How do I tip correctly in different situations?

Tipping in Morocco — often called baksheesh — is genuinely part of the social fabric, more so than in many Western countries, but the amounts are modest and the spirit is gratitude rather than obligation. Wages in service roles are low and a small tip is both appreciated and expected for good service. The mental model I give guests is "round up and give a little, often" rather than "calculate a precise percentage." Once you accept that small, frequent tipping is normal, the whole thing stops being stressful.

Here is a rough situational guide. In restaurants, around 10% is generous for good service, a bit more if the meal was special; check whether service is already included on the bill at upscale places. For petit taxis, round the meter fare up to the next few dirhams or leave the coins. Porters and the riad staff who carry your bags through the medina deserve 20–30 dirhams. Washroom attendants get 2–5 dirhams (keep coins for exactly this). Café waiters: a few coins. The man who watches parked cars in his hi-vis vest — yes, that is a thing — gets a few dirhams when you leave.

The bigger tips, and the ones that matter most, go to the people who shape your days. A good local guide is worth 100–200 dirhams for a full day on top of their fee. A private driver who has looked after you safely across the country deserves a meaningful per-day tip — think 100–150 dirhams a day, more at the end of a multi-day trip — and the desert camp team, cooks and camel handlers who make the Sahara magical should be tipped as a group at the end. These are the people who turn a good trip into a memorable one, and a fair tip is the clearest way to say thank you.

Two practical habits make all of this effortless. First, carry a dedicated stash of small notes (10s and 20s) and coins, because you cannot tip 10 dirhams with a 200 note and "I have nothing small" feels awkward in the moment. I keep tip money in a separate pocket from my main cash. Second, do not feel pressured to over-tip out of guilt or to tip for an unsolicited "service" you did not want — a faux guide who attaches himself to you uninvited has not earned anything. Tip warmly for genuine help, modestly and often, and you will have the etiquette exactly right.