Ramadan in Morocco

If you are visiting Morocco during Ramadan, you will experience distinctive aspects of the culture that are only apparent once a year. Muslims fast from all food and water from dawn until sunset.

When it is time to break the fast you will hear the evening call to prayer, which is announced through a loudspeaker. After a long day fasting, the prayer excites many Muslims as they enjoy iftar (the breaking of the fast) with their family and friends.

After iftar, you will witness rows upon rows of people praying at mosques for the evening prayer, followed by a special prayer that is only recited during Ramadan. Around 11 p.m. or midnight dinner is served.

If you are visiting during the spiritual month of Ramadan, it is impossible not to connect with the unique local foods and traditions.

As days become nights and nights become days, adjusting to the time and eating schedule might be challenging, so you may need a good measure of patience.

Everyone stays up late, and the following day do not expect to find anything open before 10 a.m. as people will sleep in much later than usual.

You might come upon some shops and restaurants that are not open at all during the day. Also, the majority of businesses (banks, supermarkets, and more) will have different store hours, closing early so that the workers can make it home in time for iftar.

Another thing to keep in mind when visiting is that monuments, historical sites, museums, and other tourist attractions might adjust their hours and will most likely close early.

Around 5:30-6:30 p.m., you will find a fast-paced crowd hurrying to prepare for iftar. Everything is quiet by 7:30 p.m. when family and friends are gathering to eat iftar. Then, at 9:30 p.m. restaurants, cafes, and local vendors in the medina (old walled city) begin to open again. Business booms as everyone take a stroll through the medina to shop and to walk off all the food they ate during iftar.
Most importantly, you should be aware of the time change. While Morocco adopts Daylight Saving Time in the spring, the country moves back to the standard time just before Ramadan, so the time changes back to Greenwich Mean Time.

After the iftar, you will witness rows upon rows of people praying at mosques for the evening prayer, followed by a special prayer that is only recited during Ramadan. Around 11 p.m. or midnight dinner is served.

If you are visiting during the spiritual month of Ramadan, it is impossible not to connect with the unique local foods and traditions.

The answer is no. There are a few restaurants and cafes that remain open during the day and expect to serve non-fasting tourists or foreign residents.

It is forbidden for Moroccans to eat and drink in public, unless they have special conditions where they do not need to fast, such as an illness or pregnancy. The rules do not apply to visitors or non-Muslims; however, everyone fasting will greatly appreciate it if you avoid eating in public.

You may consider eating inside a restaurant or wherever you are staying (hotel, Airbnb, host family, etc).

Everyone visiting Morocco during Ramadan should experience a traditional Moroccan iftar, which consists of spiced harira soup, Moroccan brochettes, hard-boiled eggs, dates, sweet pastries, batbout (bread), and fresh-squeezed juices.

Being invited to someone’s house for iftar is ideal because you will experience a traditional iftar with family and friends celebrating an exciting holy month.

Do not worry if you cannot attend iftar at someone’s house. Many restaurants and hotels offer traditional, authentic iftar meals, which will still make a wonderful experience.

During the evening, make sure to stroll by a mosque and witness hundreds of Muslims worshipping together as it is truly a memorable experience. One mosque that you might want to visit is the largest mosque in Morocco, the Hassan II Mosque located in Casablanca.

Lastly, interact with Moroccans you encounter and ask them questions about Ramadan and learn what this holiday means to them.

Ramadan might present challenges to tourists visiting Morocco, but it is also an eye-opening cultural experience that you will not discover elsewhere.

This feature is part of an exclusive series at Morocco World News for Ramadan. Also in the series is:

Muslims believe that in A.D. 610, the angel Gabriel appeared to Prophet Muhammad and revealed to him the Quran, the Islamic holy book. That revelation, Laylat Al-Qadar—or the “Night of Power”—is believed to have occurred during Ramadan. Muslims fast during that month as a way to commemorate the revelation of the Quran.

Your body becomes more energetic and you experience improved memory and concentration. At this stage, the organs are finishing up their healing process, and once all toxins are removed the body is able to function at its maximum capacity.

During the holy month of Ramadan, which occurs on the ninth month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar, all Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk for 30 days. … After sundown, Muslims break their fast with iftar, a meal which usually starts with dates and water or milk, followed by dinner.

The good sides of being in Morocco during Ramadan:

The first reason to visit Morocco during Ramadan is that you’ll have the chance to see an event that only happens for one month every year. You’ll get to see a very important part of the Moroccan culture and witness an event that is sacred to Muslims.

The good sides of being in Morocco during Ramadan:

The first reason to visit Morocco during Ramadan is that you’ll have the chance to see an event that only happens for one month every year. You’ll get to see a very important part of the Moroccan culture and witness an event that is sacred to Muslims.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, involves abstaining from food, drink, sexual relations, smoking, and other activities between sunrise and sunset. Its conclusion is marked by Eid al-Fitr, one of the two major Islamic holidays; the other is Eid al-Adha (aka Eid al-Kabir).

The simple answer is: No. There’s no need for you to fast while visiting Morocco during Ramadan. Restaurants, cafes, and other eating establishments will mostly remain open, particularly in tourist hubs such as Marrakesh and Fez. No one expects tourists to fast.