Mechouar Daylight
A daylight portrait crosses the vast mechouar toward the palace gates.
Royal Palace of Rabat
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The king’s official residence fronts a vast mechouar parade ground behind the ambassador gates of the Touarga district.
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Photo guide
Photographing Royal Palace of Rabat: light, spots and crowds.
Checked October 14, 2026 against the sources listed here. Hours, access and rules change, so recheck the official source before you go.
- Best light
- Map data puts the palace front on the southwest side of the mechouar, facing roughly east-northeast toward the Ahl Fas Mosque, which would light the facade and its gate in the morning and leave them in shade from early afternoon; confirm the light when you arrive. Visit Rabat lists daytime-only hours for the mechouar that end well before sunset, so plan on morning light rather than golden hour.
- Crowds
- Lonely Planet notes that tour groups stop here to take photos, so expect groups to come and go.
- Entry
- The palace is not open to the public; the mechouar in front of it is open as an outdoor space during daytime hours listed by Visit Rabat, and no fee is listed by official or guidebook sources. Lonely Planet describes visiting the outside with a local guide and says passports are required; check current hours on Visit Rabat.
Where to stand
- The mechouar, facing the palace
The parade ground in front of the palace is open to visitors as an outdoor space and gives you a wide view of the palace entrance. Shoot from this public ground; the palace interior and grounds are closed.
- Ahl Fas Mosque on the mechouar
The palace district's main Friday mosque stands on the mechouar and makes a second subject from the same open ground.
- Bab Soufara
One of the outer gates of Touarga, the walled royal district around the palace. Photograph it from the street as a separate subject from the palace gate.
Photo rules
- The palace interior and grounds are closed to visitors; photograph from the mechouar only.
- Carry your passport: Lonely Planet says passports are required to visit the outside of the palace.
- UK travel advice says photography near sensitive political or military sites is illegal and that you should ask permission before photographing people. The Royal Guard is posted here, so ask before any close portrait.
- Flying a drone in Morocco needs prior permission from the civil aviation authority (DGAC); UK travel advice warns of fines and confiscation without it.
Sources
Frame the Royal Palace of Rabat from a permitted visitor viewpoint.
Use the mechouar’s public approaches and gate frontages; the palace buildings and grounds remain closed.
Guards control the inner gates; follow their directions and keep the palace facade in view from permitted ground only.
Check the Landmark map and confirm your unlock while nearby. A distant view does not establish arrival at this point.
Three ways to remember Royal Palace of Rabat.
Choose a curated Experience after you unlock this Landmark. The previews show creative directions, not customer results. Memories are generated interpretations, not documentary photographs of the scene.
Bab Soufara Frontage
A closer portrait studies the ambassador gate’s tilework and wrought iron from permitted ground.
Royal Palace on Film
A monochrome portrait studies gates, walls and guard pavilions from public ground.
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How do I unlock the Royal Palace of Rabat?
Visit the supported arrival area and choose Unlock. The server checks a current location sample; a confirmed visit earns a permanent badge for free. Follow local access rules and confirm the unlock before leaving.
Does an Experience include admission or a photo session?
No. Venue admission, transport, visitor access and physical photo sessions are separate. An Experience creates an optional private generated Memory after your verified visit.
Do I need the light shown in the preview?
No. These are illustrative generated previews of creative photographic treatments. A location check establishes nearby presence, not the pictured light or visitor conditions.
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