Practical Tips
Currency in Morocco: Everything You Need to Know About the Dirham
The dirham (MAD) is the official currency. How to get it, where to use it, and all the tips for paying without hidden fees.
## The Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
Morocco's official currency is the dirham (in Arabic: الدرهم, ISO code: MAD). 1 EUR ≈ 11 MAD (variable rate). Bills range from 20 to 200 MAD, coins from 0.5 to 10 MAD.
## How to get dirhams
Three options, in order of recommendation:
1. ATMs: present everywhere, in cities, at the airport, in banks. Official rate, minimal fees (1.5-3% if your card allows it). Tip: withdraw at the airport to have cash upon arrival.
2. Official exchange office: better rate than hotels and restaurants. Compare displayed rates. Present in all cities and at the airport.
3. At the hotel or riad: mediocre rate, avoid except in emergencies.
## Can you pay in euros or dollars?
Technically yes in large hotels, some tourist restaurants, and a few shops. But the rate applied is often 10-15% worse than at the exchange office. For small shops, markets, taxis, riads, the dirham is mandatory.
## Credit card: where it works, where it doesn't
Works: hotels, high-end riads, tourist restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, car rental agencies.
Does NOT work: souks, small shops, taxis (most), cafés, local restaurants, hammams, local guides.
Tip: bring cash for small expenses, use the card for big purchases.
## Tips to pay without fees
- Card without foreign fees: Revolut, N26, Wise, or premium card (Gold, Platinum)
- Withdraw large amounts (reduce fixed fees)
- Refuse conversion to euros at the ATM ("do you accept conversion?": NO, in EUR = bad rate)
- Keep receipts to convert your remaining dirhams at the end of your stay
## How much money to bring?
For a week-long trip excluding flights:
- Backpacker: €30-50/day
- Comfort: €80-120/day
- Luxury: €200+/day
## Can you keep dirhams when leaving?
Yes, technically, but the export of dirhams is limited: maximum 2,000 MAD per person on exit. The rest must be spent or reconverted at the airport (with a less favorable rate).
## Tipping in Morocco
- Restaurants: 10% if service not included
- Guides: 50-100 MAD/day/person
- Drivers: 50 MAD/day
- Riads: 50-100 MAD for the staff (leave on the table)
- Hotel porters: 10-20 MAD per bag
- Gas station: 5-10 MAD for the windshield washer
Morocco's official currency is the dirham (in Arabic: الدرهم, ISO code: MAD). 1 EUR ≈ 11 MAD (variable rate). Bills range from 20 to 200 MAD, coins from 0.5 to 10 MAD.
## How to get dirhams
Three options, in order of recommendation:
1. ATMs: present everywhere, in cities, at the airport, in banks. Official rate, minimal fees (1.5-3% if your card allows it). Tip: withdraw at the airport to have cash upon arrival.
2. Official exchange office: better rate than hotels and restaurants. Compare displayed rates. Present in all cities and at the airport.
3. At the hotel or riad: mediocre rate, avoid except in emergencies.
## Can you pay in euros or dollars?
Technically yes in large hotels, some tourist restaurants, and a few shops. But the rate applied is often 10-15% worse than at the exchange office. For small shops, markets, taxis, riads, the dirham is mandatory.
## Credit card: where it works, where it doesn't
Works: hotels, high-end riads, tourist restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, car rental agencies.
Does NOT work: souks, small shops, taxis (most), cafés, local restaurants, hammams, local guides.
Tip: bring cash for small expenses, use the card for big purchases.
## Tips to pay without fees
- Card without foreign fees: Revolut, N26, Wise, or premium card (Gold, Platinum)
- Withdraw large amounts (reduce fixed fees)
- Refuse conversion to euros at the ATM ("do you accept conversion?": NO, in EUR = bad rate)
- Keep receipts to convert your remaining dirhams at the end of your stay
## How much money to bring?
For a week-long trip excluding flights:
- Backpacker: €30-50/day
- Comfort: €80-120/day
- Luxury: €200+/day
## Can you keep dirhams when leaving?
Yes, technically, but the export of dirhams is limited: maximum 2,000 MAD per person on exit. The rest must be spent or reconverted at the airport (with a less favorable rate).
## Tipping in Morocco
- Restaurants: 10% if service not included
- Guides: 50-100 MAD/day/person
- Drivers: 50 MAD/day
- Riads: 50-100 MAD for the staff (leave on the table)
- Hotel porters: 10-20 MAD per bag
- Gas station: 5-10 MAD for the windshield washer