SouK

Souk is a traditional marketplace found throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. The word comes from Arabic سُوق (sūq), meaning a marketplace or bazaar; related terms include Persian bazār and Turkish pazar. In many cities, the souk is located in the historic center or within a walled medina, and is organized into a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with stalls.

Vendors typically specialize by product area, so a single souk may contain districts or streets devoted to spices, textiles, leather goods, metalwork and copperware, pottery and ceramics, carpets, jewelry, perfumes, or traditional medicines. Goods are bought and sold by bargaining, a social ritual that reflects local customs. Prices and quality can vary, and shopkeepers may welcome customers who prefer to browse without buying.

Souks function as both commercial and social hubs. They support a network of artisans, traders, and small businesses, and historically formed part of longer caravan routes linking cities and ports. Today many souks continue to serve residents while also attracting tourists, sometimes being partially or wholly modernized or reoriented as specialty or souk districts within larger urban centers.