· By Hamid El Maimouni, Licensed Marrakech Guide
these morocco travel tips are the ones i give every family before they land. not the obvious stuff like “drink bottled water.” the real things that change how your trip goes — the money situation, how to handle the medina with kids, tipping culture, what to wear, and the taxi rules that save you from getting ripped off. i’ve been guiding families here for over 12 years, and these are the things that come up on every single trip.
Money and payments: what actually works
morocco runs on cash. the currency is the moroccan dirham (MAD), and at the time of writing, 1 USD gets you roughly 9.5-10 MAD. bring euros or dollars from home and exchange at a bureau de change when you arrive — the airport rate is okay, the city rate is slightly better.
ATMs are everywhere in marrakech, fes, casablanca, and tangier. they work fine with US debit and credit cards. but once you’re in the desert or small atlas mountain towns, ATMs disappear. pull cash before you leave the cities.
cards work at hotels, upscale restaurants, and some larger shops. they do not work in souks, street food stalls, small riads, or for taxis. plan to carry 500-1,000 MAD ($50-100) in small bills at all times. keep 10 and 20 MAD notes handy — you’ll use them for tips, bathroom attendants, and small purchases constantly.
for a full cost breakdown, check our morocco trip cost guide and the food prices breakdown.
Tipping: how much and who
tipping is part of the culture here. it’s not optional the way it might be in parts of europe. here’s what’s expected:
| Who | How much | When |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant server | 10-15% of the bill | Leave on table |
| Licensed city guide | 150-200 MAD/day | End of tour |
| Private driver | 100-150 MAD/day | End of trip |
| Hotel porter | 10-20 MAD | Per bag carried |
| Riad housekeeper | 20-50 MAD/day | End of stay |
| Bathroom attendant | 2-5 MAD | Each visit |
our full 2026 tipping guide breaks this down in more detail, including what to do when someone “helps” you in the medina without asking.
The medina: how to handle it with kids
the medina in marrakech and fes are not like walking through a european old town. they’re loud, crowded, and disorienting. motorbikes weave through pedestrian alleys. shopkeepers call out. cats are everywhere. the GPS on your phone will lie to you.
with kids, here’s what works:
hire a licensed guide. not the guys who approach you at the entrance. a real, government-licensed guide who knows the shortcuts, keeps the touts away, and adjusts the pace for your children. this is the single best money you’ll spend. our fes with kids guide and marrakech with kids guide explain what a good guide does differently for families.
go early. the medina before 10am is a completely different place. the light is beautiful, the shops are just opening, and you can walk without being shoulder-to-shoulder. by 11am it’s full. by 2pm in summer it’s brutal.
keep kids close and carry small ones. strollers don’t work in the medina — cobblestones, steps, and narrow alleys. use a carrier for babies and toddlers. hold hands with older kids, especially at the busier intersections.
the henna ladies. at jemaa el-fna square, women will grab your hand (or your child’s) and start applying henna before you agree. say “la shukran” (no thank you) firmly and keep walking. read our henna scam tips for more on this.
What to wear: the practical version
morocco is a muslim country but it’s also a tourist country. nobody expects you to wear a headscarf. but covering shoulders and knees in the medina and rural areas is respectful and also practical — the sun is intense and long sleeves protect your skin.
for kids: lightweight long pants and t-shirts are fine everywhere. for the desert, closed-toe shoes that can handle sand. for the atlas mountains, layers — it gets cold at altitude even when marrakech is warm.
our family packing list has the full breakdown by season and region.
Taxis: the rules that save you money
petit taxis (small, colored taxis within cities) should always use the meter. if the driver says the meter is broken, get out and find another taxi. this is the number one taxi scam in morocco and it happens daily in marrakech and fes.
a typical ride within marrakech costs 15-30 MAD ($1.50-3). marrakech to the airport is about 70-100 MAD. if someone quotes you 200 MAD for a city ride, they’re testing you.
grand taxis (larger, between-city taxis) are shared and have fixed routes. they’re cheap but not comfortable with kids. for intercity travel, your private driver is always the better option for families.
Food with kids: what to expect
moroccan food is family-friendly by default. tagines are slow-cooked stews — chicken with olives and preserved lemon, lamb with prunes, kefta (meatballs) in tomato sauce. couscous on fridays is a tradition. fresh bread comes with everything.
picky eaters: chicken tagine, french fries (available everywhere), fresh orange juice (4-5 MAD a glass in the medina), and msemen (moroccan flatbread) are safe bets. if your child has food allergies, tell your guide and riad in advance — they’ll adjust.
stomach tips: skip the salad at roadside restaurants in the first couple of days — the water used to wash it may upset sensitive stomachs. cooked food is safe. street food in the main squares (marrakech, fes) is generally fine — look for stalls with high turnover.
The one tip that changes everything
book a private guide and driver. i know that sounds self-serving coming from a tour operator, but here’s the truth: families who try to do morocco independently spend half their trip dealing with logistics — wrong turns in the medina, negotiating with taxi drivers, figuring out which restaurant is safe, finding the hotel down an unmarked alley. a private family tour means someone else handles all of that, and you just… enjoy the trip with your kids.
Want the full list of tips specific to your trip?
tell us where you’re going and when. we’ll send you a personalized prep guide with everything you need to know before you land — weather, packing, money, riads, the lot. no charge, no obligation.
morocco is one of those places where a little preparation goes a long way. the families who arrive knowing the tipping norms, the medina rhythm, and the taxi rules have a completely different experience than the ones who land cold. now you know the basics. the rest, your guide will handle on the ground.
