What Currency Is Used in Morocco?

Morocco's official currency is the Moroccan dirham, abbreviated MAD and written as "dh" locally. One dirham divides into 100 centimes, though centimes are rarely seen in everyday transactions. As of mid-2026, indicative rates run around 10–11 MAD to 1 USD and 10–12 MAD to 1 EUR, though these shift daily. The dirham is a closed currency — you cannot buy it outside Morocco in advance (it is not sold at foreign exchange booths in other countries), so plan to exchange on arrival.

Occasionally, but it is hit-and-miss and not a strategy to rely on. Some hotels, airport shops, and tourist-facing restaurants in cities like Marrakech, Fes, and Agadir will accept euros, usually quoting a rough in-their-head rate that works in their favour. If you pay in euros, expect change in MAD at an unfavourable conversion. For everyday spending — medina shopping, street food, petit taxis, hammams — dirhams are non-negotiable. Carry MAD as your primary currency and treat euros as an emergency backup.

Bureau de change offices in city centres consistently offer better rates than airport counters or hotels. In Marrakech, try the booths in Gueliz (the new town) or just outside the medina walls near Bab Doukkala. In Fes, exchange kiosks cluster around the Ville Nouvelle near Place Mohammed V. Compare at least two booths — rates vary. Alternatively, withdraw MAD from an ATM using your home bank's debit card, which typically tracks the interbank rate closely. Avoid exchanging at the airport unless you truly need a small float for your taxi.

Yes — ATMs (called "distributeurs automatiques" on signage) are widely available in Moroccan cities and tourist areas. Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, and Essaouira all have ATMs on or near main squares and in shopping centres. Even Merzouga, the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes, has at least one functioning ATM, though it sometimes runs out of cash on busy weekends — withdraw enough before heading deep into the south. Withdrawal limits vary by Moroccan bank, typically around 2,000–4,000 MAD per transaction. Your home bank's foreign transaction fee will apply, so a travel card with no FX fees saves real money.

Yes, but with important limits. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at upscale hotels, larger restaurants, and some souvenir shops in major cities. Budget guesthouses, medina food stalls, street markets, taxi rides, and hammams are almost exclusively cash-only. Amex is accepted in a small number of luxury establishments. Expect a surcharge of 2–3 % at some card-accepting venues. The practical strategy: carry enough MAD for daily spending and use cards for hotel bills only.

Generally no — the Moroccan dirham is a closed currency and is not sold outside Morocco, so you cannot pre-buy MAD before your trip. What you can do beforehand: notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid card blocks, get a travel debit card with no foreign transaction fees (e.g. Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab), and withdraw a small float of local cash from an ATM on arrival rather than using the airport exchange desk. Exchanging euros or dollars in-country, at a city bureau de change, almost always nets you a better rate than any pre-trip exchange service.

USD is accepted at some exchange bureaux in major cities and a handful of high-end hotels, but it is not as universally useful as euros. If you are travelling from the US, arriving with a travel debit card and withdrawing MAD from an ATM on landing is cleaner than carrying cash dollars. If you do bring dollars, use them at a reputable city exchange office rather than attempting to spend them directly — shops that quote a dollar price are rare outside the most touristy medina stalls, and the informal rate they offer will not be in your favour.