Money in Morocco: what to know before you land
The dirham cannot be bought outside Morocco and cannot be taken out either. That double rule shapes how you handle money there — starting with your first withdrawal in the arrivals hall.
A closed currency: what that means
The Moroccan dirham is non-convertible: you will not find it in a European bureau de change, and you cannot take it home. In practice two moments matter: the first withdrawal on arrival, in the airport hall, and changing back before border police on departure day.
Above MAD 100,000 a declaration is required on entry and exit — a threshold that does not concern ordinary tourism.
Withdraw rather than exchange
ATMs generally give a better rate than bureaux de change, including those at the airport. A few useful rules:
- Always decline the conversion the ATM offers. When the screen proposes charging in your home currency rather than dirhams, say no: that service applies an unfavourable rate. Always choose the local currency.
- Withdraw a substantial sum at once. Fees are largely fixed, both on the Moroccan side and from your own bank: three small withdrawals cost three times as much as one.
- Break your notes. ATMs happily dispense MAD 200 notes, useless for a MAD 100 taxi fare. Break them at the terminal café or shop.
- Tell your bank you are travelling: a first withdrawal in Morocco sometimes triggers a security block.
Card or cash, where and when
| Spending | Card accepted | Cash needed |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels and riads | Often for the deposit | Balance sometimes in cash |
| Taxis | Practically never | Always |
| Souks and medina | No | Always |
| Tourist restaurants | Yes | Useful for tips |
| Car hire | Yes, and required for the deposit | No |
| Guides, porters, attendants | No | Always, in small notes |
The simple rule: everything that happens in the street is paid in cash, and everything booked in advance is paid by card.
How much to budget per day
Excluding accommodation and excursions, in cash:
- Tight budget: MAD 150–250 per person per day — meals at local places, shared taxis or walking, a mint tea or two.
- Comfortable: MAD 350–600 — decent restaurants, taxis, monument entries, a few purchases.
- Unconstrained: beyond that, driven mostly by dining and medina shopping.
Monument entries generally run MAD 70–100, a coffee MAD 12–20, and a tagine in a decent restaurant MAD 70–120.
Tipping: the conventions
Tipping is part of ordinary life without being systematic or obligatory. Accepted benchmarks: MAD 5–10 for a parking attendant, MAD 10–20 for a porter, MAD 20–50 for a transfer driver if the service was good, MAD 50–100 for a guide after a half day, and 5 to 10 % in restaurants where service is not included.
Change your dirhams back before border police: past that point you can no longer do it on decent terms. Keep the receipt from your original exchange, as some counters ask for it. And keep enough for a coffee and one last taxi.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy dirhams before travelling to Morocco?
No, the dirham is a non-convertible currency not available in European bureaux de change. Your first withdrawal or exchange will happen on arrival, in the Marrakech Airport hall.
Is it better to withdraw from an ATM or change cash in Morocco?
ATM withdrawals generally give a better rate, provided you decline the conversion the screen offers and withdraw a substantial sum in one go, since fees are largely fixed.
Can you pay by card in Marrakech?
In hotels, tourist restaurants and at car hire desks, yes. In taxis, the souks and for anything happening in the street, no: carry cash in small MAD 50 and 100 notes.
How much money should you budget per day in Marrakech?
Excluding accommodation: MAD 150–250 per person per day on a tight budget, MAD 350–600 for a comfortable stay including restaurants, taxis and monument entries.
Can you take dirhams home?
No, the dirham cannot be exported beyond a token amount. Change your notes back at the bureaux de change in the public hall before clearing border police, and keep the receipt from your original exchange.