· Travel · 6 min read
Our Kind of Traitor Filming Locations: Morocco Guide
Explore Our Kind of Traitor filming locations in Morocco — Marrakech scenes, other shoots and how to visit them on a private tour.

A sunlit tennis court, a lavish birthday party and a quiet conversation that changes everything — that is how Our Kind of Traitor filming locations first pull you into Morocco. Our Kind of Traitor filming locations are centered on Marrakech, Morocco, for the holiday scenes, with additional shoots in London, Bern, Paris, Finland and the French Alps. If you have wondered where was Our Kind of Traitor filmed and what the Morocco scenes really show, the answer is both cinematic and easy to visit.
In this guide, we will break down the Marrakech setting, what the holiday scenes capture, the brief other locations and how you can visit the Morocco side on a private, hassle-free route.
Marrakech — The Morocco Heart of the Film
Our Kind of Traitor Morocco opens with an ordinary British couple on holiday in Marrakech. Perry and Gail are approached by the charismatic Russian Dima, and that chance meeting sets the spy story in motion. Multiple primary sources credit Morocco filming simply as Marrakech, without naming a specific district or building.
That city-level credit matters. No verified source confirms an exact square, hotel or club as a frame-matched location. Secondary blogs often speculate about Jemaa el-Fnaa or luxury hotel terraces, but that remains unverified. Treat Marrakech as the verified location and enjoy its real places as atmosphere you can experience today rather than a precise film set.
Key spots to experience today:
- Medina alleyways: Winding souks, tiled doorways and quiet riad courtyards that echo the film’s labyrinthine feel.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa: The vast square by day and night, with juice stalls, drummers and rooftop views. Not a verified frame match, but the closest you will feel to the on-screen city pulse.
- Palm-lined resort and tennis settings: Marrakech’s resort belt captures the holiday leisure seen in the opening. Enjoy a resort pool or club terrace for that same light.
- Rooftop cafes: Sunset over the Koutoubia minaret gives you the golden, cinematic light the film uses so well.
What the Marrakech Holiday Scenes Capture
Our Kind of Traitor Marrakech is not about monuments. It is about mood — leisure, warmth and sudden tension. The film shows hotel terraces, a tennis match, an intimate dinner and a birthday celebration where friendship and risk collide. Marrakech gives that contrast perfectly.
You feel both relaxation and intrigue. One moment you are by a pool or on a tennis court, the next you are navigating close, colorful medina lanes where every turn feels private. That shift from open resort to enclosed souk mirrors the couple’s journey from holiday to high stakes, pulled between the Russian world and British intelligence.
For travelers, this makes Marrakech ideal. The city is compact and walkable with a private guide, yet layered enough to feel cinematic. Base yourself for two or three nights in a hand-picked riad, explore with a driver-guide who handles navigation and timing, and you get the real Morocco behind the thriller gloss — authentic, seamless and relaxed.
Beyond Morocco — Other Locations Briefly
where was Our Kind of Traitor filmed outside Morocco? The production kept a light footprint beyond Marrakech, using a handful of European sites to complete the story. These are brief mentions rather than deep dives, which keeps the focus on the Morocco opening.
London and the Home Counties form the main base — offices, streets and homes for the MI6 thread and the couple’s life back home. Bern in Switzerland appears with a cameo at the Einstein Museum. Paris provides elegant city scenes tied to the intrigue. For the Russian thread, forest near Rukatunturi in Finland doubled for the outskirts of Moscow, while the French Alps host chalet and safe-house sequences. Moscow itself and a Bolshoi Ballet reference round out the palette.
What to remember:
- London focus: The intelligence world and domestic tension.
- Bern highlight: Einstein Museum cameo that spy fans love to spot.
- Nordic stand-in: Finnish forest creating a convincing Moscow edge.
- Alpine escape: French Alps for secluded, snow-framed drama.
Why Morocco Was Chosen Instead of Antigua
In John le Carré’s novel the holiday unfolds in Antigua. The film moves it to Morocco. That single change sharpens the story. Marrakech reads instantly as both luxurious and labyrinthine — sun-baked terraces, palm gardens, souks and courtyards within a short flight from London.
For a spy thriller, that proximity matters. Morocco offers a credible holiday destination for a British couple, with visual variety that Antigua could not match on this production’s European base. It also taps into Morocco’s long appeal for filmmakers seeking desert light, resort polish and medina texture without leaving the region’s established support for international shoots.
For you as a traveler, the swap is good news. Marrakech is easy to reach, welcoming for first-time visitors and rich in experiences beyond the screen. With a private tailor-made tour you get insider access — hand-picked riads, local stories and flexible pacing — rather than a crowded bus route through tourist traps.
Plan Your Own Our Kind of Traitor Morocco Route
Inspired to follow the film’s trail? Focus your time on Marrakech, then extend into the Atlas and desert if you want more cinematic Morocco around it. The city itself rewards slow exploration on foot with a guide, plus relaxed evenings on rooftops. Add a palm oasis or Atlas foothills drive for extra light and landscape.
How to make it hassle-free:
- Stay central: Choose a riad in or near the medina for easy access to Jemaa el-Fnaa and souks.
- Go private: A private driver-guide handles timing, parking and cultural context so you feel cared for like family.
- Balance pace: Pair medina walks with resort leisure — pool time, tennis or a calm garden visit.
- Extend if you can: Loop through the High Atlas and Sahara for kasbahs and desert camps that echo Morocco’s film diversity.
To trace the holiday atmosphere and beyond, consider the 4-Day Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech, which starts in Marrakech and crosses the High Atlas to Ait Benhaddou and the dunes of Merzouga with a private driver and hand-picked stays. For a fuller circuit that keeps Marrakech at its heart, the 10-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech blends imperial cities, desert nights and coastal charm while maximizing your journey.
We can customize a tour to match your needs — design your perfect itinerary
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Our Kind of Traitor filmed in Morocco?
In Morocco, Our Kind of Traitor was filmed in Marrakech at city level. Primary sources credit Marrakech without confirming a specific square, hotel or tennis club, so no exact street-level site is verified.
Where else was Our Kind of Traitor filmed outside Morocco?
Outside Morocco the film used London and the Home Counties, Bern in Switzerland including the Einstein Museum, Paris, the French Alps and Rukatunturi in Finland doubling for the outskirts of Moscow, plus Moscow itself.
Was the holiday in Antigua or Morocco in the original book?
In John le Carré's novel the couple's holiday is in Antigua. The film adaptation moved the opening to Morocco to give Marrakech a sun-baked, labyrinthine backdrop within easy reach of London.
Can you visit the Our Kind of Traitor filming locations in Marrakech?
Yes. You can experience the same Marrakech atmosphere today on a private tour — explore the medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa, stay in a hand-picked riad and enjoy rooftop cafes and palm-lined resort areas with a private driver-guide.
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