Tipping in Morocco: How Much to Give Drivers, Guides, Porters and Restaurants

In Morocco, tipping is never compulsory, but it is part of the culture: many tourism jobs, from porters to drivers, rely on it to top up their income. The simple rule we give our clients: a few dirhams for a small service, around 10% in a restaurant when service is not included, and something more for a full day with a driver or guide you enjoyed. Here are the details, situation by situation, with rough amounts and a few nuances you rarely read elsewhere.

First of all: dirhams and cash

Tips are given in dirhams, in cash. Euros are sometimes accepted, but coins cannot be changed at a bank: a 5-euro note is useful, a handful of coins is not. Keep 20-dirham notes and 5- and 10-dirham coins in a separate pocket; you will need them every day.

Customary amounts

The amounts below are rough figures observed on the ground, not set rates. Adjust them to the quality of service and your budget.

The tricky situations

The transfer driver. For an airport-to-hotel ride, a tip is not expected. If he carried your cases to the riad, waited a long time because of a delayed flight or made a detour for you, a gesture is always appreciated. On long journeys such as Marrakech to Essaouira or Marrakech to Agadir, many travellers leave a little more.

A multi-day tour. On a three-day desert tour, it is customary to tip the driver at the end, in one go, rather than a little every day. Remember the people you meet along the way too: the camel handler who takes you into the dunes, the camp team. A small envelope at the end saves hunting for change in the middle of the desert.

Photos on Jemaa el-Fna. Snake charmers, costumed water sellers, monkey handlers: every photo is paid for. The safest approach is to agree the price before you raise your phone, or not to take the photo at all. Requests made afterwards are often much higher.

The riad. In a small riad, staff often share a common tip box. If you were well looked after, it is the best way to thank everyone, including the people you never saw.

How to give it, in practice

In Morocco, tips are given discreetly. You hand it over with a handshake as you say goodbye, or slip it folded into the palm, rather than counting notes in front of everyone. In a group, the simplest approach is for everyone to chip in and one person to hand it over on behalf of all: it is more graceful, and the amount reflects the service given to the group rather than a pile of small coins. A simple “shukran”, thank you in Arabic, with a smile always goes down well.

Haggling is not tipping

People often confuse the two. In the souks, negotiating the price of a rug or a pair of babouches is normal and expected, and is done with a smile and without pressure. A tip, on the other hand, is not negotiated: it rewards a service already given, at your discretion. So never take off a tip what you feel you “lost” by haggling elsewhere; they are two different things.

Should you give to children?

In mountain villages, children sometimes ask for money or sweets. Most local associations and guides advise against it, so as not to encourage children to skip school. If you want to help, give to the village school, a cooperative or an association instead, or buy directly from the craftspeople.

And with us?

Our prices are fixed and complete: tips are never included or expected, and our drivers will not ask for one. If you enjoyed the service, you are free to show it however you like; if you did not, we would much rather you told us. That feedback is how we improve our transfers and private tours.

In short

• Always carry small change in dirhams.
• Small services: a few dirhams; restaurants: about 10% if service is not included.
• A day with a driver or guide: something more, at your discretion.
• For photos and imposed services: agree the price first, or politely decline.

To prepare the rest of your stay, also read our advice on taxis in Marrakech and our guide to private tourist transport in Morocco.