Culture

Morocco Photography Guide: Etiquette, Best Spots, and Real Rules

Hassan El MansouriApril 29, 202611 min readMorocco

A Marrakech local explains the real rules of photographing Morocco. When to ask, when to tip, where drones are banned, and where the best light is.

The Country That Photographs Itself

Morocco is one of the most photogenic countries on earth. Red walls, blue alleys, golden dunes, mountain villages, the chaotic geometry of the souks. Almost every traveller comes home with their best ever photographs. But there are rules, written and unwritten, that determine whether your photographs are great memories or sources of regret. Here is the honest guide.

The First Rule: Ask Before You Photograph People

The single most important rule. Moroccans are the most photographed people in North Africa. Many of them are tired of being photographed without permission, especially in the medinas where every day brings new tourists with cameras.

The simple practice:

If a person is the subject of your shot (not just in a wide street scene), ask first

A simple gesture toward your camera, raised eyebrows, a smile, works in any language

"Mumkin sura?" in Darija (May I take a picture?) is appreciated

"Photo s''il vous plait?" in French works everywhere

If they say no, smile, lower the camera, walk away. Do not argue. Do not steal a quick shot from the hip. Both are bad practice and both are visible.

If they say yes, you may be asked for a small tip. 10 to 30 dirhams is standard for an arranged portrait of a craftsperson, vendor or street performer. If a snake charmer in Jemaa el Fna says yes, expect to pay 30 to 50 dirhams. If a shopkeeper says yes while you browse, no tip needed, but a small purchase is polite.

Where to Tip and Where Not To

Always tip:

Snake charmers, monkey handlers, henna ladies in Jemaa el Fna (30 to 50 MAD)

Street performers (musicians, storytellers, dancers): 20 to 30 MAD

Berber women in colourful dress at viewpoints (typically 20 MAD per photo, agreed in advance)

Posed portraits of craftspeople in their workshops (10 to 30 MAD, or buy something small)

Do not tip:

People you photographed in a wide street scene where they are not the focus

People who ask for "1 dirham for the photo" who you did not photograph

Friends or hosts at a meal or social occasion

Children. Never give money to children for photographs. It teaches a damaging behaviour. If you want to give them something, give pencils, a small toy, or nothing.

Banned and Restricted Photography

Morocco is generally relaxed about photography, but a few categories are forbidden by law or custom.

Forbidden:

Royal palaces, royal residences, royal vehicles. Including the gates and walls of any working royal palace. The Royal Palace in Fes (the gates are famous, you may stand at the square but obvious palace photographs may be challenged by guards).

Police stations, military installations, border posts.

Any government building with a guard at the entrance.

The interior of mosques (you cannot enter as a non Muslim, with the famous exception of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca which has a guided tour).

Custom restricted:

Inside private homes without explicit permission

Inside hammams (no cameras allowed, period)

Souk shops without the owner''s permission (most are fine if you ask, some are not)

Religious schools (medersa) sometimes restrict interior photography

Mausoleums of saints (zaouia) are open to non Muslims in some cases, photography varies

When in doubt, ask. A polite question is always met better than a quick assumption.

Drone Rules in 2026

This is the most asked question. The honest answer is complicated.

Drones in Morocco are heavily restricted. Officially, importing a drone requires a permit from the Ministry of Communication, obtained in advance. Operating a drone in public spaces without authorisation is illegal. Customs officers at airports have been confiscating drones from travellers for several years.

In practice:

Many tourists bring drones in checked luggage and are not stopped

A growing number are stopped and the drone is confiscated, returned to them when they leave the country

Operating a drone in Marrakech (over the medina, near Jemaa el Fna, near the airport) is risky and likely to attract police attention

Operating a drone in remote areas (Sahara dunes, Atlas peaks) is more relaxed but still officially illegal without permits

If your trip is built around drone footage, apply for the permit in advance through your country''s Moroccan embassy. If you are casually planning some drone shots, accept that you may lose the drone at customs and you should not operate it in cities.

For most travellers, leave the drone at home. Use a phone with a wide angle lens. Use a real camera with a good lens. Modern cameras and modern phones produce extraordinary still images and video without aerial shots.

The Best Times of Day for Each Place

Marrakech medina. Late afternoon and golden hour (1 hour before sunset). The red walls glow. The light angles into the alleys. Crowds are thinner because shops close briefly before iftar. After dark, Jemaa el Fna comes alive with the food stalls and steam rising into the night.

Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa. Mid morning (10am to 11:30am) when the light fills the courtyards. Avoid midday (overhead light) and late afternoon when these courtyards lose direct light.

Sahara dunes. Sunrise and sunset, period. The dunes glow orange to red. Mid day is harsh and flat. Bring a wide angle lens and a long lens (the long lens compresses dunes beautifully). Have your camera ready 30 minutes before sunrise. Walk away from the camp to avoid camp marks in your shot.

Atlas Mountains. Morning is best in summer (clear skies, less haze). Afternoon is dramatic in winter (snow and clouds). Late afternoon for villages.

Aït Benhaddou. Late afternoon, no question. The kasbah glows orange against blue sky. Sunset light from the river side is the iconic shot. Sunrise from the top of the kasbah is also extraordinary, with very few tourists.

Chefchaouen. Morning (7am to 9am) before the tour groups arrive. The blue alleys are best in soft morning light. After 11am the streets are crowded.

Fes medina. The tanneries are best photographed late morning (10am to noon) when the leather workers are active and the colours are at their best.

Essaouira. Late afternoon at the port (the boats, the seagulls, the workers). Morning at the medina ramparts (the light over the Atlantic).

Lens and Gear Recommendations

For most travellers, a single lens setup works.

Phone only. A modern iPhone (12 or later) or Pixel produces excellent photographs in 90 percent of situations. Wide and ultra wide lenses cover most needs. Night mode handles the medina at dusk. The only thing a phone cannot do is good telephoto and good low light moving subjects.

Camera with one lens. A 24 to 70mm or 24 to 105mm zoom covers everything. If you must pick one prime, a 35mm f1.8 is perfect for the medina.

Camera with two lenses. Add a 70 to 200mm or a 70 to 300mm for the Sahara, the Atlas peaks and bird life. For street photography in the souks, the 35mm or 50mm prime is more discreet.

Tripod. Useful for the night photography in Jemaa el Fna and the desert stars. Heavy to carry. Skip if you are travelling light.

Neutral density filter. Useful for waterfalls in the Atlas (Setti Fatma) and the seascape in Essaouira. Not essential.

Phone vs Camera in the Souks

A genuine question. The honest answer:

A phone is more discreet, less threatening to subjects, faster to use

A camera produces higher quality files, especially in low light

Locals are more relaxed around phones than cameras

A small mirrorless camera (Fuji X100, Sony A7C, Leica Q) is a good compromise

If your photography goal is a beautiful set of memories, your phone is enough. If your goal is a portfolio level set of images, bring the camera but use it respectfully.

The Light: When Morocco Glows

The truly magic light times in Morocco are:

Golden hour. The hour before sunset. Every Moroccan city is at its best. The red walls of Marrakech, the earthen kasbahs, the Atlas peaks all glow.

Blue hour. The 30 minutes after sunset. The sky is deep blue, the city lights start. Jemaa el Fna at this moment is one of the most photographed scenes in the world for a reason.

First light. 5:30am to 7am. Empty streets, soft light, the smell of bread baking. If you can wake up early once on your trip, do it. The medina at first light is unforgettable.

Sahara stars. Around 11pm to 4am, the milky way is visible to the naked eye. A camera on a tripod with a long exposure (15 to 30 seconds at f2.8, ISO 3200) produces extraordinary images.

Hidden Photography Spots

Some of the most beautiful and least photographed spots in Morocco.

Telouet kasbah. Half ruined, photographers paradise, very few tourists. 2.5 hours from Marrakech.

The river at the base of Aït Benhaddou at sunset. Most tourists shoot from the bridge. Walk down to the river and shoot upward.

The rooftop of any riad in Mouassine, Marrakech. The Atlas Mountains visible to the south on a clear morning.

Setti Fatma waterfall in the Ourika valley. Less photographed than other Atlas spots.

The salt flats outside Imlil. The morning light on the salt is unique.

The Khamlia village in the Sahara region. Gnawa music heritage. Photography of musicians is welcomed, often arranged at a fee.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Photographing in the souks too aggressively. Slow down. Watch the rhythm. Wait for moments. The souk reveals itself if you are patient.

Using flash in religious or quiet places. Always disrespectful. Use natural light or a higher ISO.

Standing in the path of working people. Bakeries, water carriers, donkeys with deliveries: these people work, they need to pass. Step aside.

Long photography sessions in someone''s shop without buying. If a shopkeeper invites you to photograph the workshop, buy something small as a thank you.

Posting photographs of identifiable people without checking. If you photographed a stranger and you plan to post it on Instagram, it is good practice to ask if they are comfortable.

Editing Suggestions

Morocco''s colours are already extraordinary; do not over edit. A few honest tips:

Avoid extreme HDR. The medina does not need HDR.

Avoid pushing the saturation. The colours are already saturated.

Lean into the warm tones in golden hour shots.

Lean into the contrast for Sahara dunes.

Lift the shadows gently in the medina shots.

Quick Cheat Sheet

| Place | Best time | Approach |

|---|---|---|

| Marrakech medina | Golden hour | Slow walking, ask before portraits |

| Jemaa el Fna | Blue hour | Tripod for night, tip performers |

| Bahia Palace | Mid morning | Tripod ok, no flash |

| Sahara dunes | Sunrise/sunset | Wake up 30 min early |

| Aït Benhaddou | Late afternoon | Walk to the river side |

| Chefchaouen | Morning | Before 9am |

| Fes tanneries | Late morning | Mint sprig for the smell |

| Atlas peaks | Morning | Clear skies in summer |

Final Honest Take

Photography in Morocco is one of the great pleasures of the trip. The country gives you golden light, dramatic geometry and human stories. In return, photograph with respect, ask before portraits, tip when appropriate, leave drones at home, and be patient with the light. The best images come to those who slow down, watch, and wait.

If photography is the centre of your trip, mention it when you book. We can sequence your itinerary around the right light at each location, recommend the quietest hours at the most photographed sites, and arrange access to artisan workshops and villages where photographs are welcomed. A photography focused private trip is one of the most rewarding ways to see Morocco.

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