Can you get Moroccan dirhams before you travel, and how do you change money in Morocco?

Why you can't really buy dirhams before you go

Morocco controls the dirham through the Office des Changes. Its rules prohibit importing and exporting dirham banknotes, with one exception: travellers may carry up to 2,000 MAD in notes. That is why most banks and bureaux at home don't stock dirhams, and any that do sell them at poor rates.

There is no limit on bringing foreign currency in, but if you arrive with cash equivalent to 100,000 MAD or more you must declare it to customs on arrival, and keep that declaration if you want to take unspent foreign cash out again.

Exchanging money at the airport and in town

Exchange desks in the arrivals halls at Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca airports open for most flights, and their rates are generally close to those in town because rates are tightly regulated. Changing enough for a taxi and the first day at the airport is reasonable.

In the cities, banks and licensed bureaux de change (look for the bureau de change sign and the posted rate board) take euros, pounds and US dollars in clean notes. Euros get the widest acceptance. Bring your passport, and keep every exchange slip (bordereau de change), because you will need it to change money back.

ATMs in Morocco: fees, limits and the conversion trap

ATMs (guichets automatiques) are easy to find in city centres, at the edges of the medinas in Fes and Marrakech, and in every mid-sized town. Bank-branch machines are the safest choice. Withdrawal caps per transaction vary by bank and are often around 2,000 to 4,000 MAD.

Your home bank may charge a foreign withdrawal fee, and some Moroccan banks add their own fixed fee, shown on screen before you confirm. If the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline the conversion and choose dirhams; the ATM's own exchange rate is almost always worse. Keep the ATM receipt, because it can also serve as proof of where your dirhams came from when you change them back.

Cash or card: how Morocco actually pays

Morocco runs on cash. Cards work in mid-range and upmarket hotels, chain supermarkets, malls, larger restaurants and train stations, but souks, small riads, taxis, street food, hammams, guides and most tips are cash only. Some riads quote in euros and accept euro cash; outside those, pay in dirhams.

Carry small notes (20 and 50 MAD) and coins for taxis, tips and haggling, since change for a 200 MAD note can be hard to find in the medina. Our Morocco tipping guide covers how much to leave, and our cash or card guide explains which cards to bring.

Changing dirhams back before you fly

Banks and bureaux can buy back dirhams from non-residents at the end of their stay, but only dirhams that came from foreign currency exchanged in Morocco. They will ask for the exchange slip or ATM receipt proving that. Without it you may be refused or limited to a small amount.

Change money back before passport control: the exchange desks are in the departures hall, and duty-free shops airside generally do not take dirhams. Rather than changing small amounts back, spend leftover notes on your last taxi or meal, or keep up to 2,000 MAD for a future trip, which is legal.

Frequently asked questions