5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MARRAKECH DURING RAMADAN IN 2025
We often get asked how daily life changes during the holy month. Here’s a rundown of what to expect
There’s a magical moment every evening at sunset during Ramadan when traffic stills and streets empty as Marrakchis prepare to break their fast. Then, as the sun sets, a canon is sounded and in homes all over the city, families gather to eat f’tour (the meal that breaks the fast). Venture out now – no cars, no people, barely even a cat – and you’ll experience Marrakech as if it’s stopped in time.
Within an hour or so, the city is alive once again and Ramadan nights are truly memorable. Life goes on long into the small hours, evening prayers lengthen, crowds gather around the Koutoubia mosque and a festive atmosphere begins to fill the city as Eid approaches.
Ramadan this year is due to run February 28th to March 30th but might start a day before or after in Morocco depending on the moon cycle. The clocks here also go back one hour during the holy month and the souk is a little quieter during the mornings.
One thing’s for sure, Ramadan is actually a really special time to visit Marrakech and while there are a few changes to how the day is structured, life goes on as normal here. Don’t forget, Ramadan is all about giving, and there are lots of associations doing great things. Please ask at the front desk if you’d like a way to be more involved.
Here’s all you need to know about Ramadan in Marrakech.
- Marrakech is such a popular destination that 80% of businesses operate normally. Some restaurants start dinner service a little bit later than usual, nearly all continue to serve alcohol, and activities and travel services are the same as at any other time of year. Here at El Fenn, the only change is that we serve dinner half an hour later at 7.30pm to give our staff time to gather and eat. Otherwise, we serve food and drinks as normal throughout the day.
- At about 8pm people start coming out again for the evening prayer called Tarawih. This is the most famous, and probably the most important moment of Ramadan. While foreign tourists can’t go into the mosques, the Koutoubia mosque is so busy that no cars are allowed to drive in the vicinity between 8pm and 10.30pm and many of the prayers end up happening outside. It’s quite wonderful to watch the ritual from one of the restaurants or cafes on the Jemma al Fna and get to see what a religious culture looks like. The prayer gets busier as the month passes so by the end of Ramadan it’s an amazing sight to see.
- Life in the souk starts a little later during Ramadan. Expect the mornings to be quiet and everything to shut up late in the afternoon in preparation for the breaking of the fast before opening again. But otherwise, the traders continue as normal.
- F’tour is essentially breakfast and we’d always advise our guests to experience it. We don’t serve F’tour at El Fenn, our normal dinner menu continues through Ramadan. But we love Café Clock, which combines feasting with various cultural activities such as traditional music or storytelling. Or go luxe at one of the city’s big five-star hotels.
- Ramadan is a holy month and so people are closely observing their faith. We’re often asked if it’s okay to eat and drink during the day and there’s no need to be hesitant. Moroccans are very tolerant and understanding. But… we’d always advise our guests to be mindful that it’s a holy month. So eat and drink in a cafe or restaurant but be mindful of wandering around the souk with a bottle of coke in the late afternoon for instance because it’s the hardest part of the day for those that are fasting. Or dress a bit more conservatively than you might normally by covering your shoulders and knees if you’re in the medina. It’s not that you’ll get in trouble. It’s more about being respectful of the culture around you.
El Fenn Rooftop Restaurant and Bar are open as normal during Ramadan and we serve alcohol to visitors.
