A passion for travel leads people to choose destinations that send them home with a suitcase full of experiences. Filling your phone’s gallery with photos of tourist sights isn’t what matters to every kind of traveler, especially those who want to experience the life and local culture of the countries they visit.
Most travelers who choose Morocco for their vacation feel the same way, including those who book a tour during a particularly meaningful time for Moroccans and for Muslims in general.
I’m talking about the month of Ramadan, which in 2025 began on March 1 and ended around March 30–31 (in 2027 it’s expected to start around February 8). The dates change every year because the Islamic calendar is different from ours: it’s based on the lunar cycle.
Visiting a Muslim country during the month of Ramadan makes for a truly intense and evocative trip, because it’s an experience to have in Morocco that lets tourists, too, step into the holiest month of the year. Watching the spiritual discipline with which Muslims live this period is truly impressive, but you’ll also be amazed by the festive atmosphere from sunset to dawn. Families get together, people pour into the streets to celebrate, everything is decorated and meals are shared late into the night.
If you want to make your trip even more fascinating, don’t miss the chance to plan a trip to Morocco during Ramadan, although personally I recommend it more to people who have already been to Morocco than to first-time visitors.
Of course, a few tips will help you take part in these important, sacred and religious moments of Muslim tradition, bearing in mind that for tourists, in many cases, there won’t be any major differences in how their trip unfolds. But be aware that it also varies from city to city: Fez is much more conservative than Marrakech, so you’ll notice the difference more there. Keep in mind, too, that many monuments will have shorter opening hours, and guides and drivers will be more tired and less available.
Going to Morocco during Ramadan: what you need to know
Almost everyone knows that during Ramadan, practicing Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for a month. Not everyone knows why, though. This is the holiest month because Islamic tradition holds that God revealed the first verses of the Quran during the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. So for Muslims, Ramadan is a month of spiritual renewal.
Besides abstaining from food, drink, smoking and sexual relations during daylight hours, Muslims devote themselves to charity, take part in extra prayers beyond the usual ones, spend more time with family, read a lot and listen to Quran recitations.
The Ramadan fast ends after the sunset prayer, called Maghrib, with Iftar, a small meal at sunset marking the end of the day’s fast. Another important meal is Suhoor, eaten before dawn, around 5 a.m., to mark the start of the next day of fasting.
With Iftar the celebration begins. Family and friends gather in homes and restaurants to share this meal in a joyful, social atmosphere. People eat everything, savory and sweet, all prepared according to local traditions. Restaurants make special dishes just for Ramadan, and some mosques even offer free meals to celebrate the breaking of the fast.
But the most important celebration is the one marking the end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr, one of the happiest holidays of the year for Muslims, lasting three days. If you’re in Morocco or any other Muslim country during those days, you’ll feel a sense of celebration, harmony, peace and happiness that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world. On these days, though, especially the first, you’ll find everything closed, from attractions to shops. Many shops and restaurants close for 3 days.
Morocco and Ramadan: what changes for tourists?
So in this setting, so strict during the day and so festive in the evening, what changes for tourists? Not much. Morocco lives on international tourism, so there’s no shortage of restaurants, hotels and cafés where you can have lunch during the day. You might not find the street food stalls open, as they usually close during the fast and reopen 2–3 hours before Iftar.
If you’re traveling with kids during Ramadan, they’ll be served food and drinks as usual, because Muslim children aren’t required to fast.
Non-Muslim adult travelers aren’t required to fast either, although it would certainly be respectful to follow a few good-guest habits in such a welcoming country. Also keep in mind that, because of fasting, thirst and little sleep, Muslims might be a bit on edge, so be patient and understanding with locals and avoid behavior that might irritate them. But that’s a “rule” that applies in any country with a culture different from your own.
Try to avoid chewing gum or smoking in public, as these are forbidden by the rules of the fast (not for tourists, but it’s a sign of respect). I also recommend avoiding travel around Iftar time, because you’ll find heavy traffic, as everyone is heading off to feast with their families.
My other tips on behavior are the same ones I give for any time of year or any trip to Morocco, so nothing changes whether it’s Ramadan or not: avoid public displays of affection and always dress respectfully.
At this point, all that’s left is to head out, stay out late and enjoy the festive atmosphere of Moroccan nights during Ramadan.
Lisa
