5 Best & Worst Value For Money Photography Destinations (2025)

I am now approaching three years of full-time travel, with photography as my primary focus. During this time, I have been fortunate to visit many places around the world, and in this blog, I will share my favourite destinations. Specifically, I will highlight places that offer the best value for money in terms of photography.

My criteria are as follows:

• Is the location photogenic?

• Did I leave with a strong portfolio of images?

• How challenging was it to capture good shots?

• How friendly are people towards photographers?

• How diverse is the location?

• Is it easy to get around?

• Is the location safe?

• Are there any restrictions on photography?

• How affordable is it?

I want to be very clear that I have never visited a place that was completely unphotogenic or where I felt unsafe. I also have never left a destination feeling certain I would never return. This list is based purely on my personal experiences and includes only countries where I have visited multiple locations. It is strictly about value for money photography—there are no cultural, political, or historical influences on my opinions. As I continue to travel, I will update this list to reflect new experiences.

Best Value Photography Destinations

5 - Spain

For some reason, Spain is one of the few countries I keep returning to. So far, I’ve visited 17 towns, yet I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. I love the colour palette, architecture, and beaches, and the light is incredible. The country has an excellent transport network, with local buses and high-speed trains, meaning you can get around easily without a car. Everything is reasonably priced, and if you avoid peak tourist seasons, it isn’t overly crowded. My favourite spots were Nerja, Málaga, Toledo, and Seville.

4 - Morocco

I have only been to Morocco once, but I spent three weeks driving across the country, visiting both major cities and smaller settlements. Like southern Spain, I loved the colour palette, climate, and breathtaking scenery, especially near the Sahara. Before my trip, I had heard stories about unfriendliness and harassment, however I experienced nothing but warm hospitality and kindness. I had zero issues and felt completely welcomed. I’m already planning a return visit to focus more on Marrakech this year.

3 - Japan

This is an obvious one that many would expect on the list. Japan offers everything a photographer could want: photogenic cities, stunning landscapes, fascinating subjects, safety, and an efficient transport system. I fell in love with Japan and will be returning to explore more this year. However, it doesn’t take the top spot because it isn’t the most affordable destination, it’s quite far for many travellers from the West, and some of its most popular spots are experiencing overwhelming levels of tourism.

2 - Portugal

Portugal is a country I could see myself returning to every year for the rest of my life. The people are amazing, the scenery is stunning, and the variety of photography opportunities is endless. You can shoot the classic Lisbon streets in the morning and capture the 90ft waves of Nazaré in the afternoon. Getting around is easy, Portugal is safe, and it is full of hidden gems, particularly along the Atlantic coast.

1 - Vietnam

The top spot so far goes to Vietnam. I absolutely loved this country when I spent three weeks travelling there in late 2024. The people are warm and welcoming, the light is incredible, and there is never a shortage of photography opportunities. The landscapes are breathtaking, while the cities provide an endless array of fascinating subjects. In terms of pure value for money for photographers, Vietnam is my top choice.

Worst Value Photography Destinations

5 - South Korea

When we visited South Korea, we focused on Seoul and Busan. While we had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed our stay, I didn’t feel a strong photographic connection with the country. I did get a few decent shots, but I can’t recall a single moment where I felt truly inspired behind the camera. I was aware that people in South Korea are generally not keen on being photographed, and I felt that pressure, especially in busier areas. Despite visiting many recommended spots, I rarely walked away with images I was happy with. Perhaps it was just me, or maybe the bad weather played a role, but I would need to return and give it another try. Fortunately, we were heading to Japan afterwards, so the 11-hour flight wasn’t just for Korea.

4 - United Kingdom

Having grown up in London, I can confidently say it’s one of the best cities to photograph. However, from a value-for-money perspective, I struggle to recommend the UK as a photography destination. Outside of London, you have Brighton, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and other photogenic towns, but getting around is incredibly expensive, with train fares often costing more than flights to Europe. England’s natural landscapes can be beautiful—if you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day—but travelling without a car is a nightmare. If you visit in summer, expect to pay extortionate accommodation prices. Safety is another issue, particularly in London, where theft is common. While you can capture fantastic images in the UK, from a purely financial standpoint, I find it difficult to recommend unless you have a specific reason for visiting.

3 - Ireland

A couple of years ago, my mum and I took a trip from Dublin to Cork. The moment we arrived in Dublin, we felt underwhelmed—there simply wasn’t much to photograph. Of course, you can capture abstract or street shots anywhere, but I felt zero inspiration. We then took a bus to Cork, stopping at a few villages along the way. While they were charming, they were also quite limited in terms of photographic opportunities. Cork felt like a smaller version of Dublin with even less to see and do. On top of that, Ireland was one of the more expensive places we visited, making the trip quite costly. Many Irish people have since told me that the real beauty of Ireland lies in its western landscapes, so I plan to return for a Wild Atlantic Way road trip in the future.

2 - Israel

I travelled across Israel a while back, and although I captured some good shots in Jerusalem, I found it challenging overall. Most of my best photos were from historic locations, which were often crowded with tourists and required a car to access. Outside of Jerusalem’s Old City, the modern areas felt somewhat uninspiring for photography. It wasn’t the cheapest destination, and at times, I felt an underlying tension, particularly in more sensitive locations. While I had no negative experiences, I didn’t feel particularly inspired behind the camera.

1 - United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE ranks as the worst value-for-money photography destination on my list for several key reasons. Firstly, it is incredibly expensive to visit, especially in winter when outdoor conditions are tolerable. While Dubai does have some interesting spots, many modern areas feel bland and overly polished, and security restrictions can make photography difficult. The biggest issue, however, is the legal uncertainty around street photography. From my understanding, it is illegal to take identifiable photos of people without their consent. Although the city is full of tourists taking pictures, the risk of someone reporting you is always there, and if that happens, you are at the mercy of the legal system. Getting around without a car is also a hassle, and many of the best photography locations require long drives between them.

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