk Cherratine, the rich scent of leather permeates the air, signalling we’re near the tanneries.

Many products here come straight from the source. I put my haggling skills to the test, securing a handmade red leather belt for 150dh (£12.75). I’m chuffed.

After hours of shopping, Soufiane leads us to a tiny square packed with locals queueing for lunch.

The dish is loubia – a rich, creamy stew of white beans, lemon, olive oil and harissa, served with bread. It’s creamy, moreish, and filling, and one of those ‘if you know, you know’ moments. Had I been on my own, I would have never discovered it. 

Day 3: A city of contrasts

Eager to dig deeper into Marrakech’s vintage scene, I head to Bab El Khemis, a sprawling open-air flea market ten minutes from the riad.

‘It’s not for everyone,’ Angela warns, and she’s right. 

The market, aimed firmly at locals, is rough, dusty and every man for himself. Without guidance, it would be easy to get lost.

We spend an hour traversing workshops and alleyways filled with everything from 80s phones, used cutlery, jars and candlesticks, to chandeliers, tools and piles of clothing.

Unlike European flea markets, Marrakech’s vintage scene exists alongside living craft traditions.

Here, the line between antique, thrifted and handmade is blurred — many of the skills used to create ‘vintage’ pieces are still practised daily.

Woodworkers, metalworkers and potters sit outside their shops, working as they sell. There isn’t a tourist in sight.

Marrakech is a city of contrasts. Just a short distance away lies the immaculately manicured Jardin Majorelle, the former home of Yves Saint Laurent. Nearby, we stop for lunch at MORO, a design lover’s dream and concept store rolled into one.

From botanical skincare to fashion and interiors, everything is beautifully curated.

Mouad and Mohcyn, the visionaries behind the brand, tell me about Marrakech’s thriving design scene. ‘We keep space for local designers,’ Mouad explains. ‘It’s important for us to amplify and nourish their artistry.’

In neighbourhoods like Majorelle and Gueliz, you’ll find more thoughtfully curated spaces, worlds away from the chaos of the medina and the raw charm of Bab El Khemis, yet only minutes apart. 

I conclude my shopping spree with Moroccan skincare: an argan and grapefruit body milk for 250dh (£21.25), and a sleep-aiding essential oil roll-on for 180dh (£15.30), which my mum would adore.

These are gifts far more personal and thought through than anything bought in a rush back home.

My first ‘thrift-trip’ is a success. I leave Marrakech with a lighter wallet, a fuller suitcase, and firm plans to return.

Here, I learned that sometimes, the best way to find what you’re looking for is to get lost.

How to get to Marrakech

Low-cost airlines run daily routes from London Gatwick and Stansted to Marrakech Menara Airport.

January tends to be the cheapest month to fly. Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet have return trips for as little as £30 when booked in advance, making Marrakech an attractive and affordable winter sun destination.

Maria Astardjieva was a guest of Riad Botanica, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything – our reviews are 100% independent.

Nightly rates start from €210 (£183) for 2 people on a B&B basis. They also offer a 3-night guided shopping tour to get the most out of the city’s shopping scene.

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