Morocco is primarily a cash society. Cards work in some places (tourist hotels, big restaurants, some shops) but the majority of your trip requires physical dirhams. Understanding how to get cash, where to get it, and how to avoid fees saves you money and prevents being caught without cash in a medina souk.

Currency Basics

The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a closed currency. You can’t buy it before you arrive, you can’t exchange it after you leave. You get it in Morocco, use it in Morocco, end of story.

Current exchange rates (March 2026):

  • 1 GBP = approximately 12.6 MAD
  • 1 EUR = approximately 10.8 MAD
  • 1 USD = approximately 9.8 MAD

Rates fluctuate slightly, but these are your ballpark figures.

Where to Get Cash

Airport ATMs (Best Option)

Cost: No markup. Fair exchange rates.

Which ones: Any ATM in the airport. They’re all connected to the national banking system.

How much: Withdraw enough for several days (500-1000 MAD, depending on your budget). Don’t withdraw once at the airport for the entire trip, because you’ll lose dirhams you can’t use outside Morocco.

Reality: Airport ATMs work smoothly. Queues are short. Cards rarely fail. This is your safest bet.

Bank ATMs in Cities

Best banks to use:

  • Attijariwafa Bank
  • CIH Bank
  • BMCE Bank

Cost: No markup. Same exchange rates as airport.

How they work: Find a branch (every city has multiple). ATM is outside or inside. Insert card, withdraw in MAD. Cash comes out in 100 MAD and 500 MAD notes.

Reality: Bank ATMs are everywhere. Use them as your primary source.

Withdrawal limits: Usually 2000-3000 MAD per transaction, depending on your bank. You can withdraw multiple times if needed.

What NOT to Do

Currency Exchange Booths (Tourist Traps)

Avoid exchange booths entirely. They charge 5-10% markup. An exchange booth will give you 10.2 MAD per EUR instead of the fair rate of 10.8 MAD. That’s your £20-50 gone depending on how much you exchange.

Bank Tellers (Slow)

You can exchange cash at bank tellers, but it requires a form, identification, a queue, and 30 minutes of time. Use an ATM instead.

Hotel Exchange (Terrible)

Hotels offer to exchange money, at terrible rates. Never do this.

Airport Exchange (Okay but unnecessary)

There are exchange booths in the airport with slightly better rates than city booths, but they still markup compared to ATMs. Skip them.

Calculating How Much to Withdraw

For a 10-day budget trip:

Your daily spend is roughly 350-450 MAD (£28-36). Over 10 days, that’s 3500-4500 MAD total. This includes accommodation, food, transport, and activities.

Withdraw strategy:

  • Day 1: Withdraw 1500 MAD at airport ATM
  • Day 5: Withdraw 1500 MAD at a city ATM
  • Day 8: Withdraw 1000 MAD if needed

This approach keeps you from carrying too much cash at once (safety risk) and gives you flexibility to adjust spending.

Debit Card Alternatives (UK/Ireland)

If you use a UK or Irish bank:

Revolut: No foreign exchange markup. Best rates. Perfect for Morocco. Withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide with zero fees (under their cash withdrawal limits). This is genuinely the best option if you have it.

Starling Bank: Same as Revolut. No fees, great rates. Recommended.

Traditional UK banks: Usually charge 2-3% foreign exchange markup. Avoid if possible.

If you have Revolut or Starling, use those cards at Moroccan ATMs. You’ll get the best rates available.

Cash Safety

How much to carry at once:

In the medina: 200-300 MAD. This is enough for a day of activities, food, and transport. Don’t carry more.

At the riad or accommodation: Keep some emergency cash separate. If your main wallet is stolen, you still have 500 MAD hidden for emergencies.

In your room: Use the riad safe if available (most do). Don’t leave cash on the desk.

What to do if robbed:

Contact your bank immediately. Your debit card is blocked. You still have your emergency cash. Get to an ATM the next day and withdraw more.

Walking the medina:

Keep your main money in an inside pocket. Keep a small amount (20-30 MAD) in an obvious pocket in case someone pickpockets (they take the decoy, not your real money). This is paranoid, but it’s also real.

Card Payments in Morocco

Some places take cards:

  • International hotel chains: yes
  • Riads: maybe (ask before booking)
  • Restaurants in tourist areas: yes
  • Street food stalls: no
  • Souks: no
  • Public transport: no

For a real budget trip, assume everything is cash. Don’t plan on using a card.

Tipping and Change

Tips are usually given in cash (restaurants: 5-10%, guides: 50-100 MAD). Get some small notes (50 MAD, 100 MAD) from the ATM so you can tip and pay for small things without carrying massive bills.

Change in Morocco is always in cash. If you pay 100 MAD for a 50 MAD meal, you get 50 MAD back in small notes.

FAQ

Can I use my card for everything? No. You need cash for the majority of your trip. Cards work in some restaurants and hotels, not anywhere else.

What if I run out of cash? Find an ATM. Major cities have several. Get cash. This is the entire system.

Can I buy MAD before I arrive? No. MAD is closed currency. You can’t buy it outside Morocco. You get it when you arrive.

What’s the ATM limit? Usually 2000-3000 MAD per transaction. You can withdraw multiple times if needed.

Do I need a PIN? Yes. Your ATM PIN from your bank works. Make sure you know it before you arrive.

What if the ATM rejects my card? Try another bank’s ATM. Some banks (especially US banks) have compatibility issues with Moroccan machines. Try BMCE or Attijariwafa.

Can I exchange dirhams back home? Technically yes, but banks barely take MAD. What you don’t spend in Morocco stays unexchanged. Plan to spend all your cash.

Is it safe to carry cash? Reasonably. Carry small amounts while moving through the medina (200-300 MAD max), keep the rest at your riad. Don’t advertise that you have money. Standard travel safety applies.

Should I use traveller’s cheques? No. They’re outdated and barely accepted. ATMs are faster and more reliable.

What about contactless payment? Some tourist restaurants take contactless payments, but infrastructure is limited. Assume cash-only.

For a complete breakdown of how cash fits into your overall Morocco budget, read our full guide to Morocco budget travel.