Travel Q&A
How much should I tip in Morocco?
Short answer Tipping in Morocco is expected, frequent, and small. A few dirhams everywhere is the norm; 15–20% restaurant tips are a Western export and not necessary.
Tipping in Morocco is expected, frequent, and small. A few dirhams everywhere is the norm; 15–20% restaurant tips are a Western export and not necessary.
The cheat sheet
| Service | Tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (local) | Round up + 5–10 MAD |
| Restaurant (mid-range) | 10% |
| Restaurant (high-end) | 10–15% |
| Café (mint tea, coffee) | Leave the coins |
| Petit taxi | Round up to nearest 5 MAD |
| Grand taxi / private driver | 30–50 MAD/day |
| Tour guide (half day) | 100–150 MAD |
| Tour guide (full day) | 200–300 MAD |
| Riad cleaner | 30–50 MAD at end of stay |
| Riad reception / breakfast staff | 50–100 MAD at end of stay |
| Bellhop | 20 MAD |
| Hammam attendant (basic) | 30–50 MAD |
| Hammam scrubber (spa) | 50–100 MAD on top of bill |
| Public toilet attendant | 2–5 MAD |
| Souk porter (heavy bags) | 20–50 MAD |
| Photo of snake charmer / monkey | Negotiate up front, 20–50 MAD |
Things that are not tips, they’re prices
- The “guide” who attaches himself to you in the medina. This isn’t a tip situation. Negotiate up front (50–100 MAD for a wander) or firmly decline.
- The kid who “watches your car” in any parking lot. 5–10 MAD. Pay it, it’s the local economy. Don’t pay and your car probably comes back fine, but you might come back to a scratch.
- Bathroom attendants. Always have 2–5 MAD coins. They keep the place clean and it’s their entire income.
Currency for tipping
Carry small bills and coins. A wad of 200s with no change is useless. Break a 100 at every café, you’ll burn through 10s and 20s fast.
Common mistakes
- Over-tipping. A 100 MAD tip on a 200 MAD meal isn’t generosity, it’s confusing. Just leave 20 MAD.
- Not tipping the cleaner. They’re the lowest paid in the riad. End-of-stay tip matters.
- Tipping the owner. If you’re paying a flat rate to the riad owner who runs the place, you don’t tip them. You tip their staff.
What if I genuinely got bad service?
You can not tip and no one will chase you. But Moroccan service is rarely European-style, slower, less attentive, more chaotic in busy spots. That’s the rhythm, not bad service.