Agadir is one of Morocco’s easiest cities for travelers, wide roads, modern neighborhoods, and a big mix of beach trips (Taghazout/Tamraght), city errands, and day outings (Paradise Valley). But when it’s time to pay, especially for car rentals, tours, restaurants, or a hotel deposit, visitors still ask the same question in 2025:
Is it mostly cash, card, or bank transfer?
The real answer is: all three exist, but they’re used in different situations. Cash remains normal for everyday spending. Card payments are common in many modern places (hotels, supermarkets, bigger restaurants, many businesses with terminals). Bank transfers are mostly used for longer bookings, corporate invoices, or prepayments, and less for quick tourist spending.
Below is the practical guide to what’s common in Agadir in 2025, what to carry, and how to avoid awkward “sorry, we don’t take that” moments.
Table of Contents
- Quick answer: what’s most common in Agadir in 2025
- Cash in Agadir: when it’s still the default
- Card payments: where they work best (and what cards are usually accepted)
- Bank transfer: when it’s used (and when it’s not)
- Car rental reality: deposits, preauthorizations, and mixed payments
- Common tourist scenarios: what to use in each
- Smart tips to avoid payment friction
- FAQs
1) Quick answer: what’s most common in Agadir in 2025
- Cash (MAD) is still the most universal option for small purchases, tips, quick parking/guard situations, small cafés, local markets, and some service add-ons.
- Card is common in modern businesses, hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, malls, and many agencies, especially in Agadir city and the beach strip.
- Bank transfer is usually for longer rentals, corporate bookings, or prepayment by invoice, not for everyday tourist spending.
2) Cash in Agadir: when it’s still the default
Even in 2025, cash stays popular because it’s simple, immediate, and works everywhere.
Cash is most common for:
- Souk-style shopping and small vendors
- Quick snacks and small cafés
- Tips (drivers, porters, helpful staff)
- Small parking payments or informal “watching the car” situations
- Some local activities that prefer pay-on-arrival
Best cash habit in Agadir: carry small notes for daily use, and keep bigger notes separate. It reduces awkward change problems and keeps you from overpaying when someone “doesn’t have change.”
3) Card payments: where they work best (and what cards are usually accepted)
Card use in Agadir is strongest in places tourists naturally spend:
- Hotels and riads with modern reception systems
- Supermarkets and larger convenience stores
- Popular restaurants on the Corniche / Marina area
- Malls and chain stores
- Many professional agencies (including car rentals and transfers)
In Morocco, many card terminals are connected through the national card ecosystem, and merchants affiliated with CMI (Centre Monétique Interbancaire) can accept major international networks. CMI’s official FAQ notes that CMI-affiliated merchants can accept cards with logos including Visa and Mastercard (and others). https://www.cmi.co.ma/fr/faq-questions-frequentes
Two important “card reality” notes for tourists:
- Not every small business has a working terminal all the time (network outages happen).
- Some places may set a minimum spend for card payments (common in many countries).
So: cards are common, but cash backup is still smart.
4) Bank transfer: when it’s used (and when it’s not)
Bank transfer is a normal payment method in Morocco, but it’s not typically what tourists use to pay for daily items.
Bank transfers are most common for:
- Longer rentals (weekly/monthly) and business bookings
- Corporate clients who need invoices and accounting trails
- Larger prepayments where both sides want a bank record
- Certain local-to-local transactions (people living in Morocco)
What bank transfer is not great for:
- Last-minute tourist bookings the same day (processing time + bank hours)
- Anything you need instantly confirmed late at night or on weekends
If you’re paying by transfer for a rental or service, you’ll usually be asked for:
- proof of transfer (receipt/screenshot)
- full booking details and names matching the transfer
- sometimes confirmation before keys/service is released
For context, Bank Al-Maghrib oversees payment systems and describes Morocco’s payment architecture (including retail payment systems and card transaction exchange) in its “Systems and means of payment” overview. https://www.bkam.ma/en/Systems-and-means-of-payment/Financial-markets-infrastructure-and-monitoring/Overview
5) Car rental reality in Agadir: deposits, preauthorizations, and mixed payments
For travelers, “how do I pay?” often really means: “how do I handle the deposit?”
In Agadir, you’ll see a few common patterns in 2025:
- Cash payment for the rental + card preauthorization for the deposit (very common)
- Full card payment (common in larger setups)
- No-deposit / low-deposit offers on certain categories and dates
- Bank transfer mostly for longer rentals or corporate needs
The practical takeaway: even if you plan to pay in cash, bring a card in case the deposit (or a security hold) is required for your car category.
6) Common tourist scenarios: what to use in each
Hotel check-in (Agadir city / Marina):
Card is usually easiest. Cash works too, but card is smoother for deposits.
Restaurants in Marina / Corniche:
Card often works; keep cash for tips or small cafés.
Souk El Had and local shopping:
Cash is still king.
Beach day to Taghazout / Tamraght:
Mix: card for bigger stops, cash for quick snacks, small parking, or small vendors.
Day trip inland (Paradise Valley, viewpoints):
Cash helps because small places may not take cards reliably.
Car rental deposit + extras (child seat, late-night delivery, second driver):
Often a card is needed for the deposit; extras may be cash or card depending on the provider.
7) Smart tips to avoid payment friction
- Carry both: one card + enough cash for the day.
- Ask one sentence before confirming: “Do you accept card, and is there a minimum?”
- For rentals: ask clearly about deposit method (card hold vs cash deposit vs no-deposit).
- Keep screenshots/receipts for any bank transfer or online card payment.
- If a terminal doesn’t work, don’t argue, just switch to cash and move on.
FAQs
Is cash still common in Agadir in 2025?
Yes, especially for small everyday spending, markets, tips, and quick services.
Do most places accept Visa/Mastercard?
Many do, especially in modern tourist areas. CMI-affiliated merchants can accept major networks like Visa and Mastercard.
Is bank transfer normal for tourists?
It happens mostly for longer rentals or large bookings, not daily spending. Processing time and bank hours make it less practical for last-minute needs.
Can I rent a car in Agadir without a credit card?
Sometimes, depending on the car category and dates. But many providers still prefer a card for the deposit/security hold, so it’s safer to have one.
What should I do if my card doesn’t work somewhere?
Have cash backup. Network issues or terminal problems can happen.