Meknes Medina Photography Guide

The three must-photograph locations are Bab Mansour gate, the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum courtyard, and the Heri es-Souani royal granary. After those, the saddlers' souk (Rue des Selliers) and the old mellah (Jewish quarter) near the grain market reward anyone willing to walk beyond the main square. The medina is compact enough to cover all of them in half a day.

Yes — non-Muslims are welcome and photography is permitted in the outer courtyards and the decorated passage leading to the tomb. The actual tomb chamber is off-limits to non-Muslims and photography there is not allowed. The best images come from the first and second courtyards, where carved stucco panels, painted cedarwood ceilings and geometric zellige tilework all appear under natural skylight. Arrive before 10:00 before tour groups from Fes arrive.

Between 07:30 and 09:30 is the sweet spot. The gate faces roughly east-northeast, so early morning sunlight hits the zellige tilework directly, bringing out the green, white and black colour contrasts without overexposure. After 10:00 the front face falls partly into shadow from overhead sun, and by midday the harsh light washes out the tile colours. An added bonus of the early slot: Place el-Hedim is quiet and you can shoot without pedestrians crossing your frame.

For authentic, uncrowded shots it absolutely is. Meknes sees a fraction of the tourist footfall of Fes, meaning you get workshop scenes, market stalls and architectural details without waiting for the frame to clear. The downside is that Meknes has fewer iconic "postcard" vantage points — you need to wander to find the best angles. Photographers who enjoy the hunt rather than ticking a shot list tend to prefer Meknes; travellers who want guaranteed bankable images often prioritise Fes. Ideally, visit both.

Heri es-Souani is the royal granary and stable complex built by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the early 18th century to supply his 12,000-strong cavalry. Today large sections are roofless, and shafts of midday sunlight pour through the gaps onto rows of enormous stone pillars — a genuinely spectacular light effect. Photography is fully permitted throughout. Entry is around 10 MAD (indicative as of 2025). The adjacent Agdal Basin, a vast royal ornamental pond, reflects open sky and offers a very different wide-landscape frame just a few minutes' walk away.

The standard approach is: photograph Meknes at dawn (Bab Mansour 07:30, Mausoleum 09:30, granary 11:30), then drive 32 km northeast to Volubilis for the afternoon. At Volubilis the light is best from about 15:00 onwards when low sun rakes across the mosaic floors and triumphal arch from the west — the opposite of a flat midday glare. The whole loop from Fes is under 200 km and is commonly offered as a day tour. Private transport is easiest, as public buses to Volubilis are infrequent.