Tipping in Morocco, tipping guide

Are you traveling to Morocco for business or pleasure? Read our guide to tipping in Morocco to find out when and how much to leave. Then, with our helpful tip calculator, you can avoid any tipping errors.

Is it common to tip in Morocco?

Tipping is customary in Moroccan restaurants, pubs and cafes, especially in tourist or shopping districts. Tips are also appreciated in hotels and serviced apartments, as well as in other places where employees may not be well paid, such as spas or beauty salons.

The amount of tip in Morocco will vary depending on where you are and the services you purchase. As a general rule, 10% of the bill should be left. If you receive good service, reward it with a 15-20% tip.

Tipping is a common and acceptable aspect of daily life in Morocco. Those of us who live in Morocco are used to tipping restaurant staff, hairdresser employees, hotel workers, laborers and other service providers.

Although not mandatory, tipping is an important component of total compensation for some Moroccan workers, as minimum wages are quite low compared to the cost of living.

Of course, the tipping culture can be strange to many foreign residents and visitors to Morocco, who may be willing to abide by local regulations but are unsure of when and how much to tip in Morocco.

Even those of us who are used to tipping in our home countries have wondered how much is the proper tip in Morocco.

Also read: The cost of living in Morocco

What are the Moroccan customs regarding tips?

The reality is that tipping traditions differ greatly not only between foreigners and Moroccans, but even within Moroccans themselves.

Some Moroccans, for example, may simply tip change in a restaurant, while others usually leave 5% or 10% of the bill.

Travelers and foreign residents, on the other hand, may be tempted to leave between 10 and 15% of the restaurant bill.

The amount of tip varies depending on where you are. In Casablanca and other major cities, as well as in higher-end restaurants, higher tips are common.

When the question of how much to tip in Morocco is raised on expat and tourist websites, reactions range from fury - why should I pay someone else to do their job? – to empathy. – even extraordinarily generous – In Morocco, I always tip at least 20% unless the service is poor!

Some say foreign visitors and residents are expected to tip more generously than Moroccans.

This can irritate foreigners residing in Morocco with a small local income or coming from places where tipping is considered disrespectful or simply not understood.

Also read: Kelaat M'gouna in Morocco

Tipping in Morocco: Unique Guide

I have put the following Moroccan tipping guide to help you understand the Moroccan tipping rules.

Of course, these are just estimates based on the typical practices of Moroccans and immigrants. No one should feel compelled to tip if they feel uncomfortable or have been treated terrible.

Restaurants and street food

• 1 or 2 dh per person for the food vendor, the juice stand, etc.
• 5% to 10% of the bill OR 5 to 10 dh per person – Waiter – Cafe or small local restaurant
• Waiter – 10% to 15% of the bill – Mid-range to high-end restaurant (check that the tip has not already been included).

Drivers and transportation services

• Petit Taxi Driver – Round up to the nearest 5 or 10 dh (make sure the meter is running; some taxi drivers take advantage of tourists by quoting high fixed prices).
• Transfer to the airport (one way) – 20-50 dh per passenger; 100 dh per reservation group
• One-way local transfer – 10 to 20 dh per passenger; 50 dh per reserved group
• Multi-day tour driver – Car, van or minibus – 100 dh per booked group per day (more if a private driver is hired, paid at the end of the tour).
• Full day tour driver – Car, van or minibus – 200 dh per reserved group
• Half-day excursion driver – car, van or minibus – 100 dh per reserved group
• Bus operator (large group trips) – 10 to 20 dh per day per person

Tipping in Morocco

Guide for large groups of several days – 200 dh per reserved group every 5 to 7 days (more if your reserved group is large, it is paid at the end of the trip).

Full day guide – 150 dh per person; or from 300 to 400 dh per reserved group

Half day guide – 100 dh per person; or from 200 to 300 dh per reserved group

5-10 dh per person, unofficial guide (Use wisely. If the police are around, they may try to take you to shops where they take a commission or abandon you).

Places, activities, attractions and artists

• Museum or site guide – 10-20 dh per person or 50-100 dh per group; more for large groups
• Museum or Site Guard – 5 to 10 dh; a lovely but optional gesture.
• Guided camel or horse ride – 10 to 20 dh per person; more for expeditions
• Tips are not provided for cooking class instructors.
• Meals with a local host – no tip required
• Craft workshop instructor – from 20 to 50 dh per person; 200 dh per reservation group
• Live entertainment (in a restaurant, hotel, etc.) – 20 to 50 dh per group; a lovely but optional extra.

In the markets

• For photographing a vendor, artist or product – from 5 to 10 dh (Always find out in advance. Some vendors in busy places put up signs indicating that they expect this tip).
• Henna tattoo artists – 10 dh (Confirm they do not use PPD or “black henna”).
• Monkey grinder, snake charmer, etc. – 10 dh to hold the animal or pose with it. (You may want to avoid this; many people believe that it encourages poaching and endangers endangered species.)
• 1-2 dh for beggars (Usually it is best to ignore them; give just a little change if you want).

Hotels, riads and guest houses

• 10 to 20 dh for bellboys (more if many bags are handled)
• Concierge – 10 to 20 dh per service OR 50 to 100 dh at the time of departure (only if the service is provided)
• Housekeeper or waitress – 10 to 20 dh per day OR 100 dh per week (one website recommends placing the tip in a pillowcase to prevent the supervisor from claiming the tip for herself).
• Porter: 5-10 dh to hail a taxi (or a lump sum of 20 dh on departure; more for longer stays).
• 10% discount on room service (check if it is already included in the check).
• In charge of the breakfast buffet – 20 to 50 dh; a nice but optional gesture (Tip after the last breakfast if you think the service was attentive.)

Spas and salons

• Hammam – Turkish Bath – from 20 to 50 dh per attendee, depending on how humble or elegant they are (luxury package deals may include exfoliation, massage, henna, etc., so there will be more people to tip ).

• Hairstyling, facials, waxing, massages and other spa services: 10% discount on each service (tip directly to the appropriate assistant or stylist for each service).
• Beauty salon – haircuts, highlights, coloring, etc. – 10% for the main stylist; $10 more for each attendee (ie hair wash, color application, etc.)
• Manicure, pedicure, waxing and other services – 10% of the service(s); 10 dh extra for assistance, if any

Parking and gas stations

• Street parking guard – 3 dh on average; 5 dh in the good neighborhoods; 10 dh in the premium places. (Guardians may or may not be present at the metered street parking spaces marked with blue lines; have the meter ticket visible on your windshield.)
• Valet parking costs between 10 and 20 dh.
• Parking attendant: between 10 and 20 dh (depends on the location, ask if the price is not displayed.)
• Car wash (exterior only) – 20 dh (sometimes offered by a parking attendant)
• 2 dh for the gas station attendant (optional to add gas, clean the windshield or check the tire pressure, etc.)

Other tipping situations in Morocco

• General assistance (carrying shopping bags, loading cars, helping with physical tasks, etc.) – 5 dh; more if you have to lift heavy objects or it takes more than a few minutes.
• Buta Gaz delivery (or replacement of liquid propane tanks) – 5 dh (more if you have to climb stairs or multiple tanks are delivered)
• Plumbers, electricians, painters, etc. – 20 to 50 dh (more if a half or full day is dedicated to the project; it is also a courtesy gesture to provide a meal if a worker is there at lunchtime or while you serve your family).

In addition to the rules listed above, you may find yourself in situations where a tip seems acceptable.

For example, tip fishmongers, poultry vendors, and anyone who helps clean or prepare produce at markets.

If in doubt, just add a few dirhams to your purchase.

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