What Is the Best Currency to Use in Morocco? Money Tips for the Desert and Beyond
Euros, dollars, cards or cash? One of the most common questions we get from guests before they travel is what is the best currency to use in Morocco. The short answer is simple, but there are a few things you really should know, especially if you are heading to the desert, where cash machines are few and far between.
Quick Answer: Use Moroccan Dirhams
The best currency to use in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). It is the official currency and the only one accepted everywhere, from taxis and markets to cafés and small shops. Some hotels, riads and tour companies also accept euros, but paying in dirhams almost always gets you a fairer price.
| Option | Accepted? | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Moroccan dirham (MAD) | Everywhere | Best choice for daily spending |
| Euros (cash) | Some hotels, riads, tour operators | Useful to exchange on arrival; not ideal for small purchases |
| US dollars / British pounds | Rarely for direct payment | Exchange them for dirhams |
| Debit / credit card | Hotels, bigger restaurants and shops in cities | Good in cities, limited in the desert |
About the Moroccan Dirham
- Code: MAD, often written “Dh” or “DH” on price tags.
- Banknotes: 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams.
- Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirhams, plus small cents (santimat).
- Exchange rate: it changes daily. As a rough guide, one euro is worth around 10 to 11 dirhams. Check a live rate before you travel.
A Closed Currency: The 2,000 Dirham Limit
The dirham is a closed currency. According to Moroccan customs guidance, travellers can bring in or take out a maximum of 2,000 dirhams. In practice, this means you get your dirhams once you arrive in Morocco and spend or change them back before you leave. Large amounts of foreign currency (the equivalent of 100,000 dirhams or more) must be declared at customs.
How to Get Dirhams
1. Cash Machines (ATMs)
The easiest option. ATMs are common in airports and cities. Check your bank’s foreign withdrawal fees before you travel, and when the machine offers to convert the amount for you, choose to be charged in dirhams to avoid a poor conversion rate.
2. Exchange Offices (Bureaux de Change)
Official exchange offices in towns usually give good rates with low or no commission. Euros, dollars and pounds are easy to exchange. Bring clean, undamaged banknotes, and keep your receipts in case you want to change dirhams back before leaving.
3. Airports and Hotels
Convenient for a small amount when you land, but rates are usually less favourable.
Money in the Desert: What You Need to Know About Merzouga
This is the part most travel guides forget. Merzouga is a small village at the edge of the Sahara, and cash machines are very limited here. The nearest towns with banks and more ATMs are Rissani and Erfoud.
- Bring enough cash for your time in the desert before you arrive, ideally from Marrakech, Fes, Ouarzazate or Errachidia.
- Carry small notes and coins for drinks, snacks, souvenirs and tips.
- Do not rely on cards in small shops, cafés or with drivers in the desert area.
- Ask your tour operator in advance how payment works for your activities.
For your desert activities with us, such as a camel ride and night in a desert camp, a quad or buggy ride or a 4×4 jeep tour, just contact us and we will confirm the price and payment options clearly before your trip.
Tipping in Morocco
Tipping is common and appreciated. Keep small notes and coins for:
- Restaurants and cafés, especially if service is not included.
- Camel handlers, drivers and guides, if you enjoyed the experience.
- Camp and hotel staff who help with luggage or service.
- Musicians who play for you.
Tips are always your choice. Give what feels fair for the service you received.
Bargaining and Paying in the Souks
In markets and souvenir shops, prices are often not fixed and bargaining is normal. Decide what you are happy to pay, start lower, stay friendly and walk away politely if you do not agree. Paying in dirhams, with the exact amount or small notes, makes bargaining much easier. This applies to the fossil and souvenir shops around Erfoud and Rissani too.
Common Money Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying in euros in small shops, where the rate you get is usually poor.
- Accepting “dynamic currency conversion” at ATMs or card terminals: always choose dirhams.
- Arriving in the desert without enough cash.
- Carrying only large 200 dirham notes, which small vendors cannot change.
- Leaving with too many dirhams, which are hard to exchange outside Morocco.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use euros in Morocco?
Sometimes, at hotels, riads and some tour operators, but not everywhere. For daily spending, dirhams are much better.
Should I change money before I travel to Morocco?
Usually no. Dirhams are hard to find abroad and the import limit is 2,000 MAD. It is easier to withdraw or exchange money when you arrive.
Are there ATMs in Merzouga?
Options are very limited in the village. Withdraw enough cash in a bigger town such as Rissani, Erfoud or before you leave Marrakech or Fes.
How much cash should I bring to the desert?
Enough for meals not included in your tour, drinks, souvenirs and tips. If your activities and camp are booked in advance, you will need less.
Plan Your Desert Trip With Locals
We are a local Berber family from Merzouga, offering camel treks, desert camps, quad, buggy and 4×4 tours at fair, transparent prices. Before your trip, read our guides Is Merzouga Desert Worth It? and Is It Safe to Go to Merzouga?, then get in touch and we will help you plan everything.