Essentials

Money and SIM cards

Carry cash, take it out of ATMs in larger amounts to save fees, always choose to pay in dirhams, and buy a local SIM with your passport.

The short version

• Cash runs Morocco. Taxis, souks, small cafés and tips are cash. Hotels, bigger restaurants and supermarkets take cards.
• You get dirhams in Morocco. The dirham is a closed currency: you can't buy it before you arrive. Change a little at the airport, the rest in town or from ATMs.
• Say no to "your currency". When an ATM or card machine offers to charge you in euros or dollars, choose dirhams.
• How much cash? Bring a debit card and some euros, pounds or dollars as a backup, and take out dirhams as you go: a few larger withdrawals rather than many small ones, since every one costs a fee. Change leftover dirhams back in Morocco before you leave (keep the receipt). Foreign currency worth 100,000 MAD or more must be declared on arrival.
• Keep small notes. 20 and 50 MAD notes and coins make taxis and tips easy; 200 MAD notes are hard to break.
• Buy a local SIM. Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi all sell tourist SIMs; bring your passport to register it. Data is cheap in town.

What it costs, with sources

• Maroc Telecom airport tourist pack (40 GB): 200 MAD Cash only at the airport stall. The same data costs much less in town. (1 source, 2026-08)
• Airport SIM + data starter packs (typical): 100–120 MAD Prices vary by operator and offer; airport stalls are dearer than shops in town. (1 source, 2026-09)
• Blank SIM at Maroc Telecom airport stall: free Ask for a SIM with no plan loaded, then buy data in town. Bring your passport to register it. (1 source, 2026-08)
• Maroc Telecom data top-up in town (10 GB): 50 MAD About 10 MAD per GB. Buy at an official operator shop, not from street sellers. (1 source, 2026-08)
• ATM fee for foreign cards: 20–35 MAD Every withdrawal with a foreign card costs a fee; take out larger amounts less often. (3 sources, 2026-08)
• ATM withdrawal limit per transaction: 2 000–10 000 MAD Most ATMs give at most 2,000 MAD per withdrawal, in 200 MAD notes. (2 sources, 2026-08)
• Decline dynamic currency conversion: When the ATM or card machine offers to charge you in your own currency, say no: choose dirhams. The conversion can add 5–10%. (3 sources, 2026-08)
• Currency exchange: airport vs city: Airport desks give worse rates: change a little on arrival and the rest in town. (2 sources, 2026-08)
• Cash vs card: Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash for taxis, souks and small cafés. You can't buy dirhams before you arrive. (2 sources, 2026-08)