Morocco can be done on almost any budget. Mid-range travellers spend roughly US$80–150 per person per day; private, riad-based trips with a driver-guide typically run US$200–400+ per day depending on season and style.
In this guide
Currency and payments
The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD), a closed currency you can't easily get before you arrive — withdraw from ATMs or exchange on arrival. In Rabat the bank-lined Avenue Mohammed V in the ville nouvelle and the medina edge both have reliable ATMs. Cards are accepted in hotels, riads and larger restaurants, but the medina stalls, taxis, tips and rural stops run on cash. Carry small notes.
What things cost
Rough, real-world ranges to set expectations (they vary by city and season):
- Mint tea or coffee: 15–30 MAD; a casual tagine lunch: 60–120 MAD.
- A good riad room: US$60–200+ per night; luxury riads and desert camps far higher.
- A licensed half-day private city guide: roughly US$60–120.
- Train fares are a fraction of this — Rabat–Fes or Rabat–Marrakech in first class costs only a few US dollars, which is why the capital makes such a cheap base.
- Private intercity transfer (e.g. Rabat–Fes or Marrakech–Fes): from around US$200+ per car.
- A luxury Sahara camp night: US$150–400+ per person, all-in.
Where the money goes — and how to save
The biggest line items on a private trip are accommodation and the driver-guide; both scale with season and standard. Travelling in the shoulder months, mixing a few self-guided city days with guided excursions, and keeping group sizes efficient (a private car costs the same for two as for four) all stretch the budget without cutting the experience.
Frequently asked
How much does a week in Morocco cost?
A comfortable mid-range week runs roughly US$600–1,100 per person excluding international flights. A fully private, riad-and-driver trip with a Sahara night typically lands between US$1,400 and US$3,000+ per person for the week, depending on season and standard.
Should I bring cash or use cards in Morocco?
Both. Use cards for riads and bigger restaurants, but carry dirham cash for souks, taxis, tips, rural stops and the desert, where cards aren't accepted.
Is Morocco expensive?
It can be as cheap or as luxurious as you like. Street food and guesthouses make it very affordable; private guiding, top riads and desert camps push it firmly into premium territory.
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Planning
Morocco Visa & Entry Requirements
Most travellers — including US, Canadian, UK, EU/Schengen, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese passport holders — enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival. Arriving for a Rabat-based trip, you can clear immigration at Rabat–Salé airport or connect by fast train from Casablanca in under an hour.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
Morocco has good trains between the main northern cities, comfortable intercity buses, and — for the south, the mountains and the desert — private drivers. Rabat sits squarely on the rail spine, with two central stations (Rabat-Ville and Rabat-Agdal) and Al Boraq high-speed services, which makes the capital one of the easiest places in the country to travel from. The right mix depends on your route and pace.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best all-round times to visit Morocco — warm days, cool evenings and ideal conditions for the medinas, mountains, coast and desert alike.