If you’re visiting Marrakech, tipping works a little differently than you might be used to at home. It’s less about fixed percentages and more about small gestures of appreciation, usually given in cash. The good news is that the amounts are modest, and once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. Here’s a breakdown of what’s expected in different situations.

Cafes and Restaurants

At a café or for a quick bite, leaving 2 to 5 MAD is perfectly fine — or simply round the bill up to the nearest few dirhams. For casual local restaurants, somewhere between 5 and 10 MAD is the norm; if your meal comes to 47 MAD, handing over 50 MAD and waving off the change is a natural way to handle it.

In mid-range restaurants, aim for 10 to 20 MAD, or around 5 to 10 percent if service isn’t already included in the bill. At upscale restaurants or when dining at a luxury riad, 30 to 60 MAD — or 10 to 15 percent — is appropriate. Keep in mind that some receipts show “service compris,” meaning service is included; in that case, simply rounding up the total is a thoughtful touch.

Hotels and Riads

For porters and bellhops, 10 to 20 MAD per bag is standard. If your bags have been hauled through the winding, pedestrian-only lanes of the Medina, leaning toward the higher end of that range is a nice gesture.

Housekeeping staff appreciate 20 to 30 MAD per day, left somewhere clearly visible in the room each day rather than all at once at the end. If you’re staying at a small riad where the same few people take care of everything, leaving a pooled tip of 50 to 100 MAD at checkout for the entire stay is the way to go.

Concierges who do you small favors — booking a taxi, pointing you to a good restaurant — merit 10 to 20 MAD. If they’ve gone out of their way to help with something bigger, like arranging a last-minute excursion, 50 to 100 MAD shows your gratitude.

Taxis and Getting Around

For petit taxis (the small metered ones), the custom is to round up to the next 5 MAD. So a 13 MAD fare becomes 15 MAD, and a 17 MAD ride becomes 20 MAD. It’s simple and takes the awkwardness out of fumbling for coins.

If you’re sharing a grand taxi for a longer intercity trip, 5 to 10 MAD per passenger is appreciated. Private drivers who spend the whole day with you should receive 50 to 150 MAD depending on the quality of the service. For airport transfers, 20 to 50 MAD per ride is standard.

Tour Guides

Guides are where tips make up a meaningful part of income. For a private half-day tour, plan on 50 to 100 MAD. A full-day private guide deserves 100 to 200 MAD. If you’re on a group tour, 20 to 50 MAD per person per day is the going rate.

Hammam Visits

After a traditional hammam, the attendant who scrubs you down typically receives 20 to 30 MAD for a full scrub, or 10 to 20 MAD for a lighter session. In luxury hotel spas, the norm shifts to 50 to 100 MAD, or 10 to 15 percent of the treatment price.

A Few Final Thoughts

The most important thing is to carry plenty of small bills and coins — it can be surprisingly hard to break larger notes in the medina, and tipping in small denominations makes life easier for everyone. Moroccan currency is the dirham (MAD), and while tipping isn’t legally required, it’s deeply woven into the culture of service. Generosity is noticed, appreciated, and often returned in kind with even warmer hospitality.