Money in Morocco: Currency, ATMs, Cards & Tipping Guide
Morocco runs on cash more than most visitors expect. This guide explains the dirham, where to change money, how ATMs and cards work, and how much to tip guides, drivers, waiters and riad staff.
Morocco runs on cash more than most visitors expect. This guide explains the dirham, where to change money, how ATMs and cards work, and how much to tip guides, drivers, waiters and riad staff.
Quick answer: the currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). You cannot usefully buy it before you travel, so withdraw from an ATM or change cash on arrival. Cards work in hotels and modern restaurants, but souks, taxis, cafes and the whole of rural Morocco run on cash. Tip around 10 percent in restaurants and 100 to 200 dirhams a day for guides and drivers.
The dirham is a closed currency. Banks abroad rarely stock it and the rate is poor when they do. You may bring in or take out only a small amount, currently 2,000 dirhams, so plan to spend or change back what is left before departure.
| Method | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal | Usually the best | Widely available in cities and airports |
| Exchange bureau in town | Good | No commission; rates are similar everywhere. Bring clean, undamaged notes |
| Airport exchange desk | Slightly lower | Convenient for the first taxi and tips |
| Hotel reception | Lower | Useful only for small amounts |
| At home before travel | Poor | Not recommended |
Keep your exchange receipt. You may be asked for it when changing unused dirhams back at the airport.
Withdraw before you leave the cities. In Merzouga, the Dades and Todra gorges, Imlil and small villages, ATMs are few and sometimes empty. Rissani, Erfoud and Ouarzazate are the last reliable stops on the way to the Sahara.
Cards are generally accepted in: hotels and larger riads, upmarket restaurants, supermarkets such as Carrefour and Marjane, petrol stations, train stations and established shops in the new towns.
Cash only: souks, petit taxis and grand taxis, street food and local cafes, small guesthouses, hammams, tips, parking attendants and almost everything in rural areas and the desert.
Some shops add a surcharge of 3 to 5 percent for card payments. Ask before you pay.
With accommodation and tours already paid, most travellers spend 300 to 500 dirhams per person per day on meals, taxis, entrance fees and tips. Typical prices:
For full trip budgets, see how much a Morocco trip costs and our cost comparison for US, UK and EU travellers.
Tipping is part of daily life and an important part of income in tourism. The amounts are small. Keep a supply of 5, 10 and 20 dirham coins and notes.
| Who | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Cafe waiter | 2–5 DH |
| Restaurant | About 10% if service is not included |
| Hotel or riad porter | 10–20 DH per bag |
| Riad staff | 20–50 DH per day, left in the tip box at the end |
| Private driver | 100–150 DH per day, per group |
| Licensed city guide | 100–200 DH per half or full day |
| Camel handler or desert camp team | 50–100 DH |
| Hammam attendant | 20–50 DH |
| Petit taxi | Round up the fare |
| Parking attendant | 2–5 DH |
These are guidelines, not rules. Tip more for excellent service and less if it was poor.
Prices in the souks are negotiable and cash gives you the strongest position. Decide what an item is worth to you, start well below it and meet in the middle with a smile. Fixed-price shops and cooperatives are the exception. Our Marrakech souks guide explains how to haggle step by step.
More in our Morocco safety guide.
On our private tours the price is fixed in advance and covers the vehicle, driver, fuel and the accommodation listed, so the only cash you need on the road is for lunches, drinks and tips, and your driver knows where the last ATM is. See our multi-day Morocco tours or request a custom itinerary.
Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham, written MAD or DH. It is a closed currency, which means you can only obtain it in practice once you arrive. In recent years one euro has been worth roughly 10 to 11 dirhams and one US dollar roughly 9 to 10 dirhams.
Some riads, tour operators and souk sellers in tourist areas accept euros, and occasionally dollars or pounds, but usually at a poor rate. Taxis, cafes, small shops and local restaurants expect dirhams. Paying in dirhams is almost always cheaper.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most hotels, larger riads, modern restaurants, supermarkets and petrol stations in the cities. Souks, taxis, street food, small cafes and most businesses in villages and the desert are cash only. American Express is rarely accepted.
Tipping is expected. As a guide: 10 percent in restaurants, 2 to 5 dirhams in cafes, 10 to 20 dirhams for porters, 100 to 200 dirhams per day for a private guide and 100 to 150 dirhams per day for a private driver, shared by your group.
If your hotels and tours are prepaid, 300 to 500 dirhams per person per day covers meals, taxis, entrance fees and tips comfortably. Carry more for shopping in the souks, and withdraw before going to the desert or the mountains, where ATMs are scarce.
