# Can you get Moroccan dirhams before you travel, and how do you change money in Morocco? > The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency: you can carry at most 2,000 MAD in or out, so get cash from ATMs or exchange on arrival and keep receipts to change back. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-dirham-closed-currency-exchange-atm-guide - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from a 526-day trip across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-08-24 The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a **closed currency**: it is not freely traded abroad, and travellers may carry **no more than 2,000 dirhams** in banknotes into or out of Morocco, according to the Office des Changes. So you arrive with euros, pounds or dollars (or just a bank card), get dirhams from an ATM or exchange desk on arrival, and change any leftovers back before you fly out, ideally with your exchange receipts in hand. ## 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](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-etiquette-morocco) covers how much to leave, and our [cash or card guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/cash-or-card-for-international-travel) 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 ### Can I get Moroccan dirhams before I travel? Not easily. The dirham is a closed currency and you may carry no more than 2,000 MAD in banknotes into Morocco, so it is better to use an ATM or exchange desk on arrival. ### How many dirhams can you take out of Morocco? Up to 2,000 MAD in banknotes, according to the Office des Changes. Change anything above that back at a bank or airport bureau using your exchange slips or ATM receipts. ### Can you use euros in Morocco? Some riads, tour operators and tourist businesses accept euros, but everyday spending in souks, taxis and cafés is in dirhams. Euros are the easiest foreign currency to exchange. ### Is it better to exchange money or use ATMs in Morocco? Both work. ATMs are convenient and usually fair if you decline the machine's currency conversion; exchange desks give regulated rates for cash euros, pounds or dollars. Keep receipts either way. ### Are cards accepted in Morocco? In bigger hotels, supermarkets, malls and larger restaurants, yes. Souks, small riads, taxis, street food and tips are cash only, so carry dirhams in small notes. ## Official sources - [Office des Changes: FAQ on currency for travellers (French)](https://www.oc.gov.ma/tf/faq) - [Office des Changes (official site)](https://www.oc.gov.ma/)