Money & etiquette
Do you need cash in Marrakech, or can you use cards?
- Souks & taxis
- Cash only
- Hotels & big restaurants
- Cards ok
- Currency
- Dirham (closed)
- Get cash
- ATMs on arrival
Quick answer
You need cash for most of the medina — souk stalls, street food, petit taxis and small cafés are cash-only. Cards work at hotels, riads, bigger restaurants, supermarkets and modern shops. The dirham is a closed currency you can't buy abroad, so withdraw it from ATMs on arrival and always carry small notes for the old city.
Cash rules the medina
A lot of everyday Marrakech runs on cash: souk stalls, food carts, petit taxis, small cafés and one-off purchases almost always want dirham, and often can't make change for large notes. So always carry enough cash — with a stock of small notes and coins — for a day in the old city and for tipping.
The dirham is a closed currency, meaning you can't easily buy it before you travel. The plan is to arrive with a bank card and withdraw dirham from ATMs (at the airport and around town), or exchange cash at licensed bureaux. Tell your bank you're travelling so your card isn't blocked, and keep a backup card separately.
Where cards work
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels, riads, mid-range and upmarket restaurants, supermarkets and modern boutiques, mainly in Gueliz. Keep a card for those bigger, formal payments and use cash for everything in the medina. See our money guide for ATM and exchange detail.
Related questions
Can you pay by card in the Marrakech souks?
Rarely — most souk stalls, street food, taxis and small cafés are cash-only. Carry enough dirham in small notes for the medina, and keep a card for hotels, supermarkets and bigger restaurants.
Should I get dirham before travelling to Marrakech?
You can't easily — the dirham is a closed currency that's hard to buy abroad. Arrive with a bank card and withdraw dirham from an airport ATM, or exchange a little cash at a licensed bureau on arrival.
Are there ATMs in Marrakech?
Yes, plenty — at the airport, around the medina's edges near Jemaa el-Fnaa, and throughout Gueliz. Use bank-branded machines, mind the withdrawal fees, and take out a decent amount at once to reduce charges.