TRAVELING MOROCCO IN RAMADAN.
During Ramadan in Morocco, things are different for travelers. The usual way of life takes a break. Traveling in Morocco during Ramadan can turn into a special holiday experience.
Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, many nearby cafes and restaurants close, but places for tourists stay open as usual. You can still go on tours, use transfers, and have guides, so no worries about getting stuck in your hotel. Buses and trains run in local and intercity areas.
In smaller Moroccan cities, local cafes and restaurants might only open in the evening. Plan your lunch ahead, and local drivers usually know where tourists can eat during Ramadan. Avoid eating or snacking in public during the day, and try not to smoke outside. You can do these things at home, in restaurants, or hotels. Drinking water in the city is fine, and no one will find it strange.
If you’re on a tour, avoid offering snacks or water during the day. I once traveled with tourists during Ramadan, and they ate ice cream in front of the driver, not realizing it was Ramadan and quite hot at around +40 degrees Celsius.
An important part of Ramadan is the iftar breakfast at sunset. Muslims gather to eat, so if you’re at a cafe, you might have to wait for the staff to finish their meals first. Tour drivers aim to reach places before iftar starts.
During Ramadan, only foreigners/non-Muslims can buy alcohol, and you need to show your passport at liquor stores. Muslims are not allowed in bars during this time, leading to many local bars closing for the month.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar. It’s special because it’s when the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, it’s a month of fasting, which means no eating, drinking, being intimate, or smoking from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is a big part of Islam, one of its five important practices, helping Muslims appreciate what God has given them.
In Ramadan, people focus on spiritual things like praying more, helping those in need, thinking about their lives, and getting closer to Allah. Fasting is a way to show Muslims what it’s like to be poor in a world where not everyone has enough to eat.
Children under 16, nursing mothers, pregnant women, the sick, those menstruating, hardworking Muslims struggling to support their families, and travelers aren’t required to fast during Ramadan. If someone has a good reason to eat during Ramadan, they can make up for it by fasting after Ramadan ends. This way, they can still observe the fasting practice in a way that fits their circumstances.
