Moroccan Currency: What you need to know before you set off to sip mint tea and stroll through the colorful souks. Morocco is only a few hours’ flight from Germany, but immediately upon arrival, it feels like another world. Oriental, vibrant, colorful, and full of new impressions.

So that you don’t have to worry about cash, credit cards, or tips while you’re there, you’ll find all the important information about the Moroccan currency, withdrawing money, making payments, and typical money-related customs here. Have fun browsing and planning.

You should also know:

  • You should also know:
  • Official currency in Morocco
  • Money exchange & Exchange offices in Morocco
  • Withdrawing money in Morocco
  • Paying with a credit card
  • Best credit card for Morocco
  • Tipping in Morocco – how much is customary?
  • Prices in Morocco
  • Weekly travel budget
  • Travel tips on money in Morocco
  • How much cash should you take with you?
  • Conclusion on this topic

Official currency in Morocco

The country’s official currency is the Moroccan dirham, abbreviated MAD. The currency is not freely convertible – meaning you rarely get it outside of Morocco and it is not officially allowed to leave the country. You will therefore only receive your first dirhams once you arrive, either at the airport or in the city. But don’t worry: ATMs and exchange offices are easy to find in most places.

Current exchange rate

The exchange rate fluctuates, of course, but you can roughly remember this: 1 euro = approximately 10–11 dirhams. So: 100 MAD is around 9–10 euros. For a quick conversion on the go, simply divide by 10 – then you’ll at least be roughly correct.

  • Example: A meal costs 70 MAD → approximately 7 euros.

Moroccan money

Moroccan money comes in various denominations. To avoid confusion on your first visit to the souk, here’s a quick overview:

  • Coins: 10, 20, 50 centimes and 1, 2, 5, 10 dirhams.
  • Banknotes: 20, 25, 50, 100, and 200 dirhams.

At the current exchange rate, one euro is worth just under 11 dirhams. So if you withdraw 200 dirhams from an ATM, that’s just around €19. Your wallet might feel full, but it’s not. Don’t be fooled.

Our tip: When traveling in Morocco, it’s best to always collect some small change. Especially in small shops, taxis, or markets, people often look at you bewildered when you wave a 200-franc note around. It’s better to exchange small amounts beforehand or make sure you get a good mix when withdrawing money.

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Currency Exchange & Exchange Offices in Morocco

If you plan to exchange your euros for dirhams, you should definitely not do so in Germany, as importing the local currency into Morocco is officially prohibited. But don’t worry, you still have the option of exchanging your money locally.

If you like, you can do this immediately after arriving at the airport at one of the exchange offices, or you can wait until you reach one of the larger cities like Agadir or Marrakech. There, you can exchange your money at the exchange offices at significantly better rates than at the airport.

Even if the exchange offices may not look the best from the outside, they usually operate very professionally. You can also exchange your money at regular banks in Morocco, but these usually offer a worse rate and have shorter opening hours than those of the exchange offices.

Larger hotels often also offer the opportunity to exchange common currencies such as euros and US dollars. Another important thing: Never exchange money on the street or with “private individuals” who approach you. This is officially prohibited and can end badly – no matter how tempting the exchange rate sounds.

Withdrawing Money in Morocco

In Morocco, just like anywhere else abroad, you can withdraw money from ATMs. They have an ATM sign. After inserting your card, it’s best to first select “English” as the language. Then go to “Withdrawal” and withdraw the desired amount.

Very important: At the end, the ATM will ask you whether you want to withdraw the amount in euros or dirhams. Always choose the local currency to save costs. The ATM operator sets the exchange rate, and the exchange rate at the ATM is usually very poor.

VISA or MasterCard credit cards are the most reliable cards for withdrawing money anywhere in Morocco. Debit cards (EC cards) sometimes work, but not always. It’s best to take a credit card with you – and ideally two different cards in case one of them starts acting up.

Fees & Limits

  • Moroccan banks usually charge a fee of between 20–40 MAD (approx. €2–4) per withdrawal.
  • Your bank may also charge additional fees – check beforehand!
  • You can usually only withdraw up to approximately 2,000 MAD per withdrawal (approx. €180), sometimes even less.

Tip: Bank Al Arid does not charge any fees for withdrawals‼️

Safety when withdrawing

  • Use ATMs during the day and, if possible, in/near banks or busy places.
  • Conceal the PIN entry, even if no one is looking.
  • And, of course: Don’t withdraw your money from ATMs in dark side streets.

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Payment by Credit Card

Cashless payment with VISA, MasterCard, or even your debit card with the Maestro logo is generally possible in Morocco, although it is not yet widespread. You can pay by card primarily in international hotels, at the airport, and in larger restaurants and shops.

However, you should also bear in mind the fees here. Since you are outside the EU, your card payments will be charged with a foreign transaction fee. Most banks charge 1 to 3% of the invoice amount.

On your journey through the Orient, you will surely also be drawn to the colorful, famous markets and bazaars for shopping. Beforehand, you should definitely stock up on enough cash in the local currency, the Dirham, because paying by card is not possible in most cases.

A little tip for the markets: Don’t forget to haggle before paying! It’s part of the culture and usually fun, too.

Best Credit Card for Morocco

We recommend a free credit card for your trip to Morocco. With this, you can easily withdraw cash (mostly) anywhere and also pay abroad. We have been using the DKB* credit card for almost 10 years now. As an active customer, we can pay with the card abroad and withdraw money from ATMs free of charge. With DKB, however, you must always withdraw at least €50; otherwise, fees apply for the mini-cash option.

Retailers or ATM operators may also charge additional fees for use. Unfortunately, DKB has no control over this and does not refund these fees. Even better is the GenialCard from Hanseatic Bank*. It is free all year round, and there are no fees for withdrawing cash. However, retailers or ATM operators may also charge a fee, which is beyond the bank’s control.

Tipping in Morocco – how much is customary?

Tipping is simply part of the culture in Morocco – people give it, it’s expected, and it’s rarely questioned. It’s a sign of respect and appreciation for good work – and in many industries, an important part of income. You’ll make many friends with small coins. So save them up and don’t spend them all on your next purchase.

What is reasonable?

  • In a restaurant: 5–10% of the bill (if service is not included)
  • In a hotel: Room cleaning: 10–20 MAD per day | Porter: 10 MAD per piece of luggage
  • Guide on day trips: 50–100 MAD (depending on duration and quality)
  • Taxi driver: Round up or add about 5–10 MAD extra
  • Street musicians, parking lot attendants, toilet staff: 2–5 MAD

Prices in Morocco

Of course, it always depends on where you are and how touristy the place is – but for a rough overview, here are a few typical prices so you can roughly calculate how much cash you need:

Travel budget per week

How much money do I need per week in Morocco? Good question and of course depends on how you travel: rather cheap with street food & simple riads or something more comfortable with restaurants, tours & nice accommodation. Here is an overview of what you can roughly plan for a week in Morocco:

Low budget (backpacker style): approx. €200-300 per week

  • Simple riad or hostel: approx. €20-30 per night
  • Eating at markets or small restaurants: €5-10 per day
  • Public transport, cheap taxis: €2-5 per day
  • Entrance fees & smaller excursions: 20–30 €
  • Hardly any shopping, few tours

Mid-range (comfortable & individual): approx. 400–600 € per week

  • Beautiful riad or boutique hotel: 50–90 € per night
  • Restaurants & snacks: 15–25 € per day
  • Rental car or guided tours: approx. 100–150 € (for 1–2 excursions)
  • Entrance fees, souvenir shopping & Co.: 50–100 €

Luxury & All-inclusive: from €800 per week

  • Luxury riad or hotel: €150+ per night
  • Private tours, guides, activities: €200–300
  • Dining in upscale restaurants
  • Shopping, spa, souvenirs on top

Our conclusion: With approximately €50–80 per day, you’re well-off as an independent traveler – anything above or below this depends on the type of traveler. Our total expenses were approximately €115 per day per person. More about this here: Costs of our Morocco tour.

Travel tips about money in Morocco

A few things to keep in mind:

  • In more remote regions, there may be no ATMs at all. Plan ahead accordingly.
  • Take two cards with you (one main card, one backup) in case one fails or gets lost.
  • Don’t exchange too much at once, especially not at the end of your trip, otherwise you’ll end up with dirhams that you can’t exchange back.
  • Use currency apps like “Currency” or “XE” to quickly keep track of your money. The iPhone calculator now has a built-in conversion function; you just need to enter the desired currency.
  • Keep receipts from the exchange in case you need to exchange money back.
  • Keep cash and cards separate – e.g., some in your daypack, some in the safe in the riad.

How much cash should you take with you?

That depends, of course, on how you travel – more on a budget or more boutique. For a typical day of travel with food, small purchases, entrance fees, etc., you should budget around 300–400 MAD (around €30–40). Plus possibly more if you book excursions or shop for souvenirs. It’s best to withdraw 1,000–1,500 MAD immediately upon arrival – this will get you through the day and you won’t have to go to the bank every day.

Conclusion on this topic

Morocco is a straightforward country to travel to, even when it comes to money, as long as you keep a few things in mind. You only get the currency on site, card payments don’t work everywhere, and cash makes many things easier. Especially in the souks, small cafés, or taxi rides, you’re on the safe side with dirhams in cash.

One last tip: Always carry small change, take two cards, and withdraw a little more. This way, you’ll be flexible on your travels. And don’t worry, you don’t need a huge budget. Morocco is easy to travel to even on a tight budget.