Yes, you can travel in Morocco during Ramadan, and many visitors find it one of the most memorable times to be there. Daytime is calmer and some cafés and restaurants close until sunset, but sights, transport and hotels keep running, and the evenings come alive with family meals, busy streets and a warm, festive feeling. With a little understanding and flexibility, Ramadan rarely gets in the way of a good trip.
This guide explains what Ramadan is, what changes for travellers, how to be a respectful guest, and what happens at Eid when the month ends.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time of fasting, prayer, reflection and generosity. From dawn until sunset, Muslims who are able to fast avoid food, drink (including water) and smoking. The fast is broken each evening at sunset with a meal called ftour in Morocco, known more widely as iftar.
Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, Ramadan moves earlier by around ten or eleven days each year in the Western calendar. Its exact start is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon, so the first day may only be announced shortly beforehand. If you are planning a trip, check the expected dates for your year and allow for a day either way.
Ramadan is observed very widely in Morocco, and in public life it sets the rhythm of the whole country for the month.
What changes for travellers
The daily rhythm
Mornings tend to start later, and the hours before sunset can feel quiet as people head home to prepare the evening meal. Just before sunset, streets empty almost completely. Then, after ftour and the evening prayers, towns fill up again, and squares, promenades and shopping streets can stay busy late into the night.
Many travellers adapt by sightseeing in the morning, resting in the afternoon and going out in the evening to enjoy the atmosphere.
Eating and drinking
Plenty of places to eat stay open during the day in tourist areas, hotels and larger cities, especially in Marrakech, Agadir and Casablanca. In smaller towns and rural areas, more cafés and restaurants close during daylight hours and reopen around sunset. Supermarkets and grocers generally stay open, so you can always buy water, fruit and snacks.
Non-Muslim visitors are not expected to fast. Moroccans are generally relaxed about tourists eating, but it is considerate to eat and drink discreetly during the day rather than on the street.
Opening times
Museums, monuments, banks, offices and shops often change their opening times during Ramadan, usually opening later and closing earlier in the afternoon. The pattern varies by place and by year, so check locally on the day rather than relying on the usual times. Souks may be quieter during the afternoon and livelier in the evening.
Alcohol
Alcohol is much harder to find during Ramadan. Many outlets that normally sell it stop doing so for the month, and some bars close. Hotels that serve international guests may still offer it, but it is wise not to count on it.
Transport
Trains, coaches and flights continue to run throughout Ramadan, though timetables can shift a little. Transport becomes very busy in the days before and after Eid, as families travel home. Book long-distance trains and coaches ahead at those times; our Morocco train travel guide explains how. Taxis can be scarce in the half hour around sunset, as drivers head home to eat.
Etiquette: being a good guest
Moroccans are famously hospitable, and visitors are not expected to observe the fast. A few gestures of respect go a long way.
- Eat, drink and smoke discreetly in public during the day, especially in medinas, villages and smaller towns.
- Dress a little more modestly than you might otherwise; our guide to what to wear in Morocco has suggestions.
- Be patient. People who are fasting may be tired, especially in the late afternoon and in hot weather. A little extra patience and good humour are appreciated.
- Avoid loud behaviour near mosques and at prayer times.
- Learn a greeting. Saying Ramadan karim or Ramadan mubarak to wish someone a blessed Ramadan is warmly received. Our list of Moroccan Darija phrases for travellers has more useful words.
For a wider look at local customs, see our guide to Moroccan etiquette for visitors.
Ftour: breaking the fast
The moment the sunset call to prayer sounds is something special. Streets fall silent, and across the country families sit down together to break their fast. Traditionally the first thing eaten is a date, often with a glass of milk or water, followed by a spread that typically includes:
- Harira, a rich soup of tomato, lentils and chickpeas, often seasoned with herbs and spices.
- Chebakia, flower-shaped pastries fried and coated in honey and sesame.
- Sellou, a sweet, nutty mixture of toasted flour, almonds and sesame.
- Bread, eggs, msemen pancakes and plenty of mint tea or coffee.
Many restaurants and hotels serve a ftour menu at sunset, and it is a wonderful way to share in the season. If a Moroccan family invites you to join them, it is a genuine honour; bring a small gift such as pastries or dates. Our article on the Moroccan mint tea tradition explains the role tea plays in this hospitality.
Later in the night, many families eat a second meal, and before dawn there is a final meal, shour, before the fast begins again.
The evenings
After ftour, Moroccan towns take on a new energy. Families stroll along seafronts and through squares, children play, and pastry shops and juice stands do a brisk trade. In Agadir, the long seafront promenade is a lovely place to soak up the atmosphere; in Marrakech, the Jemaa el-Fna square is especially lively. Mosques are full for the special night prayers, and you may hear recitation drifting through the streets.
The Agadir travel guide and the Marrakech travel guide both suggest relaxed evening walks that are perfect during Ramadan.
Laylat al-Qadr
Towards the end of the month comes Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Destiny, often observed in Morocco on the 27th night of Ramadan. It is considered the holiest night of the year, and mosques are especially full. In some families, children dress in traditional clothes and young girls may have henna applied. It is a beautiful time to be in Morocco, but expect towns to be busy.
Eid al-Fitr: the end of Ramadan
When the new moon is sighted at the end of the month, Ramadan ends and Eid al-Fitr begins. It is a joyful family holiday. People dress in their best clothes, often traditional ones, visit relatives, give to charity and share sweet pastries.
For travellers, Eid means:
- Many shops, offices and some restaurants close for a day or two while people celebrate with their families.
- Transport is very busy in the days before and after, as people travel home.
- Streets can be quiet on the morning of Eid itself, then busy with families later.
Wishing people Eid mubarak is always appreciated. A few months after Eid al-Fitr comes Eid al-Adha, the other major festival of the year, which also brings family gatherings and busy transport.
Is Ramadan a good time to visit?
It depends on what you want from your trip. Ramadan suits travellers who enjoy culture, atmosphere and slower days, and who do not mind a bit of flexibility over meals. It is less ideal if your plans depend on long daytime lunches, lively nightlife or alcohol. Families travelling with young children will find hotels and resort areas such as Agadir largely unaffected during the day.
If you are deciding when to go, our guide to the best time to visit Morocco by region puts Ramadan alongside the weather.
Frequently asked questions
Do tourists have to fast during Ramadan?
No. Fasting is a religious practice for Muslims, and visitors are not expected to take part. Simply eat and drink discreetly in public during the day.
Will restaurants be open during Ramadan?
In tourist areas and larger cities, many places stay open during the day, and almost all reopen around sunset. In small towns and villages, more close in daylight hours.
When is Ramadan?
The dates move earlier by around ten or eleven days each year because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar. Check the expected dates for the year of your trip and allow for a day’s variation.
Are tourist sites open during Ramadan?
Generally yes, but opening times often change. Check locally on the day, and plan to sightsee earlier rather than late in the afternoon.
Plan your trip
Ramadan is a chance to see Moroccan family life and hospitality at their warmest. Our Morocco travel library covers customs, food and daily rhythms in every major destination. The Fes travel guide is a lovely companion for a city where traditions run deep, and the Agadir travel guide suits a relaxed seaside stay.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, and was reviewed and edited by the Enjoy Agadir Trip team. How we write and check our guides
