Traveling to Morocco: Is Cash Still King?
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, you’ve probably asked yourself one simple question:
Should I bring cash, or can I just use my card?
Before our first trip, I assumed my Revolut card would be enough. That’s how we travel across most of Europe.
It took less than a day to realize Morocco works a little differently.
After driving thousands of kilometers around the country, we found ourselves paying with cash far more often than we expected.
Here’s what we learned.
The short answer
Bring both.
A card is useful, especially in larger cities and supermarkets, but cash is still king in Morocco.
If you’re planning to explore beyond the tourist hotspots (which I highly recommend), you’ll quickly notice that many places either don’t accept cards or simply prefer cash.
Where we used our card
We mostly used our Revolut card in:
- Large supermarkets (Carrefour, Marjane, Acima)
- Some modern restaurants
- Shopping malls
- Bigger hotels
- A few tourist attractions
In bigger cities like Marrakech, Casablanca or Rabat, paying by card is becoming more common.
Still, I wouldn’t rely on it.
Where we almost always needed cash
This list is much longer.
During our road trip, we paid cash for:
- Fuel at most gas stations
- Parking almost everywhere
- Local cafés
- Small restaurants
- Market stalls (souks)
- Street food
- Small village shops
- Local bakeries
- Campsites
- Tips
Some places technically accepted cards, but when we asked, the answer was often something like:
“Cash is easier.”
And honestly… after a few days, we stopped asking.
Our experience with Revolut
We used Revolut throughout the trip and had no issues paying where cards were accepted.
Whenever we needed more cash, we simply found the nearest ATM.
We usually joined the ATM with the longest queue.
Not because we knew it was the best one…
…but because we figured locals probably knew something we didn’t. 😄
Most ATMs charged a small withdrawal fee, regardless of which bank we used, so we simply withdrew a larger amount each time instead of making lots of small withdrawals.
How much cash should you carry?
There’s no perfect number, but I’d recommend having enough cash for at least a day or two.
Personally, I’d feel comfortable carrying around 1,000-2,000 MAD (roughly €90-180), especially if you’re on a road trip.
That easily covers fuel, meals, parking, tips and unexpected stops in places where cards aren’t accepted.
If you’re only staying in Marrakech for a weekend, you’ll probably need less.
Can you pay by card in the souks?
In our experience…
Not really.
Maybe a few larger souvenir shops accept cards, but if you’re buying spices, handmade rugs, pottery, leather goods or anything from the market stalls, expect to pay in cash.
The same goes for bargaining.
Cash makes everything much easier.
What about gas stations?
This surprised us.
Even though some larger stations accepted cards, we ended up paying cash most of the time.
If you’re renting a car or driving your own vehicle around Morocco, I’d definitely recommend keeping enough cash for fuel.
Should you exchange money before your trip?
We didn’t.
We simply withdrew Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) from ATMs after arriving.
It was easy, convenient, and meant we didn’t have to carry large amounts of cash while travelling.
Cash vs Card in Morocco
| Situation | Best option |
| Supermarkets | Card |
| Shopping malls | Card |
| Hotels | Card |
| Souks | Cash |
| Small shops | Cash |
| Street food | Cash |
| Parking | Cash |
| Fuel | Usually cash |
| Local cafés | Cash |
| Tips | Cash |
Final thoughts
Could you travel around Morocco using only a card?
Probably.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely not.
Morocco is changing, and card payments are becoming more common every year. But once you leave the larger cities and start exploring the real Morocco, you’ll quickly realize that cash is still part of everyday life.
Our advice is simple:
Bring your card.
Bring some cash.
And don’t be surprised if your wallet comes out much more often than your card.
