Travelling in Morocco during Ramadan: what to expect

Can you visit Morocco during Ramadan? Opening hours, restaurants, iftar, etiquette, time-zone change and tours: a practical guide for travellers.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is a special time to visit Morocco. Tours run, sites stay open and the evenings are some of the warmest and liveliest of the year. A few differences are worth knowing before you go.

When is Ramadan?

Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it moves about 11 days earlier each year, and its exact start depends on the sighting of the new moon. In 2027 it is expected to begin in early February, and in 2028 in late January. Check the confirmed dates when you plan your trip.

What changes during the day

• Most Moroccans fast from dawn to sunset: no food, no drink and no smoking.
• Many local cafés and restaurants close during the day, but places in tourist areas, hotels and riads keep serving visitors.
• Opening hours of shops, offices and some sites can be shorter, and the pace slows in the afternoon.
• Traffic gets busy in the hour before sunset, as everyone heads home to break the fast.
• Morocco moves its clocks back to GMT for the month of Ramadan, so check the time on your phone.

The magic of the evening

At sunset the call to prayer signals iftar, the meal that breaks the fast: dates, milk, harira soup, chebakia honey pastries and boiled eggs, followed later by a full dinner. Afterwards, the streets fill up again, families stroll in the medinas and squares, and Jemaa el-Fna stays lively late into the night. Many travellers say it is their favourite memory of the trip.

Etiquette for visitors

• As a courtesy, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street in front of people who are fasting; do it in your riad, a restaurant or the vehicle.
• Dress a little more modestly than usual, especially near mosques.
• Alcohol is harder to find during the month; some bars close and many shops stop selling it.
• If you are invited to share iftar, accept: it is a generous gesture and a wonderful experience.

Tours during Ramadan

Our private tours run normally. Your driver-guide may be fasting, so days are usually organised with an earlier start and a sensible finish, with time to stop for iftar on the road or at the hotel. Desert camps, guided visits and day trips operate as usual. A classic 3-day Merzouga tour or a guided visit of the Marrakech medina works perfectly during the month.

Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a national holiday of one or two days spent with family. Some shops and services close, and transport is busy as people travel home, so plan a quiet day or book transfers in advance.

Want to travel during Ramadan? Tell us your dates and we will adapt the programme to the rhythm of the month.