Best Photography Spots
in Morocco

The blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen produce some of the most recognizable images from Morocco. Every alley, doorway, and staircase is painted in shades of blue — from cobalt to powder to cerulean. The best shots come from Rue Targhi and the small streets near Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Morning light bouncing off blue walls creates a soft, ethereal glow that flattens in harsh midday sun.

This UNESCO World Heritage ksar has appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. The fortified village rises from the banks of the Ounila River in layered tiers of red-earth construction. Crossing the river (knee-deep in spring, dry in summer) puts you at the base for dramatic upward compositions. The golden-hour light turns the earthen walls from brown to deep amber.

The tallest dunes in Morocco reach 150 meters at Erg Chebbi. The interplay of light and shadow across rippled sand creates abstract compositions that change by the minute. Sunrise paints the dunes in orange, pink, and gold while long shadows from ridgelines add depth. A camel caravan silhouetted against the dawn is the quintessential Sahara image.

The signature cobalt-blue structures designed by Jacques Majorelle (later owned by Yves Saint Laurent) stand out against towering cacti, bougainvillea, and bamboo groves. The contrast between Majorelle Blue and the yellow planters is graphic-design-level striking. Water features and terracotta paths add texture. Indoor photography is restricted in the Berber Museum.

The largest madrasa in Morocco features some of the most intricate Islamic geometric art on the planet. The central courtyard pool reflects carved stucco, cedar wood, and zellige tilework rising three stories. The 130 student chambers each frame the courtyard differently — look for the cells on the upper floor where light slices across carved plaster. Entry costs from 70 MAD.

The world's third-largest mosque sits on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean with a 210-meter minaret visible across Casablanca. Exterior shots from the esplanade at sunset capture the mosque silhouetted against orange skies. Interior tours (from 130 MAD) reveal retractable roof panels, Italian marble floors, and hand-carved cedarwood ceilings. This is the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors for photography.

The medieval tanneries of Fes el-Bali have operated for over 1,000 years. Viewed from surrounding rooftop terraces (leather shops offer free access, expecting you to browse afterward), the circular stone vats filled with dyes — white, saffron, poppy red, indigo, mint green — form a striking mosaic. Workers knee-deep in vats provide human scale. A telephoto lens isolates individual workers and vat patterns.

Morocco's tallest waterfalls drop 110 meters across multiple cascades into a turquoise pool. Barbary macaques swing through olive trees along the trail down. The mist at the base creates natural rainbows in morning sunlight. A long exposure (1-2 seconds with an ND filter) smooths the cascades into silk. The viewpoint from the opposite bank captures the full three-tier drop.

Three-hundred-meter limestone walls close to a gap just 10 meters wide at the narrowest point. The scale is humbling — place a person in the frame for perspective. Midday is actually preferred here because the gorge floor only receives direct sunlight for a few hours when the sun is directly overhead. The red and orange rock contrasts with the turquoise river flowing through the base.

The 18th-century Portuguese ramparts face the Atlantic, with cannons still pointing seaward. The fishing port below buzzes with blue boats, seagulls, and fishermen mending nets. Sqala du Port offers a fortress-top perspective along the crenellated walls. The Skala de la Ville on the north side catches golden afternoon light. Wind is constant — plan for hair and fabric movement in portraits.

This 19th-century palace covers 8,000 square meters of painted cedar ceilings, zellige floors, and marble courtyards. The Grand Court (50x30m) with its central marble fountain is the highlight — the scale dwarfs visitors. Painted bedroom ceilings in the harem section require an upward-facing wide-angle shot. Entry costs from 70 MAD.

The gateway to Mount Toubkal (4,167m) offers terraced Berber villages clinging to hillsides, walnut groves, and North Africa's highest peaks as backdrop. The village of Imlil (1,740m) and surrounding hamlets like Aroumd sit in a valley that catches morning light dramatically. Snow-capped peaks behind red-earth villages create contrast that defines Atlas photography.

Morocco's longest river carves through 200 km of date palm oases, fortified ksour, and red desert. The road between Agdz and Zagora passes through six distinct palm oases separated by barren hammada (stone desert). The contrast between lush green palms and rust-red kasbahs against bare mountains produces layered landscape images at every turn.

Distinct from the general Erg Chebbi entry, the sunrise specifically from Merzouga's eastern dune ridge produces a color gradient from deep violet to gold as the sun clears the Algerian border. Silhouettes of fellow travelers, camels, and the rippled dune foreground compose themselves. The sky transitions through at least eight distinct color phases in 20 minutes.

The 77-meter minaret dominates the Marrakech skyline and serves as a compass for navigating the medina. The surrounding gardens with palm trees and rose beds frame the tower from multiple angles. At sunset, the sandstone glows orange-red. After dark, floodlighting highlights the geometric carved stonework. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but the exterior and gardens are the real subjects.

One of the two original natural stone arches collapsed in 2016, but the remaining arch still towers over the red-sand beach. The rust-red sandstone against Atlantic waves and sunset skies produces otherworldly images. Low tide exposes tidal pools that add foreground reflections. The arch stands roughly 30 meters tall — place a person beneath it for scale.

Morocco's best-preserved Roman city dates to the 3rd century BC. The Triumphal Arch, Basilica, and mosaic floors survive amid rolling farmland. Spring wildflowers (poppies, daisies) growing between columns create images that layer ancient history with living landscape. The site receives far fewer visitors than comparable ruins in Italy or Greece. Entry costs from 70 MAD.

Belgian artist Jean Vérame painted massive granite boulders in blue, red, violet, and pink in 1984. Though faded, the colors still pop against the desert landscape. The surrounding Anti-Atlas landscape of granite pinnacles, palm-filled valleys, and Berber villages is equally striking. During February, almond trees blanket the valley in white and pink blossoms.

The Dades River has carved a canyon with hairpin bends, towering rock formations called "monkey fingers," and crumbling kasbahs at every turn. The famous hairpin road section (9 switchbacks in 1 km) photographs best from the opposing hillside. Further into the gorge, red rock walls tighten to 200 meters in height. Each kasbah ruin tells a story of abandoned Berber fortress life.

Considered the finest gateway in North Africa, Bab Mansour features green-and-white zellige tilework, carved marble columns recycled from Volubilis, and a horseshoe arch 16 meters high. The gate fronts Place el-Hedim, an open square that provides distance for full-frame shots. The intricate geometric patterns reward close-up detail photography with a macro or telephoto lens.

The unfinished 12th-century minaret stands 44 meters tall among 200 stone columns — the remnants of what would have been the world's largest mosque. The adjacent Mausoleum of Mohammed V features white marble, gilt bronze doors, and royal guards in ceremonial dress. The columns stretching toward the tower create strong leading-line compositions from any angle.

The kasbah perches above the Strait of Gibraltar with views to Spain on clear days. Whitewashed walls, blue doors, bougainvillea, and steep staircases define the visual language. The Grand Socco connects old and new Tangier. The medina retains a rougher, more authentic feel than Marrakech or Fes — expect unposed daily life rather than tourist-facing scenes.

A hidden canyon 30 km north of Agadir with natural swimming pools, palm trees, and boulder-strewn cascades. The turquoise water against red rock walls creates color contrast that looks enhanced but is completely natural. The hike down takes 30 minutes along a well-marked path. Local Berber families operate small cafés at the pools.

Every summer, international artists repaint the medina walls during the Asilah Arts Festival (since 1978). The result is an open-air gallery of murals, geometric patterns, and painted doorways against whitewashed walls. Outside festival season, remnants of previous years' art fade gradually, adding a layered texture. The Atlantic ramparts at the medina edge add a coastal dimension.

The world's largest film studio by area has hosted productions from Kingdom of Heaven to The Mummy. Standing sets include Egyptian temples, a Tibetan monastery, and a Jerusalem streetscape. The surreal juxtaposition of ancient-looking sets against the desert backdrop creates images that blur fiction and reality. Entry costs from 50 MAD for self-guided tours.