Quick answer: tipping in Morocco is not mandatory, but it is widely expected in tourism. As a guide: 5-10% in restaurants, round up in cafés and taxis, 20-50 MAD per day for riad staff, 50-100 MAD for a half-day local guide and 100-150 MAD per day for a tour driver, per group. Always tip in dirhams and in cash.
Summary in 30 seconds
- A tip is called “pourboire” in French and is given in dirhams (MAD or DH).
- As a rough rate, 10 MAD is just under 1 US dollar (1 USD ≈ 9.48 MAD, September 2026).
- Restaurants: 5-10% if service is not included. Cafés: round up or 2-5 MAD.
- Taxis: round up to the next dirham or next 5 MAD.
- Riad or hotel: 20-50 MAD per day for staff, at the end of your stay.
- Local guide: 50-100 MAD half day, 100-200 MAD full day, per group.
- Tour driver: 100-150 MAD per day, per group.
- Always carry coins and small notes: foreign coins cannot be exchanged.
Is tipping mandatory in Morocco?
No. Tipping in Morocco is voluntary. However, it is part of the service culture, and many tourism workers rely on tips to top up modest wages. So while nobody will force you, a fair tip is greatly appreciated.
Tipping also has a social side. Giving a few coins to a car-park attendant, doorman or someone who helps with your bags is normal among Moroccans too. It is not just a custom for tourists.
That said, a tip should reflect the service. If the service was poor or someone pressured you, you do not have to tip. And you should never feel obliged to pay for a service you did not ask for.
Quick table: how much to tip in Morocco in 2026
| Situation | Suggested tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee or tea at a café | 2-5 MAD or round up | Leave coins on the saucer |
| Simple restaurant | 5-10 MAD | Or round up the bill |
| Mid-range or upscale restaurant | 5-10% of the bill | Check if service is included |
| Petit taxi | Round up | Always use the meter or agree a price |
| Porter or bellboy | 10-20 MAD | Per service, depending on bags |
| Riad or hotel staff | 20-50 MAD per day | In an envelope or tip box at the end |
| Local guide (half day) | 50-100 MAD | Per group |
| Local guide (full day) | 100-200 MAD | Per group |
| Tour driver | 100-150 MAD per day | Per group, at the end of the trip |
| Camel handler in the desert | 20-50 MAD per person | After the ride |
| Desert camp staff | 50-100 MAD per night | Per group |
| Hammam attendant | 20-50 MAD | After the scrub |
| Car-park attendant (gardien) | 2-5 MAD by day, 10-20 MAD overnight | Very common nationwide |
| Public toilets | 1-2 MAD | Always carry coins |
| Petrol station | 2-5 MAD | If they clean your windscreen |
| Photos with Jemaa el-Fna performers | 10-20 MAD | Agree the price before the photo |
Indicative amounts in dirhams, based on common tourism-industry practice in 2026 and our experience as a local agency. Adjust to the service and your budget.
Tipping in restaurants and cafés
Cafés and tea houses
In a neighbourhood café, round up or leave a few coins, between 2 and 5 dirhams. For example, if a mint tea costs 13 MAD, leave 15.
Simple restaurants
In local restaurants and food stalls, 5-10 dirhams is enough. At the Jemaa el-Fna food stalls a tip is not expected, but it is welcome.
Mid-range and upscale restaurants
In tourist restaurants, riads with dining and hotel restaurants, leave 5-10% if service is not included. Some bills already add a service charge; in that case add a few coins only for excellent service. Find ideas in our restaurant Marrakech guide.
Tip
If you pay by card, leave the tip in cash so it reaches your waiter.
Tipping taxi drivers and transfers
Petit taxi
Petits taxis are the small city taxis, painted a different colour in each city. Use the meter or agree the fare before you get in. A tip is simply rounding up, for example from 17 to 20 MAD.
Grand taxi
Grands taxis run between cities or to airports. If the driver helps with luggage, 10-20 MAD is a nice gesture.
Private transfers
For a private airport transfer, 20-50 MAD is usual, especially if the driver meets you with a sign and helps carry your bags to the riad door.
Tipping in riads and hotels
Riad teams are usually small and attentive: they cook breakfast, clean the rooms and help with everything. So a shared tip at the end of your stay is the norm.
- Riad staff: 20-50 MAD per day of your stay, in an envelope or the reception tip box.
- Porters: 10-20 MAD. In the medina, barrow porters who carry bags from the gate to your riad usually charge 20-50 MAD; agree the price first.
- Room service: 10-20 MAD per delivery.
- Concierge in luxury hotels: 50-100 MAD if they arranged special bookings.
To reward one person, hand it over directly. To share it among the team, use the common box.
Tipping guides and drivers
This is where travellers have the most questions, as it is usually the largest tip of the trip. Amounts below are per group unless stated.
Local city guide
- Half day (3-4 hours): 50-100 MAD.
- Full day: 100-200 MAD.
- Large groups: 20-50 MAD per person.
Official guides carry an accreditation badge. A good guide saves you time, keeps unofficial guides away and explains the history of each place, so they deserve the tip.
Private tour driver
On a multi-day tour, your driver spends many hours with you: driving, planning stops, recommending restaurants and solving problems. The usual tip is 100-150 MAD per day per group, given together at the end of the trip.
For example, on a 7-day tour for a couple, a total of 700-1,050 MAD (about 75-110 US dollars or 65-95 euros) is a reasonable benchmark.
Driver-guide
If the same person drives and guides, aim for the higher end. Compare formats in our guide to private vs group tours in Morocco.
Tipping in Marrakech: what to know
Marrakech is the country’s most touristy city and the place where tipping comes up most. There are many services for visitors, and Jemaa el-Fna and the souks are where small services are most often charged for.
- Calèches (horse carriages): agree the ride price first. A tip for a friendly driver is 10-20 MAD.
- Medina barrow porters: 20-50 MAD to carry bags to your riad, agreed in advance.
- Official guides: 50-100 MAD for a half-day medina tour.
- Rooftops and cafés: round up or leave 5 MAD.
Tipping in Morocco follows the same logic everywhere, but in Marrakech you will need more coins than elsewhere. Planning your stay? Read our guide to Marrakech holidays.
Tipping in Fes, Chefchaouen and other cities
In Fes the medina is huge, and many visitors hire an official guide to avoid getting lost, so the guide’s tip is the most common one. At the tanneries, shops with terraces let you look over the pits; if you do not buy anything, leave 10-20 MAD for the attendant.
In Chefchaouen there is less pressure and tips are smaller: rounding up in cafés and restaurants is usually enough. In Rabat, Tangier and Casablanca, the custom is like any big city: round up and leave a little more in better restaurants. Discover these cities in our guides to Fes and Chefchaouen.
Tipping on day trips
| Day trip | Who | Suggested tip |
|---|---|---|
| Ourika Valley | Local waterfall guide | 30-50 MAD per group |
| Imlil | Mountain guide | 50-100 MAD per group |
| Agafay | Quad instructor or camel handler | 20-50 MAD per person |
| Essaouira | Driver | 50-100 MAD per group |
| Ait Ben Haddou | Ksar guide | 30-50 MAD per group |
On shared group trips, 20-30 MAD per person for the driver is typical. See all options in our excursions in Morocco.
Tipping on an Atlas trek
Multi-day treks in the High Atlas involve mountain guides, muleteers and cooks. Since 2018, climbing Toubkal requires a guide. Typical amounts per group:
- Mountain guide: 100-150 MAD per day.
- Muleteer: 50-80 MAD per day.
- Cook: 50-80 MAD per day.
Tips are given at the end of the trek, in an envelope for each person or in one that the guide shares out. Discover the region in our guide to the Atlas Mountains.
Tipping in the Sahara Desert
- Camel handler: 20-50 MAD per person after the ride.
- Camp team: 50-100 MAD per group per night, for cooks and musicians.
- Dune or 4×4 guide: 50-100 MAD per group for a sunrise or oasis outing.
Camel handlers may offer jewellery or fossils at the end of the ride. You do not have to buy, and the tip does not depend on it. See our guide to the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Tipping at the hammam and spa
At a neighbourhood hammam, the attendant who scrubs you with the kessa glove expects 20-50 MAD. At hotel spas, leave 5-10% of the treatment price if not included. First time? Read our guide to the Moroccan hammam.
Street tipping: car parks, photos and toilets
Car-park attendants (gardiens)
On almost every street with parking, a gardien in a vest watches the cars. Give 2-5 MAD by day and 10-20 MAD overnight.
Jemaa el-Fna performers
Snake charmers, musicians, water sellers and dancers ask for money for photos. Always agree the price first, or you will be asked for much more. 10-20 MAD per photo is reasonable.
Public toilets
At stations, service areas and some cafés, attendants expect 1-2 MAD. So always keep coins in your pocket.
People offering to show you the way
In the medinas, some people will say “the street is closed” or offer to take you somewhere. If you accept, they will ask for money at the end. If you do not want the service, say “la, shukran” (no, thank you) and keep walking.
Do you tip in shops and cooperatives?
No. When you buy in a souk, shop or argan cooperative, the price already includes the seller’s margin, so no tip is expected. Leaving a few coins for someone who gave a long demonstration when you did not buy is a kind gesture, but optional. Learn about cooperatives and workshops in our guide to SIM cards and artisan factories in Morocco.
Worked example: tipping on an 8-day Morocco tour
| Day | Service | Suggested tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airport transfer + medina barrow porter | 20 + 30 MAD |
| 2 | Official guide in Marrakech (half day) + restaurant | 80 + 30 MAD |
| 3 | Local guide at Ait Ben Haddou + lunch | 40 + 20 MAD |
| 4 | Camel handler + desert camp team in Merzouga | 60 + 80 MAD |
| 5-6 | Meals and cafés on the road | 60 MAD |
| 7 | Official guide in Fes (full day) + restaurant | 150 + 30 MAD |
| 8 | Riad staff (several nights) + tour driver (8 days) | 200 + 1,000 MAD |
| Approximate total | About 1,800 MAD (around 190 USD / 165 EUR) | |
The driver’s tip is clearly the biggest one. Daily café and restaurant tips add up to little. So on a tight budget, prioritise the people who accompany you for several days. A similar route is our 5-day tour from Marrakech to Fes.
How much to budget for tips
| Type of trip (2 people) | Length | Approximate tips total |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Marrakech break | 4 days | 300-500 MAD (30-55 USD) |
| Marrakech + desert trip | 6 days | 700-1,100 MAD (75-115 USD) |
| Private tour with driver | 8 days | 1,200-1,800 MAD (125-190 USD) |
| Grand private route with driver and guides | 12-14 days | 2,000-3,000 MAD (210-315 USD) |
Approximate conversion at 1 USD ≈ 9.48 MAD and 1 EUR ≈ 10.95 MAD (September 2026). See our tours from Marrakech.
Tipping in Morocco compared with the UK and the USA
| Country | Restaurants | Taxis | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 5-10% | Round up | Expected, important |
| United Kingdom | 10-12.5% (often added) | Round up | Optional |
| United States | 15-20% | 15% | Expected |
For American travellers, restaurant percentages in Morocco are lower than at home, but tips are expected in more situations. For British travellers, the overall level feels familiar. Either way, think in dirhams.
Tipping on arrival: airport and transfers
When you land, first withdraw dirhams at an airport ATM. That way you have cash for the porter, the transfer and the medina barrow porter. Many travellers arrive with only dollars, pounds or euros and struggle in the first minutes.
- Airport porter: 10-20 MAD if they help with a trolley.
- Transfer driver: 20-50 MAD, depending on distance and help with luggage.
- Medina barrow porter: 20-50 MAD, agreed first.
Flying into Marrakech? See our guide to flights to Marrakech.
Tipping on a luxury trip
At five-star hotels and on high-end trips, tipping in Morocco follows the same logic, though amounts rise slightly. For example, at a luxury hotel you might leave 50-100 MAD for a concierge who arranged a special dinner, and 10-20% at a spa or fine-dining restaurant if service is not included.
On a private luxury tour with a full-time driver and guide, 150-200 MAD per day per group is common. What matters most, however, is that the tip reflects the care you received.
Why tipping matters in Morocco
In Moroccan tourism, many wages are modest and tips make up a meaningful part of income, especially for guides, drivers, waiters and riad staff. In rural areas such as the desert and the Atlas, tourism is also one of the main sources of work.
So understanding tipping in Morocco is not just about etiquette. It is a direct way to support the people who make your trip possible.
Useful words for saying thank you
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shukran | Thank you |
| Shukran bezaf | Thank you very much |
| La, shukran | No, thank you |
| Baraka allahu fik | May God bless you (warm thanks) |
| Merci | Thank you (French, widely used) |
| Pourboire | Tip |
A few words of Darija, Moroccan Arabic, make any tip land with a smile. Learn more in our guide to the language spoken in Morocco.
Tipping checklist before you travel
- Withdraw dirhams at the airport on arrival.
- Ask for 20 and 50 MAD notes and keep 5 and 10 MAD coins.
- Carry a separate purse just for tips.
- Prepare one envelope for riad staff and one for your driver.
- Estimate a budget using the tables in this guide.
- Always agree prices for photos, calèches and porters before the service.
- Learn a few words of thanks in Darija.
Tipping when travelling with children
Travelling as a family changes little about tipping in Morocco, but a few details matter. In the desert, camel handlers often take great care of children, so a slightly more generous tip is a nice gesture. Children also love photos with Jemaa el-Fna performers, so agree the price first. And let the children hand over the tip themselves: it is a lovely way to teach them to say thank you in another culture.
Dirhams, dollars or euros?
Dirhams are always best. First, it is the local currency people use daily. Second, foreign coins cannot be exchanged at banks, so a euro or dollar coin has little value to the recipient. Banknotes in euros or dollars are sometimes accepted on tours, but they are not ideal, and cards rarely allow tips. The dirham also cannot be bought outside Morocco in most countries, so withdraw cash at an ATM on arrival. Read our guide to the Moroccan dirham.
How to get small notes and coins
- Ask for 20 and 50 MAD notes when changing money.
- Pay with large notes in supermarkets and petrol stations to get change.
- Keep 5 and 10 MAD coins in a separate pocket.
- ATMs usually give 100 and 200 MAD notes; break them early.
- Prepare the riad and driver envelopes the night before.
Tipping during Ramadan and holidays
During Ramadan, many tourism workers fast and work long hours, so a slightly more generous tip is especially appreciated. The same applies around Eid al-Adha, when families face extra expenses. Learn about the religious calendar in our guide to religion in Morocco.
How to tip politely
- Discreetly: by hand, folded, or in an envelope.
- With your right hand: considered more polite in Morocco.
- With a kind word: “shukran” (thank you) or “shukran bezaf” (thank you very much).
- Without pressure: if someone insists aggressively, you are not obliged.
- At the end: for guides and drivers, after the service, not before.
What if the service was poor?
A tip rewards good service. If someone was rude, pushed you to buy or did not deliver what was agreed, you do not have to tip. Just stay calm and avoid arguments. On an organised tour, raise any problem with the agency during the trip rather than at the end.
Common tipping mistakes in Morocco
- Giving foreign coins: they cannot be exchanged.
- Carrying no change: many places cannot break 200 MAD notes.
- Paying for photos without agreeing a price: you will be asked for much more.
- Adding the tip to a card payment: it often does not reach the worker.
- Tipping for unrequested “services”: it encourages hassle for other visitors.
- Forgetting the driver at the end of a tour: it is the most important tip of the trip.
Key takeaways
- Tipping in Morocco is voluntary but widely expected.
- Always tip in dirhams, in cash.
- Restaurants: 5-10%. Cafés and taxis: round up.
- Riads: 20-50 MAD per day for staff.
- Guides: 50-100 MAD half day; 100-200 MAD full day, per group.
- Tour drivers: 100-150 MAD per day, per group, at the end.
- Agree prices for photos, calèches and porters in advance.
Frequently asked questions about tipping in Morocco
It is not mandatory, but it is a widespread custom and highly valued in tourism.
5-10% at mid-range or upscale restaurants, and 5-10 dirhams at simple ones.
50-100 dirhams for a half day and 100-200 dirhams for a full day, per group.
100-150 dirhams per day per group, usually all together at the end of the trip.
Dirhams are better. Foreign notes are sometimes accepted, but foreign coins cannot be exchanged.
20-50 dirhams per day of your stay for the staff, at the end.
It is not required. Rounding up the meter fare is normal.
20-50 dirhams per person for the camel handler and 50-100 dirhams per group per night for the camp team.
For two people, between 700 and 1,800 dirhams depending on the type of trip and services booked.
Yes, if you photograph performers. Agree the price first; 10-20 dirhams is reasonable.
Conclusion: tipping in Morocco without the stress
Tipping in Morocco is simple once you know what to expect. Indeed, with coins in your pocket, a few small notes and the table in this guide, you can thank everyone fairly and without second-guessing. Moreover, a well-judged tip is a way to recognise the people who make your trip unforgettable.
At Favorites Morocco Tours we brief you on all of this before you travel and run private tours with a driver and local guide, tailored to you. Explore our Morocco tours, learn about us or contact us.