Three crafts, three workshops
Pottery
Moroccan pottery is glazed or painted terracotta. Introductory workshops are often held on the outskirts, at a potter's, with a wheel to shape a bowl or vase and sometimes a mould for free forms. Allow about three hours. One listing consulted sets the meeting point in front of the post office on Jemaa el-Fna, with transport to the workshop. Your piece must dry and be fired: it is often sent or handed over later, which matters if you leave soon.
Zellige
Zellige is a mosaic of small hand-cut glazed tiles, found in fountains and palace courtyards. A combined zellige and pottery format lasts about 2.5 hours: you paint a plate and assemble a small mosaic. Prices found start at about $47 to $66 per adult depending on the displayed currency, with free cancellation and instant confirmation on the listing consulted.
Babouches and leather
Babouches are heel-less leather slippers. In the souks, the Smata souk is devoted to them, but shops dominate. A few workshops offer to cut and sew a pair; check on the listing that the session takes place at an artisan's and not in a shop, and what you take away at the end. For prices of ready-made babouches, see what to bring back from Marrakech.
Prices and durations
| Workshop | Duration | Price seen | To check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pottery (wheel and moulding) | about 3 h | depends on the workshop | Transport, firing, handover of the piece |
| Zellige and pottery | about 2.5 h | from about $47 to $66 per adult | Free cancellation, hotel pickup |
| Babouches, leather | varies | depends on the workshop | Made on site or not |
| Weaving or tadelakt (another provider) | 3 h | €49 per person for two, €106 alone | See the artisans guide |
Indicative prices seen in October 2026 on booking platforms; they change with the season and the number of participants. Always confirm on the listing.
How to choose a real workshop
- Read recent reviews: they say whether the session takes place at an artisan's.
- Check the meeting point and the travel time.
- Beware of a workshop that ends with a long visit to a shop: nothing obliges you to buy. Our guide scams to avoid describes this pressure.
- Ask whether your piece is fired, shipped or to be collected, and whether shipping is charged.
- Bring cash for a tip to the artisan (see money and tipping).
Taking your piece home
Pottery or zellige is fragile: ask for solid packing and carry it in the cabin or well wedged in the hold. Tiles weigh more than you expect. For what people usually bring back, see what to bring back from Marrakech.
Going further
To add a workshop to your stay, combine it with a morning at the Ensemble Artisanal or the fondouks, and follow Marrakech in 3 days. With children, the pottery workshop is one of the easiest: see Marrakech with children.
