Traveling to Morocco During Ramadan: Our Tips & Experiences

What Is Ramadan in Morocco?

Ramadan is the fasting month for devout Muslims. It’s considered the holiest month in Islam. Most Muslim countries observe Ramadan, and Morocco is no exception.

During this time, people abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex between sunrise and sunset. The focus is on reflection, gratitude, and community.

The religious background of Ramadan is the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. The fasting month commemorates this event and deepens the relationship with Allah.

Two things that are especially celebrated during Ramadan in Morocco are Iftar and Eid al-Fitr.

Iftar is when the fast is broken each day at sunset, traditionally with dates and water, followed by a shared evening meal with family or friends.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Sugar Festival in Morocco, is the feast of breaking the fast at the end of Ramadan. This day is marked by a big celebration with special prayers, gifts, and shared meals featuring traditional Moroccan dishes.

Good to know: not all devout Muslims fast. Exceptions include children, the elderly, the sick, pregnant and nursing women, women who are menstruating, and travelers.

When Is Ramadan in Morocco?

The dates of Ramadan change every year. That’s because the fasting month follows the Islamic lunar calendar, in which Ramadan is the ninth month.

Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days in total, depending on the lunar cycle. The exact dates can vary slightly from country to country.

Here’s a quick overview of the Ramadan dates in Morocco for the coming years:

• 2026: Evening of Monday, February 16 to Wednesday, March 18
• 2027: Evening of Sunday, February 7 to Monday, March 8
• 2028: Evening of Thursday, January 27 to Friday, February 25
• 2029: Evening of Monday, January 15 – Tuesday, February 13
• 2030: Evening of Friday, January 4 – Saturday, February 2

Note: The dates are subject to change. They depend on the moon sighting and are officially confirmed in advance by religious authorities.

Can You Travel to Morocco During Ramadan?

Absolutely, yes! Visiting Morocco during Ramadan is totally doable. When booking and even upon arrival, you won’t notice any differences at first.

During Ramadan you can book as usual — flights and your accommodation in Marrakech, your hotel in Fès, or your riad in Essaouira.

You can also book some activities in Morocco through GetYourGuide or Viator ahead of time. For example, we booked a great cooking class in Marrakech from home, which worked without any issues even during Ramadan.

That said, Morocco during Ramadan is a little different from other times of year to visit Morocco. Here’s exactly what to expect.

What Is Morocco Like During Ramadan? Our Personal Experience

What Morocco is like during Ramadan is probably different for every traveler. We did a road trip through southern Morocco in March 2024 during Ramadan, and here’s what we experienced.

One thing that stood out was that the streets and markets (souks) were noticeably quieter than usual during the day. The normally lively Moroccans were sitting around much more and resting.

In the souks, we were approached far less than usual, which we found really pleasant. It was only after sunset that things came alive everywhere.

We were worried about food beforehand, but we can put those fears to rest. You can and are welcome to eat in restaurants during the day and will always find something available.

Many local restaurants are closed during the day, but plenty of tourist-friendly restaurants stay open throughout, and you can comfortably sit outside and eat and drink there.

Some restaurants close briefly just before and during sunset, but they’re open again in the evening as usual. You can also buy water at any time in supermarkets and similar stores.

We also worried about whether accommodations and riads would serve breakfast in the morning. But no matter where we stayed, whenever we booked with breakfast included, there was always plenty of delicious food.

Since many tourists are put off by traveling to Morocco during Ramadan, the popular attractions in Morocco are much less crowded than usual during this time. Seriously cool!

Many sights in Marrakech had no crowds at all, and we practically had Ait Ben Haddou, the Dadès Gorge, and the Todra Gorge almost entirely to ourselves.

And even a desert tour in Morocco is much quieter. On our desert tour in the Erg Chebbi desert, only three or four desert camps were open, and on our quad tour we had the entire desert to ourselves — amazing!

We planned our desert tour ourselves, but during Ramadan you can also do all kinds of day trips from Marrakech — guided or independently, since public transportation runs normally during Ramadan too.

Are There Restrictions for Tourists During Ramadan in Morocco?

Even though most things run more or less normally in Morocco during Ramadan, there are a few minor restrictions you’ll want to be prepared for as a tourist.

Honestly, we found these very manageable — they didn’t bother us or limit our travel plans in any way. Your safety in Morocco is also not at risk during Ramadan.

The biggest adjustment while traveling to Morocco during Ramadan was around food. And even then, only because not every restaurant was open during the day.

We like to look up restaurants on Google Maps beforehand, and during Ramadan — especially for lunch — we sometimes had to go with our second-choice restaurant because our first pick was closed.

In the evenings, the timing restricted us a little. During our trip, the sun always set around 7 PM — normally a perfect time for dinner.

But that’s also when Iftar takes place, meaning the Moroccans were eating themselves. Many restaurants were briefly closed during that time, or you could only get a drink at first while the kitchen finished preparing the food.

At many accommodations where we also ate during our trip — especially in rural areas in the Atlas Mountains — we always coordinated with the owners and intentionally didn’t eat until around 8 PM.

The key thing is simply to accept that during Ramadan in Morocco you can’t eat dinner at sunset — or at least shouldn’t expect to be served then.

Another thing to be aware of is the adjusted opening hours of many attractions. There are often shorter hours or longer midday closures.

We always looked up the hours ahead of time and planned our day around them. For us personally, it wasn’t a restriction at all.

Here’s a summary of what’s different when visiting Morocco during Ramadan:

What’s different during Ramadan in Morocco:

• It’s much quieter during the day.
• Many local restaurants are closed during the day.
• Some tourist restaurants take a break around sunset.
• Attractions may be closed for 1–2 hours during the day.
• Just before sunset, the narrow alleyways in places like Marrakech or Fès can get hectic, as Moroccans rush home to eat.
• At night, more people are out in the streets celebrating the breaking of the fast.

What you can still do as a tourist during Ramadan in Morocco:

• Eat in restaurants during the day — including authentic Moroccan specialties.
• Have breakfast at your accommodation in the morning.
• Book excursions.
• Visit all the major attractions.
• Shop in the souks at any time.
• Travel by bus, train, and taxi.

Our Tips for Traveling During Ramadan

So that you can enjoy traveling to Morocco during Ramadan while also respecting Muslim culture, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind.

• Check the opening hours of attractions in Morocco in advance.
• Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during the day as much as possible. If you want a sip of water, be discreet. Open restaurants are obviously the exception.
• Look up restaurant alternatives in case your first-choice restaurant is closed.
• Always stay respectful, even if things don’t go as planned.
• Be prepared not to have dinner around sunset. It’s best to plan dinner after Iftar.
• Plan your arrival at accommodations so that you don’t arrive during Iftar.
• You may also be invited to Iftar. Feel free to accept — it’s a wonderful way to experience the culture. But you don’t have to if you’re tired or just want some downtime.
• Always keep in mind that fasting Muslims can be tired and low on energy during the day. Many still work, though, including in the tourism industry.
• We found that you can absolutely ask people about Ramadan and the meaning of fasting.
• Even though excursions, buses, and activities can generally be booked normally during Morocco’s Ramadan, we recommend double-checking everything in advance and booking early.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ramadan in Morocco