Last Updated on January 17, 2026 by Home in the World
So you’ve booked a trip, or are considering booking a trip, to the Islamic world, only to discover your travel dates happen to fall during the holy month of Ramadan. The first question to spring to mind will likely be: Is Ramadan a good time to visit an Islamic country? Read on to find out how it will affect your travels.
What is Ramadan?
For those who may not be aware, Ramadan is the ninth – and most sacred – month of the Muslim calendar. Its dates vary each year, usually occurring a couple of weeks earlier than the previous year, meaning that, over the course of decades, it ends up taking place at every time of year. For example, in 2026, the dates are 16 February to 18 March, depending on the sighting of the moon, and in 2027 they are expected to be 7 February to 8 March.
Its holiness is attributed to the fact that it was the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. As such, it is considered a time of reflection, prayer, community and – most notably – fasting during daylight hours.
Potential restrictions or service disruptions?
In 2019, I booked a trip to Jordan, only later realising it would fall smack-bang in the middle of Ramadan. I was unsure whether this would affect my travels in any way, given that the holy month is a time when everything is dialled back a notch. I wondered, for instance, if it was going to mean limited operating hours, a reduction in tourism service providers, restrictions in what was served at restaurants, and if I was still going to be able to experience the full vibe of the destination while it was in this lower-key phase.
I needn’t have worried. It was mentioned over the PA system on my Qatar Airways flights upon landing in both Doha and Amman, and there were definitely fewer people eating and drinking, but otherwise I would honestly never have known.
At my hotel at the Dead Sea, food and alcohol were available at all times on the hotel grounds, and tours to major attractions such as Petra and Jerash operated as normal. However, I would still always advise checking opening hours of restaurants, shops and other service providers, as these may be slightly reduced (or they may even be closed entirely) and you don’t want to get caught out.
In any case, Ramadan or not, whenever any of us visit a foreign country and step into another culture as outsiders, the onus is on us to respect these cultures and their laws and customs. What may seem ‘weird’ to us is only so because it’s something we’re not familiar with, not because it is inherently weird. So I would recommend that, even if you, as a non-Muslim, are eating or drinking (and sometimes also smoking) during daylight hours, perhaps to do so a little more discreetly if you happen to be around others who are fasting.
At the end of Ramadan is the 3-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which may also result in business closures due to public holiday hours, as well as congested roads, busy airports and fully-booked flights. It is worth bearing this in mind if your travels happen to coincide with the festivities.
An enriching, educational experience
To some non-Muslims, this notion of restrictions and abstinence may make Ramadan seem like some draconian, freedom-impinging torture. What about people who are sick? What about the elderly? How can you deprive people of water? Questions and misinformation abound. In actual fact, there are many provisions and exemptions for certain cases, and talking to locals gave me such fascinating and enlightening insights into the finer mechanisms of this holy practice.
On my daytime flight from Doha to Amman, for example, I got talking to a Jordanian lady who was travelling on her own with her toddler son. When she ordered food, I was a little surprised, as she was overtly Muslim and wearing a hijab. She explained that, because it was the ‘wrong time of the month’ for her, she was allowed to eat and could ‘make it up’ at the other end.
It was a similar story with our amazing tour guide, who drove us far and wide between the Dead Sea, Petra, Jerash and Amman. In his case, he was allowed to eat because, he told us, he was travelling long distances in a day. He explained that many exceptions could be made: for the elderly, for the infirm, for pregnant women etc. So it’s not just a blanket fasting rule imposed on everyone indiscriminately.
Perhaps my favourite memory of being in an Islamic country during Ramadan was our drive back from Petra. It was approaching sunset and therefore also iftar (the fast-breaking meal of the day), and men started appearing on the side of the road freely handing out little snack packs (water, juice & dates) to all the cars passing by.
Every passenger got one. This happened routinely throughout the 3-hour drive, and I just loved the community-minded philosophy behind it. It was a little nod to the mutual understanding between Ramadan-observers, an acknowledgement of another day of fasting completed, and a humble refreshment to ease them into post-nightfall dining. Certainly something I had never experienced before!
So is Ramadan a good time to visit an Islamic country?
In my experience, I can only answer with a wholehearted yes. Obviously, the countries of the Muslim world vary in the degree to which they observe Islamic customs; some are more conservative than others. Jordan, where I was, is known to be at the more liberal end of the scale. Regardless, however, do not be put off if you discover your trip dates to an Islamic country fall during Ramadan. I would argue it ends up adding greater substance to your travels.
Logistical matters such as restricted operating hours are aspects that can easily be worked around if necessary with a bit of pre-planning, but being able to have the enriching, educational experience of seeing a different, more unique side to the destination and its people, and developing a greater understanding of a religion practised by some 1.8 billion worldwide is a priceless privilege.
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
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I am sure many people will find this information invaluable when planning future travel to this interesting part of the world. As always, so well written too
Thank you 😃 Hopefully it is useful for readers, as it can be something that raises questions!
This is very useful reading. I have also wondered whether Ramadan is a good time to travel to Islamic countries. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Yes, before I went I wasn’t sure either, so I thought I would write about my experiences so it will hopefully help others. Definitely don’t let it put you off!
Yes, it’s definitely a good time, but you have to want to adapt to the change in tempo. And it will be different in different countries. In some, there are experiences and events that only happen in Ramadan, or close to Eid, so you can only experience it then, like iftar bazaars and festive preparations for Eid. In my country Malaysia, you’re more likely to see festive preparations in the rural areas, but the ramadan bazaars in towns and suburbia.
Also, the start and end of the fasting month depends on the school of practice your country adopts. Most places either calculate it astronomically, or look for the literal new moon at an observatory or similar suitable place. There might be places that follow Mecca.
Absolutely! It is definitely a slower, lower-key time in general. And yes, each country will have its own particularities, festivities etc. I think it is important for travellers to read up on, and be familiar with, the specific practices in their destination before going. This post is just intended to be more generalised – for people who may be hesitating to visit somewhere because of Ramadan. On the whole, I would not let it put them off, as it is a very interesting and unique time to visit these destinations.
This is a great post to help with planning travel in Islamic countries. I might not have thought to check out the timing for Ramadan before I visited. We are always careful planning trips over holidays because of the business closures. It would be a good time to learn more about Ramadan and the Islamic traditions.
Thank you, Linda! Glad you found it useful. It is just intended as a general guide, as each country will differ in its practices, but on the whole, I would not let it put you off if your travel plans do happen to coincide with Ramadan. It is a very interesting and unique time. Hope it has inspired you to learn more about Islamic traditions – it definitely did for me!
So much great information, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading! Glad you found it helpful 🙂
I try to check the dates of Ramadan when planning a visit to Muslim country, but I could not avoid these dates always. I think tourists must obey rules of country they are visiting, on the other hand locals seem to be liberal to tourists if they cannot follow all the rules. Thanks for sharing your experience and valuable tips.
Yes, indeed. You’re right – there’s compromise on both sides. As long as there is respect, that is the main thing. Thanks for reading!