Tipping is a significant part of the culture in Morocco, acting as a standard, voluntary gesture of appreciation for services rendered, rather than a mandatory requirement. It is commonly practiced across the service industry, including restaurants ( 10 % − 15 % 1 0 % − 1 5 % ), cafes, hotels, and for tour guides ( 100 − 200 1 0 0 − 2 0 0 MAD per day).
Tipping in Morocco is customary and appreciated, especially for good service. In restaurants, it's typical to round up the bill or leave 10-15% at higher-end establishments.
A tip of 10-15% of the total bill is the norm in a fancy restaurant, depending on how satisfied you are with the service. For casual dining, rounding up or leaving AED 5-10 works just fine. For valets and bellboys who help with your luggage or park your car, a small tip of AED 5-10 is customary.
Behaviors frowned upon in Morocco include public drunkenness, disrespecting prayer times, refusing hospitality, taking photos of people without permission, and ignoring local dress norms especially in smaller towns and religious areas.
Article 490: Every sexual relation between a man and a woman not bound by wedlock is a crime of corruption punished by imprisonment from a month up to a year.
MOROCCO 🇲🇦 | WHAT NOT TO DO When Visiting ❌ | Do's, Don'ts, Advice & Travel Tips
Is Morocco cheap for Brits?
Yes, Morocco is generally considered very affordable for British tourists, offering significantly lower costs for food, transport, and accommodation compared to the UK, though prices rise in tourist hotspots like Marrakech; you can travel cheaply by embracing local food and transport, but expect higher prices for Western brands or luxury stays.
Moroccan women will usually have their sleeves cover their elbows, but as a tourist, that is not necessary. Stay away from strappy tank tops. If you are wearing pants, you will want a longer shirt.
If you are taking a tour, whether around ancient ruins or along the breathtaking Tunisian coral coast, tour guides typically expect a tip ranging from 10 to 20 Tunisian dinar.
To be clear, the etiquette experts aren't saying to avoid tipping at the counter — merely that it's at your discretion. A gratuity can reasonably be reserved for workers who provide a great experience. "It's a nice gesture to offer a tip to a worker who goes above and beyond the service," Swann says.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests a tip of $1-$5 to valets when you receive your car and $1-$5 per bag to bellmen when luggage is delivered to your room or to your car.
In Morocco, you can pay with cash, cards and digital methods. That said, cash is generally seen as the most reliable option, which is why it remains the most widely used. ⁴ Once you get dirhams, it's a good idea to carry some cash with you at all times, especially for tips and smaller purchases.
Yes, in the U.S., a 10% tip is often considered low and potentially insulting for standard sit-down restaurant service, where 15-20% is the norm, but it can be acceptable for mediocre service or in regions where tipping culture differs (like parts of Europe). The perception depends heavily on location, service quality, and the type of establishment, with fine dining expecting more and takeaway sometimes expecting less, but a 10% tip generally signals dissatisfaction with service in America.
Unspoken rules in Morocco emphasize modesty, respect, and hospitality, requiring you to dress conservatively (shoulders/knees covered), use your right hand for eating/giving, ask before taking photos, show affection discreetly, always accept mint tea, and treat bread with reverence, never wasting it. Showing patience, avoiding public displays of affection (kissing), removing shoes indoors, and being mindful during Ramadan are also key cultural expectations.
Morocco is 1 hour ahead of the UK during winter months, when the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). For example: If it's 12:00 PM (noon) in London, it's 1:00 PM in Morocco.
Because of its modern atmosphere, many travelers expect English to be commonly used everywhere. While English is not Morocco's primary language, Casablanca is one of the easiest places in the country to communicate in English, thanks to its international character and young, educated population.
Holding hands is fine, and common, but going for the full on snog in public or stroking each other as you sip mint tea outside a cafe will get the local tongues clicking. So, keep the cuddles for the kasbah. Along with 73 other countries, homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, although arrests are very rare.
You can take up to 2,000 Moroccan dirham into or out of Morocco. The dirham is 'non-convertible' – it cannot be easily exchanged for other currencies . You must declare foreign currency worth 100,000 Moroccan dirham or more (about 10,000 US dollars) when you enter or leave the country.
Both male and female visitors should cover their arms and legs – something like a long sleeve top and long trousers or floor-length skirt is perfect. You may also be asked to remove your shoes before entering certain religious sites in Morocco.
