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The Best Photography Locations in Marrakech
Marrakech gives even a casual phone photographer results that look professional, because the city does half the work: intense colour, dramatic light and pattern everywhere you turn. The other half is timing and etiquette — knowing when the light is soft, when a courtyard is empty, and how to photograph people respectfully. This guide runs through the locations worth building a morning or evening around.
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- 8 min
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- Things to do
- Updated
- 21 July 2026
The short answer
The short answer
For colour and pattern, shoot Jardin Majorelle's cobalt walls and Bahia Palace's painted ceilings early, before the crowds arrive. For architecture and light, Ben Youssef Madrasa's reflecting courtyard is unmatched. For atmosphere, a rooftop over Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk and a wander through the lantern-lit souks give the classic Marrakech frames. Plan a photo-led morning on our attractions page.
At a glance
- Arrive at ticketed sights right at opening — the difference between an empty courtyard and one full of tour groups is often just twenty minutes.
- Golden hour (the hour before sunset) is when the medina's ochre walls and rooftops genuinely glow; harsh midday light flattens the colour.
- Always ask before photographing people up close, especially performers and vendors in the square, who typically expect a small tip in return.
- A rooftop over Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk is the single most reliable 'wow' shot in the city, and costs nothing more than a mint tea.
What makes a great Marrakech photography spot
Strong, reliable light
We favoured locations where the light works at a predictable time of day — early morning courtyards, golden-hour rooftops — rather than places that depend on luck.
Colour, pattern or scale
The best frames here lean on what Marrakech does uniquely well: saturated colour, intricate tilework, or the sheer scale of a square filling with people.
Manageable crowds
A beautiful spot ruined by fifty other phones is no use to anyone. We note which locations reward an early visit and which stay peaceful all day.
Respectful of local life
Several of the best shots involve real people going about their day. We flag where discretion and a friendly ask matter more than a perfect angle.
Easy to combine into one outing
We grouped nearby locations so a single morning or evening can cover several without much backtracking.
The best photography locations, one by one
Build a photo morning around the medina's palaces and gardens, then save the square for a golden-hour finish. Links point to where to plan each stop.
Jardin Majorelle's cobalt walls
Best for saturated colour
The electric-blue villa and courtyards Yves Saint Laurent restored are Marrakech's most photographed corner for good reason — bamboo, cacti and that exact shade of blue against a bright sky. Go at opening to shoot it without the crowds. Book a timed slot via our attractions page.
Bahia Palace's painted courtyards
Best for pattern and craftsmanship
Carved cedar ceilings, zellige tilework and courtyard after courtyard of symmetry make Bahia Palace a photographer's playground, especially in the soft early light before coach parties arrive. Look up as much as you shoot straight ahead — the ceilings are half the story.
Ben Youssef Madrasa's reflecting courtyard
Best for architecture and stillness
The restored 16th-century college's central courtyard, with its still reflecting pool and carved stucco walls, is the single most elegant architectural frame in the city. Visit right at opening for a nearly empty courtyard and the best reflections.
The souks by lantern light
Best for colour and craft in motion
The lantern stalls, dyed wool hanging to dry and towers of spices in the covered lanes make for some of the busiest, most rewarding street photography anywhere in Morocco. A guided medina walk on your first morning helps you find the best stalls fast.
A rooftop over Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk
Best for the classic Marrakech skyline
As the light fades and the square below fills with smoke, crowds and colour, a rooftop café gives you the Koutoubia minaret floodlit against a pink sky — the shot everyone comes home with. Settle in an hour before sunset for a rail-side table.
Le Jardin Secret's tower view
Best for an elevated medina panorama
A small tower within this restored garden gives a rare rooftop-level view over the medina's rooftops and minarets without needing a café booking. It is quiet, ticketed and genuinely underused by photographers compared with the main square.
The ramparts and Bab gates at golden hour
Best for texture and warm tones
The kilometres of red pisé walls and monumental gates like Bab Agnaou turn a deep ochre in the last light, and they are free, spacious and rarely crowded. A slow walk along them at dusk yields some of the richest colour in the city.
Timing, etiquette and gear
Morning light (roughly the first two hours after sunrise) and golden hour (the last hour before sunset) both flatter Marrakech far more than the harsh, flat light of midday, which washes out colour and casts unflattering shadows. Plan ticketed sights for the morning and rooftops or gardens for the evening accordingly.
Always ask before photographing people close up, and expect performers, henna artists and snake charmers in the square to request a tip for a photograph — agree it, or decline politely and shoot from a respectful distance instead. A phone is genuinely enough for excellent results here; a wide-angle lens helps most in tight courtyards and souk lanes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best photo spot in Marrakech?
Jardin Majorelle for colour, Ben Youssef Madrasa for architecture, and a rooftop over Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk for atmosphere are the three most reliable, and together make a full day of genuinely different shots.
Can I fly a drone in Marrakech?
Drone use is tightly restricted in Morocco and generally requires prior authorisation; flying one casually over the medina, palaces or the square is likely to attract attention from authorities. Stick to ground and rooftop photography unless you have secured specific permission.
Is it okay to photograph people in the souks or the square?
Ask first wherever possible, and expect that performers, snake charmers and henna artists in the square will request payment for a photo — agree it beforehand or photograph from a distance. Shopkeepers are often happy to be photographed if you are friendly and buy something small.
What is the best time of day for photography in Marrakech?
Early morning for palaces and gardens, before the tour groups and the flat midday light arrive, and the hour before sunset for rooftops, the ramparts and the square, when the light turns golden and the atmosphere builds.
Do I need a professional camera, or is a phone enough?
A modern phone handles Marrakech beautifully thanks to the strong natural light and colour — a proper camera helps most in low-light courtyards and for anyone wanting more control over depth of field in the souks.