Street photography in Morocco

One thing you’ll notice right off the bat though is the sound and air pollution. Casablanca has is no underground line and that clearly shows, the streets are flooded old cars, taxis and motorcycles. Since the infrastructure is partially not in the best state, the traffic is chaotic, loud and will take some time to get used too.

You’ll be rewarded with beautiful historical sights, diverse Marketplaces, great shopping possibilities and lots of good gastronomies.

Rabat

Rabat is the official capital of Morocco, even though it is smaller than Casablanca. It is also the city where the King and the Kings family is residing in. If Casablanca is too chaotic, loud and dirty for your taste, Rabat will be right up your alley.

The Kings city is very organized, tidied up and well maintained. It is clear that it is a prestigious city and more accessible for western tourist than Casablanca is. Talking to locals, especially younger ones, I did hear though, that culture wise, Rabat cannot compete with Casablanca.

Photography wise, Rabat doesn’t disappoint, with historical sights like the Hassan Tower or the historical Medina, and more modern areas like Rabat Beach or the Stadium. There is a lot to capture and if you’re looking for stock photography, Rabat got you covered.

If you’re in the mood for an authentic Moroccan city and actually want to relax a bit, I would recommend Rabat over Casablanca as well as the next city I’ve visited.

Marrakesh

I guess the most known Moroccan city and most visited has to be Marrakesh. In 2024 four million tourists visited the legendary city in the middle of the country.

The central Market of the city, the Medina, with its main square is the beating heart of the city and at the same time fundamentally representing my main issue that I’ve had with Marrakesh: Overtourism.

There is almost no store, place or street, around the inner city, that is not completely oriented and fixated on tourism. Even the hundreds and hundreds of little market stalls, sell almost exclusively the same goods and items, that are proven to be lucrative for tourism.

There are abused snakes, monkey, donkeys and other animals being mistreated as tourist traps. Vendors and beggars can be aggressive and relentless, it helps to avoid eye contact or to walk with headphones on.

Not that everything is horrible in Marrakesh though, the architecture and especially the Medina is no less than magical. There is a lot of traditional craftsmanship to be found, museums, cultural sights and gastronomy. Photowise, every corner has something to discover and there are many details to be found, lives to be documented.

Just be respectful and don’t expect to take pictures of everyone for free. Many locals know about the most sought ofter tourist motives and made it their income, to lure in enthusiastic photographers and charge them later for the picture.

Since I’vent been spending enough time in Agadir or Taghazout, I’m not writing about those cities, but I’ll let my experiences enrich the advices for fellow photographers section.

In case you’re wondering, my favorite city in Morocco so far is Casablanca. Not on first sight, since I’ve liked Rabat better after traveling there right after, but during my second visit it felt strangely like, I was coming home somehow.

Maybe I just got used to the constant noise and chaotic streets. Welcomed the diverse culture, vibrant streets and fascinating characters the city has to offer.

Since I’vent been spending enough time in Agadir or Taghazout, I’m not writing about those cities, but I’ll let my experiences enrich the advices for fellow photographers section.

In case you’re wondering, my favorite city in Morocco so far is Casablanca. Not on first sight, since I’ve liked Rabat better after traveling there right after, but during my second visit it felt strangely like, I was coming home somehow.

Maybe I just got used to the constant noise and chaotic streets. Welcomed the diverse culture, vibrant streets and fascinating characters the city has to offer.

Even though, cities are surprisingly accessible on foot, you’ll be better off using a taxi or an app to get from point a to b. There is also a Tram-Line inside Rabat and Casablanca, which is very cheap and connecting the most visited parts of those towns.

Google Maps is mostly working well inside the cities, but when it comes to businesses and shops, chances are the entries are outdated, and you’ll be standing in front of a completely different establishment. Check out the reviews or website to make sure the place you’re visiting is still in existence.

Taxi

As a western Tourist, especially, you can expect to get a different rate than locals. So a Taxi-Ride can cost you between two and ten dollars. Since most drivers don’t speak English, you can try and should negotiate a price beforehand or ask the staff of the hotel you’re staying in to help you out. I was able to get a good price for a trip downtown to the airport that way.

If that sounds too much of a hassle, which it is, use Apps where you set a price for a route beforehand. But be mindful that those drivers won’t stop and wait for you in areas where taxi drivers are parking, since it is in a gray legal area. The Apps I used were “Indrive” and “Careem” but there are different once. I found the Blog Blondie in Morocco very helpful in this regard.

Buses, Ferries and Trains

Unless you’re renting a car for yourself, you’ve to rely on trains and buses. Between Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakesh are connected with a high speed train, that is considerable cheap with between 15 and 30 Euro. If you’re looking to travel further south, there are Bus companies with similar prices and comfortable routes.

I recommend bringing headphones or earplugs for these kinds of public transport, since it’s not uncommon that people watch their shows or content with their speakers blasting.

Theoretically there are also ferries traveling between major cities or even across the ocean to the Canary Islands, but I’vent tried those, since they are available only during tourist season.

Almost every city has a Medina, which is an interesting spot to visit, since those places are the most buzzing and outside of Marrakesh, where the locals go to for their local needs.

I found the historical as well as the modern Medina in Agadir to be the most interesting of the bunch, especially the modern Medina of Agadir is massive, and you’ll feel like there is nothing, that can’t be found somewhere within the complex.

Aside from those Markets, every city has their own historical spots it is known for. Casablanca has a lot of Christian churches, that are worth visiting, as well as one of the largest Mosque in the world. Rabat has the Hassan II Tower and many historical spots associated with the royal family.

To be honest, there are too many places to check out. At a certain point, I was just looking up the most visited sights on Google Maps and made my route accordingly. I mostly walked, which also showed me areas where tourists rarely go to, which is not for everyone – but good for photos.

You can’t bring a drone inside the country, if you have one with you, worst case, it’ll get confiscated, or you’ll be sent home.

Aside from this one, Morocco doesn’t have any special laws or rules when it comes to photography, compared to other countries. However, there are special government buildings, like the police station in Casablanca, that are illegal to photograph.

In general, I would advise caution with everything that is associated with military and government, when framing your shot. Better be safe than sorry, you can always just ask.

Within street scenes and portraits, you might benefit from the imbalance in power. Since most people won’t have the financial means to sue you or care enough about their personal copyright.

That being said, most tourists know that and take pictures without permission or respect of privacy, which made locals very sensitive to the matter.

If they see you’re a white person with a camera around your neck, they’ll be most likely keeping an eye out if you’re taking their picture without their permission and be rightfully angry if taken – or straight up demand money.

It is for every photographer to set a good example and ask beforehand for permission. Especially, if the subject is a woman, since this might be causing even more frustration, due to the Islamic nature of the society.

Manners and Safety

Manner wise, people might eyeball you a lot, if you’re very European looking. Eye contact and a friendly smile/nod will show you that most of those looks are good-natured and just people being curious.

But don’t expect the same in places where people are trying to sell you something. In those places avoid eye contact, wear headphones if you can and keep your guard up.

While criminal offenses against tourists are strictly and swiftly served, to make the country as appealing for visitors as possible – as a foreigner, especially from a first world country, you’re living a dream most people will never be able to afford and one should be aware of that.

When I was walking through Casablanca’s second hand Medina, for example, I decided to put my camera inside my back and don’t take any street photos. Since it became very obvious to me, that the equipment around my neck is probably worth more, than what a stall owner earns within a year.

This kind of income awareness of mine is not something bound to Morocco, but to countries where I notice a massive difference in income Perse.

Because generally speaking, Moroccans are very friendly, loyal and caring. If you’ve made a Moroccan friend, you can be sure to count on their help, even if they barely know you. So much even, that ever since my time in Morocco, I started to notice, that in western culture, people tend to back out their words and promises way more often and casual, than Moroccans do.

Lastly, you should be aware about general rules in Islamic countries: Like respecting the prayers, dress accordingly when visiting holy places, only consume drugs in places where it is tolerated, etc..