Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.
Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.
Hi, I'm Lydia!Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.
Hi, I'm Lydia!Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.
Winding their way through the narrow streets and alleyways of the old Medina (Fes el-Bali), the traditional souks allow travelers to feel like they are stepping into a world that time forgot. From colorful textiles to handcrafted leather bags, these are some of the city’s best markets.
Perhaps the most famous of Fez’s souks is the Tanner’s Quarter, where animal hides have been transformed into leather goods using the same traditional methods for centuries. Many leather shops will offer visitors a bird’s-eye view of the colorful dye pits, as well as a sprig of mint to help with the intense smell.
For a change of scene (and smell), head for Souk El Attarine—the spice and perfume market located near the Medersa El Attarine. These fragrant streets are lined with shops selling piles of colorful spices, dried fruits, and nuts, as well as jasmine, rose water, henna, and other beauty products.
Situated in the old mellah, or Jewish Quarter, the gold souk is among the best places in northern Morocco for buying gold and gemstone jewelry.
One of the oldest marketplaces in the Fez Medina, the henna souk (souk el henna) sells a variety of traditional Moroccan cosmetics, including henna and argan oil, that are still used routinely by locals. Some of the tree-shaded stalls sell ceramics as well.
