Fries With Your McBaguette? For Some Travelers, McDonald’s Is a Destination.

When in Morocco, one might visit the El Badi Palace, walk the grounds of the Koutoubia Mosque or enjoy a meal of dates and chebakia at … McDonald’s?

For some, dining at McDonald’s has become part of the fun of traveling abroad. With distinctive locations — a “ski-through” restaurant in Sweden, a decommissioned Douglas DC-3 aircraft in New Zealand — and vastly different menus, the chain has adapted to a host of cultures, drawing in locals and tourists alike.

Across TikTok, YouTube and Reddit, travelers have marveled at the options: poutine in Canada, jamón Ibérico sandwiches in Spain, fried chicken in Malaysia, macarons in France and McSpaghetti in the Philippines, to name a few.

Though some seasoned travelers may look down on dining at McDonald’s in Paris or Bangkok, the brand’s fans say it’s worth seeing how the chain adapts to local cultures. It has become an entry point into an unfamiliar cuisine or a way to mix the comforts of home with something new.

That’s how Gary He, a photographer based in Brooklyn, sees it. He recently released “McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches,” a 420-page self-published book of photos documenting the global McDonald’s experience.

Mr. He, whose project was not authorized by McDonald’s, said it showed the vast difference between McDonald’s locations in the United States and those abroad. “McDonald’s is known for its consistency, but as you go around the world, you realize that really isn’t the case,” he said in an interview. “It goes against everything you believe or know or assume about the brand when you’re sitting in the United States.”

The book features photos Mr. He took at McDonald’s restaurants in 50 countries, showcasing local menu offerings, distinctive architecture and stunning settings.

The images speak to an experience that has increasingly piqued interest among travelers.

Christopher Sze, 35, and Stephanie Round, 36, recently sampled five different kinds of vegetarian burgers at a McDonald’s in Mumbai, including the McSpicy Paneer and the McAloo Tikki Burger, for their food and travel blog, Hungry Two Travel.

“It is very interesting just to see how McDonald’s adapts to these cultures,” Ms. Round said in an interview. “If it didn’t, people just wouldn’t go there,” she added. “You can tell they do their research.”

For McDonald’s, which has nearly 42,000 restaurants in about 100 countries, it’s an important part of its business abroad.

In a…