Morocco's currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). It is a closed currency, so you get it mainly inside the country, from ATMs or exchange offices. Cards work in hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, but souks, taxis, small cafes and rural areas run on cash. Carry small notes and coins every day.
The Moroccan dirham at a glance
The dirham is written as MAD or DH. One dirham is divided into 100 centimes. Banknotes come in 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams, and the coins you will use most are 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirhams, plus the half dirham.
As a rough guide, 10 dirhams has been worth about one US dollar or a little less than one euro for many years. The rate moves, so check a currency app shortly before you travel instead of relying on a figure from a guidebook.
One local habit confuses visitors. In markets, older vendors sometimes quote prices in rials, an informal unit where 20 rials equal one dirham. If a number sounds far too high for a bunch of mint, ask "dirham?" and you will get the real price.
Where to get dirhams
Because the dirham is a closed currency, you will rarely find it at a good rate outside Morocco, and there are limits on how much you may bring in or take out. Plan to obtain your cash after you land. These rules can change, so confirm the current allowance with official sources before you travel.
- ATMs: the easiest option. Every airport and city has them, and they accept the main international card networks. Machines typically limit each withdrawal to around 2,000 MAD, and your own bank may add fees.
- Exchange offices and banks: euros, US dollars and British pounds are changed everywhere. Rates are regulated and differ only slightly between offices. Bring clean, undamaged notes.
- Hotels: convenient for small amounts, but usually at a weaker rate.
Keep your exchange receipts. You may be asked for them if you want to change leftover dirhams back at the airport when you leave.
Cash or card: what works where
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most mid-range and upscale hotels, riads, modern restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations on main roads and larger shops. Some places add a surcharge for card payments, and terminals do fail, so never rely on a card alone.
Cash is needed for almost everything else: souk purchases, street food, petit taxis, small cafes, tips, public toilets, local guides and entrance fees at many monuments.
When a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose dirhams. The conversion done by the terminal is usually worse than your bank's. It is also sensible to tell your bank you are travelling and to carry a second card kept separately from the first.
Money in the desert and the mountains
ATMs become scarce once you leave the cities. On the road south, withdraw in Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Erfoud or Rissani. Do not count on finding a working machine in Merzouga, in small Atlas villages or in the gorges.
If you join one of our Sahara desert tours from Marrakech, take enough cash for drinks, lunches, tips and small purchases for the whole trip before you cross the Atlas. Desert camps, roadside cafes and cooperatives selling argan oil or rugs often cannot take cards.
The same applies to short outings. On day trips from Marrakech to the Ourika Valley, Ouzoud or Imlil, you will pay local guides, lunch stops and parking attendants in cash.
Typical everyday prices
Prices vary by city and by how touristic the spot is. The ranges below are general market figures to help you judge whether a price is reasonable, not quotes.
| Item | Typical range (MAD) |
|---|---|
| Glass of mint tea in a local cafe | 8 to 15 |
| 1.5 litre bottle of water in a shop | 6 to 8 |
| Tagine in a simple restaurant | 50 to 90 |
| Short petit taxi ride in a city | 10 to 30 |
| Entrance to a major monument | 50 to 100 |
| Dinner in a mid-range restaurant, per person | 150 to 300 |
For the bigger picture of what a full trip costs, read our guide on how much a Morocco tour costs.
Tipping in Morocco
Tipping is part of daily life and wages in tourism are modest, so small tips matter. There are no fixed rules, but these amounts are typical:
- Cafes: a couple of dirhams left on the table.
- Restaurants: around 10 percent if service is not already included.
- Hotel porters: 10 to 20 MAD.
- Local city guides: roughly 50 to 100 MAD per person for a half day, depending on group size.
- Drivers on multi-day tours: commonly 100 to 200 MAD per day from the group as a whole.
- Camel handlers and camp staff: 20 to 50 MAD.
Tip in dirhams where you can. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged, so they are of little use to the person receiving them.
Bargaining and avoiding common money problems
In souks, prices for rugs, leather, lamps and souvenirs are negotiable. Ask the price, offer noticeably less, and settle somewhere in between. Stay friendly, and only start bargaining if you actually intend to buy. Food, pharmacies, supermarkets and shops with marked prices are fixed.
A few habits prevent most problems:
- Break 200 MAD notes at supermarkets or petrol stations. Taxi drivers and small stalls often have no change.
- In petit taxis, ask for the meter or agree the fare before you get in.
- Agree prices for henna, photos with animals and unofficial guiding before anything starts.
- Split your cash between a wallet, a bag and the room safe.
Our guide to safety in Morocco covers common tourist scams in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use euros or US dollars in Morocco?
Some riads, tour operators and carpet shops accept euros and occasionally dollars, but the rate is rarely in your favour. For everyday spending you need dirhams.
How much cash should I carry per day?
If accommodation and transport are already paid, many travellers find 300 to 500 MAD per person per day comfortable for meals, drinks, tips and entrance fees. Shopping is extra.
Can I take dirhams home with me?
Only small amounts are permitted, and the dirham is difficult to exchange abroad. Spend what remains or change it back at the airport before security, and check the current limit with official sources.
Are ATMs safe to use in Morocco?
Yes, with normal precautions. Prefer machines attached to a bank branch, use them in daylight, shield your PIN and keep the receipt until the withdrawal shows on your statement.
Planning your budget for a trip? Contact Discover Morocco Tour for a free custom quote and you will have a reply within 24 hours.