---
title: "What to Expect During Ramadan in Morocco 2026"
description: "Ramadan 2026 in Morocco ran 19 February to 19 March (29 days), Eid on 20 March. Clock change, opening hours, food, etiquette and expected 2027 dates."
image: "https://rentaphone.ma/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pocket-wifi-in-Morocco.jpg"
dateModified: "2026-11-03"
---

Source: https://rentaphone.ma/en/what-to-expect-during-ramadan-in-morocco-2026/
Date: 2026-01-30
Updated: 2026-11-03
Language: en

- Blog

- Ramadan in Morocco

# What to Expect During Ramadan in Morocco: Complete Visitor’s Guide

Updated on 2 October 2026 · 9 min read

In Morocco, Ramadan 2026 began on Thursday 19 February and ended on Thursday 19 March: 29 days of fasting, followed by Eid al-Fitr on Friday 20 March. This guide sums up what happened in 2026, what is already known about Ramadan 2027, and what actually changes for a visitor: the clock, opening hours, meals, sightseeing and local etiquette.

The essentials

- Ramadan 2026 in Morocco: Thursday 19 February to Thursday 19 March 2026, 29 days; Eid al-Fitr on Friday 20 March (Ministry of Habous).

- Morocco switched to GMT on 15 February 2026 and back to GMT+1 on 22 March 2026.

- Ramadan 2027: expected to start around 8 or 9 February 2027 according to astronomical calculations, subject to moon sighting.

- Non-Muslim visitors are not expected to fast; eating and drinking discreetly during the day is enough.

- Public offices work 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; banks, sights and shops also shorten their hours.

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In this article

- Ramadan 2026 in Morocco: official dates and number of days

- Ramadan 2027: what we already know

- The clock change during Ramadan

- A typical day during Ramadan

- Opening hours: public offices, banks, sights and shops

- Eating, drinking and dressing: what is expected of visitors

- Travelling during Ramadan: who will enjoy it

- The iftar table: what to try

- Marrakech during Ramadan

- Staying connected during your trip

- Frequently asked questions about Ramadan in Morocco

## Ramadan 2026 in Morocco: official dates and number of days

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In Morocco, its start and end are not fixed in advance: the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs announces them after the crescent moon has been sighted on the evening of the 29th day of the previous month, known as the “night of doubt”.

In 2026, the crescent was sighted on the evening of Wednesday 18 February (29 Sha’ban 1447), so the first day of fasting was Thursday 19 February 2026. On the evening of Thursday 19 March (29 Ramadan), the Shawwal crescent was sighted in turn, and Eid al-Fitr was celebrated on Friday 20 March 2026, as announced by the ministry and reported by the MAP news agency.

Ramadan 2026 therefore lasted 29 days in Morocco. A lunar month always has 29 or 30 days, and which one is only known on the night of doubt. The forecasts published before February (start around 18 February, end around 19 March) turned out to be one day off.

A one-day gap with other countries is common. In 2026, Saudi Arabia started on Wednesday 18 February (Saudi Royal Court announcement), while Morocco, which requires a sighting from its own territory, started the following day. That is why online calendars sometimes disagree.

## Ramadan 2027: what we already know

Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, because the lunar year is shorter. Astronomical calculations published in 2026 put the start of Ramadan 1448 around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March 2027.

As in 2026, Morocco may start one day later than these calculations: expect a first day of fasting on 8 or 9 February 2027 and Eid between 9 and 11 March. The official date will only be known on the evening of 29 Sha’ban 1448, once the Ministry of Habous makes its announcement. If you book a trip around those dates, keep a day of slack for sightseeing and restaurant bookings.

## The clock change during Ramadan

From 2018 until 20 September 2026, Morocco stayed on GMT+1 all year round, except during Ramadan, when it went back to GMT so that the wait for iftar (the meal that breaks the fast) ended earlier in the evening. Since 20 September 2026 Morocco has been on GMT all year.

In 2026, according to the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, clocks went back one hour on Sunday 15 February at 3 a.m. and forward again on Sunday 22 March at 2 a.m. During that period Morocco was on the same time as the UK and Ireland, and one hour behind Paris or Madrid.

- Flight tickets always show local time: a flight landing during Ramadan lands on GMT.

- Smartphones usually update automatically, but check the time on the day of the change if you have an early transfer or tour.

- For 2027, the ministry will announce the change a few days before Ramadan starts.

## A typical day during Ramadan

The day follows the fast, from dawn (fajr prayer) to sunset (maghrib prayer). In Marrakech, 2026 prayer calendars gave a fasting start around 5:40 a.m. on 19 February and around 5:10 a.m. on 19 March, and iftar around 6:20 p.m. at the start of the month and 6:45 p.m. at the end (GMT). The fast lasted roughly 12 hours 40 minutes to 13 hours 30 minutes.

- Mornings are calm and fairly empty: the best time for sightseeing.

- Afternoons slow down. About an hour before iftar, traffic gets heavy, then streets empty at once when the call to prayer sounds.

- After iftar, cities come back to life: busy cafés, families out walking, souks lively until late.

- Before dawn, families eat suhoor, a last light meal.

For visitors, late afternoon is the hardest slot: few taxis, restaurants busy preparing, crowded roads. Plan your journeys before 4:30 p.m. or after iftar.

## Opening hours: public offices, banks, sights and shops

Public offices. For Ramadan 2026, the Ministry of Digital Transition set continuous working hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, in government offices, public bodies and local authorities.

Banks. Branches also switch to shorter continuous hours, which vary by bank and branch. Check your branch on the bank’s website. ATMs work as usual.

Monuments, museums and gardens. Many close earlier during Ramadan, and the hours change from year to year. Check the venue’s official website or ask your accommodation the day before.

Restaurants and cafés. In the tourist areas of Marrakech, Fes or Essaouira, some restaurants keep serving during the day, especially hotel restaurants. In small towns and villages, most local eateries close until iftar. In the evening, many restaurants offer an iftar menu followed by a later dinner service.

After Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday: offices and many shops close, and families travel. Transport is in high demand in the days before.

## Eating, drinking and dressing: what is expected of visitors

Non-Muslim tourists are not required to fast. Article 222 of the Moroccan Penal Code punishes “ostentatiously” breaking the fast in public, but it targets people “publicly known” to be Muslim. For foreign visitors, it is mainly a matter of respect:

- Eat, drink and smoke indoors where possible: restaurant, hotel, riad. A discreet sip of water in the street is generally fine.

- Wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees, especially in medinas and outside the big cities.

- Avoid public displays of affection and keep your voice down near mosques.

- Be patient late in the day: people who are fasting are tired, and everyone is rushing home.

Being invited to iftar at someone’s home is common. Accepting honours your host; bringing pastries or dates is appreciated.

## Travelling during Ramadan: who will enjoy it

What visitors enjoy: the lively evenings after iftar, the hospitality, Ramadan food, and quieter mornings at the main sights.

What takes planning: shorter opening hours, fewer lunch options outside tourist areas, difficult transport in late afternoon, and a day of uncertainty over the date of Eid.

If you travel with children or have a tight schedule (desert tour, daily excursions), tell your agency or driver in advance: guides and drivers who fast often adjust their hours. For a relaxed stay in a riad or hotel, Ramadan changes little day to day.

## The iftar table: what to try

The fast is traditionally broken with dates and water or milk, then comes the iftar table, both sweet and savoury:

- Harira, a tomato, lentil and chickpea soup, often with a little meat: the signature Ramadan dish.

- Chebakia, flower-shaped fried pastries coated in honey and sesame.

- Sellou (or sfouf), a mix of toasted flour, almonds, sesame and butter.

- Msemen and baghrir, layered or “thousand-hole” pancakes served with honey and butter.

- Hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit juice, coffee and mint tea.

Many hotels and restaurants in Marrakech offer an iftar menu to non-fasting guests: the easiest way to try it. Book ahead, as tables go fast.

## Marrakech during Ramadan

Marrakech is the easiest city for a first trip during Ramadan: there is a wide choice of hotels and restaurants, and the city stays up late. A few tips:

- Visit palaces, madrasas and gardens in the morning, and check closing times the day before.

- On Jemaa el-Fna square, the action resumes after iftar and goes on late into the night.

- The maghrib call to prayer from the Koutoubia marks iftar: the city freezes for a few minutes.

- For a day trip to the Atlas or Essaouira, leave early so you are back before late afternoon.

## Staying connected during your trip

During Ramadan, timings shift every day. Having internet at all times genuinely helps: iftar time in a prayer app, restaurants open nearby, messages with your riad or driver, directions to get back before late afternoon.

There are three options. If you travel alone with a recent phone, a local SIM or eSIM is often the cheapest (according to its page as seen in August 2026, Maroc Telecom sells a visitor eSIM at about €11 for 20 GB over 30 days; a passport is required for a prepaid SIM). Your home operator’s roaming is simple but expensive. And if you are several people or carry several devices, a pocket Wi-Fi router shares one connection.

Rent A Phone rents this kind of router in Marrakech: a TP-Link 4G device on the Maroc Telecom network (which says it covers 99% of the population with 4G), unlimited data, up to 10 connected devices and up to 8 hours of battery. Speed is up to 150 Mbps in theory; in practice, Opensignal measured a typical download speed of 27.5 Mbps on Maroc Telecom in Q1 2026. It is 4G, not 5G.

Rental costs €4.90 per day (2-day minimum), paid online in euros. The router is delivered free to your hotel, riad, Airbnb or wherever you’re staying in Marrakech, and collected from there at the end of your stay. A €50 deposit is held on your card, not charged, and released on return. You can take it on day trips anywhere Maroc Telecom’s 4G reaches. Book a pocket Wi-Fi router.

To prepare the rest of your trip: how to dress in Morocco and getting online as soon as you land.

## Frequently asked questions about Ramadan in Morocco

Read next

- How to dress in Morocco as a tourist

- Getting online the moment you land in Morocco

- Is Morocco safe for tourists?

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## FAQ

**When was Ramadan 2026 in Morocco?**
Ramadan 2026 ran from Thursday 19 February to Thursday 19 March 2026 in Morocco, 29 days in total. Eid al-Fitr was celebrated on Friday 20 March after the Shawwal crescent was sighted on the evening of the 19th.

**When does Ramadan 2027 start in Morocco?**
Astronomical calculations put the start of Ramadan 2027 around 8 February, and Morocco sometimes begins a day later. The official date will be announced by the Ministry of Habous on the night of doubt, after the crescent has been sighted.

**Does Morocco change its clocks during Ramadan?**
Yes. Until 2026, Morocco left GMT+1 and went back to GMT for Ramadan. In 2026 the switch took place on Sunday 15 February at 3 a.m., and the return to GMT+1 on Sunday 22 March at 2 a.m.

**Do tourists have to fast or hide to eat during Ramadan?**
No, non-Muslim visitors do not have to fast. Out of respect, eat, drink and smoke indoors during the day where possible, and dress modestly in the medinas.

**Are restaurants open during the day in Marrakech during Ramadan?**
Some are, mainly in tourist areas and in hotels. Many local eateries close until iftar and reopen in the evening, often with an iftar menu, so plan lunch in advance.

**Can I rent a pocket Wi-Fi in Marrakech during Ramadan?**
Yes. Rent A Phone delivers its 4G routers free to your hotel, riad or Airbnb in Marrakech for €4.90 per day (2-day minimum), with unlimited data and up to 10 devices. Customer service answers 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in French and English.


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