Travelling to Morocco During Eid: Dates, Closures and Advice
Morocco marks two major religious holidays: Eid al-Fitr, which ends Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha (Eid el-Kebir), the feast of the sacrifice. Both are national public holidays, but from a traveller's point of view they are nothing alike. One is festive and barely disruptive; the other triggers the largest internal exodus of the year and shuts down part of the country for three days.
Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan) is festive and easy on visitors: a joyful mood, pastries, families in their best clothes, and cafés and restaurants that reopen quickly during the day. Eid al-Adha is far more disruptive: souks, workshops and neighbourhood restaurants close, taxis become scarce, public and intercity transport is saturated before and after because of the internal exodus, and historical sites run by the Ministry of Culture close on Eid days. In 2026, Eid al-Fitr fell on 20 March and Eid al-Adha on 27 May; for 2027, Eid al-Fitr is expected around 10 March and Eid al-Adha around 16–17 May — dates to confirm, since the Islamic calendar moves about 11 days earlier each year and Morocco sights the crescent moon itself, sometimes a day apart from Saudi Arabia.
Eid dates in Morocco
| Holiday | 2026 (past) | 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) | 20 March 2026 | ~10 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha (feast of the sacrifice) | 27 May 2026 | ~16–17 May 2027 |
The 2026 dates are the ones officially observed: Eid al-Adha 2026 was announced by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs for Wednesday 27 May 2026. The 2027 dates remain provisional until the official announcement is made.
Two details that prevent nasty surprises: the Islamic calendar is lunar, so Eid moves about 11 days earlier each year against the Gregorian calendar; and Morocco sights the crescent itself rather than following Saudi Arabia, which sometimes shifts its date by one day compared with Gulf announcements. Never book a non-refundable flight around an assumed Eid date.
Eid al-Fitr: the light one
Eid al-Fitr closes a month of fasting. The atmosphere is joyful and highly visible: new clothes, pastries offered to guests, family visits, mosques full at dawn. For a visitor, disruption is moderate — most things close on the first day, then life resumes quickly.
It is actually a good moment to be in Morocco if you enjoy a festive atmosphere. After a month of Ramadan and its shifted timings (see our guide on travelling during Ramadan), cafés and restaurants reopen normally during the day and cities return to their usual rhythm.
Eid al-Adha: what actually closes
Eid al-Adha is on another scale. It is the feast of the sacrifice, celebrated at home, and it literally empties cities of residents heading back to their home towns.
In practice, over the two to three days of the holiday:
- Souks, craft workshops and neighbourhood shops close completely.
- Local restaurants close — families eat at home. Tourist and hotel restaurants generally stay open.
- Historical sites run by the Ministry of Culture close on Eid days (as they do on 1 January and 1 May).
- Some public transport services are suspended during the holiday.
- Taxis become scarce just as demand spikes.
The real problem: transport
This is where Eid al-Adha gets hardest. Millions of Moroccans return to their home cities, then travel back. The result: clogged motorways, fully booked trains and buses, especially in the days immediately before and after the holiday.
If your trip overlaps Eid al-Adha, book long-distance journeys as soon as they go on sale — see trains in Morocco (ONCF and Al Boraq) and our transport in Morocco guide. And avoid scheduling an intercity trip on the day of the holiday or the day after.
Preparing a trip that falls during Eid
How to prepare a Morocco trip that overlaps Eid: 5 steps
Worth doing as soon as your dates come close to an Eid, especially Eid al-Adha.
- Check the official date as late as possibleDates circulate months ahead, but only the Ministry of Habous announcement is authoritative, a few days before. Treat any earlier date as an estimate and keep flexibility on tickets.
- Pick one city and stay thereRather than moving between stops during the holiday, settle in a single city — ideally a tourist destination (Marrakech, Agadir, Fes, Tangier), where more services stay open.
- Book long-distance travel well aheadTrains and buses fill before anything else in the days around Eid al-Adha. Book as soon as sales open and avoid travelling on the day of the holiday or the day after.
- Confirm meals with your accommodationAsk your hotel or riad explicitly whether meals are served during Eid. If not, identify hotel restaurants open near you in advance.
- Shop the day beforeWater, fruit, bread, snacks: neighbourhood shops close and mini-markets are mobbed the day before. A small reserve keeps you from depending entirely on the few open addresses.
Should you visit Morocco during Eid?
- You want the cultural atmosphere: yes, without hesitation, especially for Eid al-Fitr. It is a moment of intense hospitality, and one of the rare times you see the country living at its family rhythm.
- You have a packed itinerary, several cities in a few days: avoid Eid al-Adha. You will lose time to transport and find many doors closed.
- You are travelling with children or dietary constraints: favour a tourist city and accommodation that serves meals.
- You are sensitive to the sight of animal slaughter: be aware that Eid al-Adha involves a ritual sacrifice, visible in streets and courtyards. It is not hidden, and some visitors find it difficult.
To plan your dates around something other than the religious calendar, see the best time to visit Morocco, Morocco in March and in May.
Booking around Eid
Accommodation is the thing to secure first: domestic demand climbs and the best places go early, including in cities that are not classic tourist destinations.
Places to stay in Marrakech around Eid· Booking.com
Hotels in Casablanca and along the coast· Booking.com
For activities, aim for the days before or after the holiday rather than the day itself: many excursions run at reduced pace during Eid al-Adha, and guides are with their families too.
Tours and activities in Morocco· GetYourGuide
FAQ — Eid in Morocco
What are the Eid 2027 dates in Morocco?
What is the difference between Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha?
What closes in Morocco during Eid?
Does transport run during Eid al-Adha?
Is it a good idea to visit Morocco during Eid?
Why does the Eid date in Morocco sometimes differ from other countries?
In short
Do not lump the two Eids together. Eid al-Fitr is a fine time to be in Morocco, with minimal inconvenience. Eid al-Adha needs planning: one city, transport booked early, accommodation that serves meals and a few supplies. And in both cases, treat any date announced in advance as an estimate until the official announcement.
