The Truth About Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
Morocco is a breathtaking country with lots of culture, architecture, and food to experience. However, you may be worried about experiencing the food aspect of their culture if you plan to visit during Ramadan.
Speaking from personal experience, there are numerous pros and cons of visiting Morocco during Ramadan. Below I’m outlining my experience of visiting Morocco during Ramadan, best tips and tricks as a tourist, and the pros and cons of traveling to Morocco during this timeframe.
First, a little about Ramadan…
Ramadan is an Islamic holiday that is celebrated for 30 days each year. There isn’t a fix date/time of year that it is celebrated, as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar pattern. View this Ramadan calendar to see the timeframe for the next 10 years.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and avoid all food, water, juices, etc. Eating is only permitted when the sun goes down up until the sun rises again the next morning.
Muslims spend this month reflecting on their blessings and experiencing the suffering of those who are less fortunate.
Foreigners Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
There are probably numerous questions running through your mind as you read about Ramadan… Will I have to practice Ramadan as a foreigner? Will restaurants be closed during the day? Is it frowned upon if I eat and drink during the day?
The short answer – Ramadan won’t drastically change your trip. Yes, some restaurants and shops may be closed or have strange hours, but you’ll still be able to find food for lunch, eat in public, enjoy the local cuisine, and more. Below I’m going to break down a standard day in Morocco during Ramadan.
Morning During Ramadan
Many Moroccans will have a slow start to the day. Why is this? They typically wake up around 4AM for their final meal before their fast. After eating and praying, they tend to go back to bed and rest for the first few hours of the day.
As a tourist, this means that some shops may open a little later than normal, the markets may feel quieter in the morning, and restaurant choices may feel limited.
You’ll still be able to find coffee shops and touristy cafes open to serve you breakfast in the morning.
Instead of being frustrated by the delayed start, enjoy the quiet mornings and explore without too much traffic or distraction. I found it to be a perfect opportunity to take pictures without too many people in the background!
Afternoon During Ramadan
My biggest fear when visiting Morocco during Ramadan was this question: Will I be able to eat lunch?! I was worried that since lunchtime is smackdab in the middle of the fast, all places would be closed.
However, this is far from the truth. Almost all touristy cities (Marrakesh, Fez, Chefchaeoun, etc) had a variety of restaurants open and available for tourists to enjoy.
There was only one day during my 10 day trip where I struggled to find somewhere to eat. This resulted in me having Pizza Hut for lunch (as fast food chains are almost guaranteed to stay open during this time). My other option would’ve been going to one of the grocery stores for a sandwich and chips.
Evening During Ramadan
You’re probably thinking “the fast is over in the evening, everything should go back to normal” — wrong!
Since all Muslims break their fast as the sun goes down (around 6-7PM), you’ll notice all shops and restaurants will close abruptly to accommodate this. The streets feel like a ghost town for the first 30 minutes that the sun goes down as everyone is eating and celebrating with their families.
After 30 minutes to an hour, shops & restaurants will reopen their doors for tourists once again. I would plan on getting a small snack around 4PM and waiting until 8PM for your official dinner.
Later in the evening, you may hear lots of celebrating in the streets. The locals tend to stay awake late into the night since this is the only time they can eat and are now energized with food!
Pros & Cons of Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
Pros of Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
- Unique culture experience
- Added appreciation for the people and their devotion to their religion
- Less tourists visit during this time, making it more affordable
Cons of Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
- Weird hours of operation for restaurants and shops
- Closure of all nightclubs, bars, and liquor stores
- Tramdina – the idea that fasting people can be rude, short tempered, or violent (I personally didn’t experience this at all, but something to be mindful of during Ramadan)
Overall, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons to decide if visiting Morocco during Ramadan is worth it to you. My answer – it is absolutely worth it! This is a unique experience that you’ll only get once a year and doesn’t drastically affect your overall vacation.
Tips on Visiting Morocco During Ramadan
- Purchase lots of water the night before (to have on hand throughout the day, just in case)
- Stock up on snacks from convenience stores at night
- Stick to the touristy areas for breakfast & lunch
- Alcohol is almost impossible to find as it is incredibly frowned upon during Ramadan – your best chance of getting alcohol is in riads, hotels, or “touristy” restaurants
- Be respectful – don’t blatantly eat food in front of locals during the day
- After the month of Ramadan, locals celebrate Eid al-Fitr (comparable to Western Christmas) – expect even more limited availability this day as locals will spend time with family
- Modesty is important in Morocco, but even more so during Ramadan
There you have it on all the best tips on visiting Morocco during Ramadan! If you have other questions about the experience, please feel free to drop them in the comments below!
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I would most definitely want to visit Morocco during Ramadan, it would be so much better, right? I mean witnessing the beautiful culture is such a rich experience in itself.
I accidentally visited Morocco during Ramadan and agree with your observations.
This is such a helpful guide for planning a trip to Morrocco. It’s good to know that visiting during Ramadam is not too difficult and of course what to do and not to do. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!
I would love to visit Marocco during Ramadan (or for Eid) and outside of Ramadan. It’s always interesting to see the dynamic of a city during the festive period.
This is such a helpful guide to know what to expect if you visit Morocco during Ramadan. Thanks for writing such an informative post. Morocco is definitely on my list to visit.