How do I exchange money in Morocco for the best rates?

For most travellers, the simplest and best-value way to get dirham isn't "exchanging" at all — it's withdrawing straight from a Moroccan bank ATM using a debit card that doesn't charge foreign fees. That gives you a rate very close to the true interbank rate, far better than swapping physical foreign cash. So my first piece of advice is to come with a good travel card and treat ATMs as your main source, topping up every few days, rather than bringing a thick envelope of dollars or euros to change.

When you do want to change cash — a euro or dollar buffer is sensible to carry — use official bureaux de change or bank counters. They're easy to find in every city and tourist area, signposted in French and English, and crucially they operate commission-free: Moroccan regulations mean the rate you see posted is what you get, with no sneaky added fee. Rates barely differ between reputable bureaux, so it's not worth hunting all afternoon for a fraction of a percent; just avoid the obviously worst options. Bring clean, undamaged notes, as torn or marked bills are sometimes refused.

The worst rates are exactly where it's most tempting to use them: the exchange desk in the airport arrivals hall and your hotel's front desk. They count on convenience and capture people who didn't plan. Change only a small amount at the airport if you need taxi money the moment you land — or better, just use the airport ATM — then do any larger exchange in town. And never, ever change money with someone who approaches you on the street offering a "great rate"; that's a classic setup for short-changing or counterfeit notes.

A couple of practical extras. The dirham is a closed currency, so you can't buy it before you arrive or take meaningful amounts home, which is all the more reason to source it in-country from ATMs and bureaux and spend it down before you leave. Keep your exchange receipts — they let you convert leftover dirham back at the airport on departure (you'll often need to show them). And tell your bank you're travelling so your card isn't blocked on the first withdrawal. Do that and getting dirham in Morocco is genuinely easy and fairly priced.