Travelling in Morocco during Ramadan

When is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, so it starts about 11 days earlier each year. In Morocco, the start and end are announced by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs after the new moon has been sighted, usually the evening before.

These dates are astronomical estimates and may shift by a day. Eid al-Adha, the other major holiday, falls about ten weeks after the end of Ramadan — around mid-May in 2027.

What changes for visitors

Fasting is for Muslims, not for visitors. From dawn to sunset, Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke. Nobody expects tourists to fast, and hotels, riads and tourist restaurants keep serving food during the day.

Eat and drink discreetly in the daytime. Eating, drinking or smoking in the street during fasting hours is considered disrespectful — and for Moroccan Muslims it is an offence. Have lunch inside a restaurant or in your riad, and keep your water bottle in your bag.

Many local cafés and snack bars close during the day and open again just before sunset. Restaurants in the medinas often serve a reduced menu at lunchtime.

Opening hours are shorter. Monuments, museums, banks, shops and administrations usually open later and close earlier, often by mid-afternoon. Check opening times locally and plan your main visits for the morning.

The clock changes. Morocco normally runs on GMT+1, but it switches back to GMT for the month of Ramadan. Check that your phone has updated, and double-check flight, train and tour times around the start and end of the month.

Alcohol is harder to find. Many supermarkets close their alcohol sections for the month, and some bars close. Licensed hotels usually continue to serve guests.

The best part: the evenings

At sunset the call to prayer signals ftour, the meal that breaks the fast. The streets empty for half an hour as families sit down to harira soup, dates, chebakia (honey pastries), eggs, bread and coffee or juice. Then the cities come alive: squares fill up, shops reopen, and people stay out late.

• Many riads and restaurants offer a ftour menu — a good way to taste traditional Ramadan dishes.
• If you are invited to share ftour with a family, accept: it is a generous gesture. Bring pastries or dates from a good bakery.
• Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech and the medina streets of Fez are especially lively after dark.
• The 27th night of Ramadan (Laylat al-Qadr) is particularly important; mosques are full and the atmosphere is intense.

Transport and bookings

• Taxis and drivers are scarce in the half-hour before and after sunset. Avoid planning transfers at that time.
• Long drives in the afternoon can be tiring for fasting drivers. Good tour companies plan shorter driving days and earlier starts.
• Trains and buses run as usual, with some timetable changes.
• Eid al-Fitr, the holiday at the end of Ramadan, is when the whole country travels to see family. Trains and buses fill up days in advance, and many shops and restaurants close for one to three days. Book your transport early, or stay put for the holiday.

Should you travel during Ramadan?

Good reasons to go: fewer tourists at the main sights, often lower prices, warm evenings with a unique atmosphere, and a real insight into Moroccan family life.

Reasons to choose another date: if you have only a few days and want long opening hours, or if your trip depends on a lot of driving and hard-to-change bookings around Eid.

In 2027, Ramadan falls in February and early March, a pleasant time of year with mild days in Marrakech and the south. Desert nights are cold, so pack warm layers. See our guide to when to visit Morocco.

Etiquette checklist

1. Don't eat, drink or smoke in public during the day.
2. Dress a little more modestly than usual, especially in medinas and villages.
3. Be patient: people who are fasting may be tired in the afternoon.
4. Don't photograph people eating ftour without asking.
5. Greet people with Ramadan mubarak or Ramadan karim.

Related guides: safety and etiquette, useful phrases, transport and Moroccan food.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists eat during Ramadan in Morocco?

Yes. Visitors are not expected to fast, and hotels, riads and tourist restaurants serve food during the day. Eat and drink indoors or discreetly rather than in the street.

Are tourist sites open during Ramadan?

Yes, but usually with shorter hours. Monuments and museums often open later and close earlier, so plan your main visits for the morning.

Does Morocco change its clocks during Ramadan?

Yes. Morocco normally uses GMT+1, but it returns to GMT for the month of Ramadan. Check the time on your phone and your bookings at the start and end of the month.

When is Ramadan 2027 in Morocco?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and end around 9 March, followed by Eid al-Fitr. The exact dates are confirmed by the Moroccan authorities after the moon has been sighted.

This guide was last reviewed in October 2026. Entry rules, opening hours, transport timetables and prices change; check official sources shortly before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.