Traveling to Casablanca During Ramadan As a Non-Muslim: Everything you Need To Know

Casablanca, Morocco

Visiting Morocco during Ramadan in 2024 was an amazing experience filled with a period of personal self reflection. I had the opportunity to truly indulge myself in a range of cultural experiences in several of the country's cities. This travel guide will highlight things to keep in mind if you’re planning to travel during Ramadan, places to stay / areas I would recommend, great food recommendations and more. Keep reading for insights and tips based on my personal experience.

Tips To Keep In Mind During Ramadan

• Holy Month: Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

• Restaurants: I spoke with a local and he mentioned that if you are not Muslim, it is not necessarily offensive to be eating during fasting hours. Keep in mind that many restaurants will be closed throughout the day (minus in more tourist areas that tend to keep their establishments open).

• Conservative Clothing: As a woman, you should dress modest (covering your chest, shoulders, and knees) - this is especially important during Ramadan to show respect to the religion and culture. I did not have to wear a head covering & they were not required when I visited Mosque Hassan II for a tour

• Prayer Hours: Muslims pray 5 times a day, it is important to be respectful and avoid making noise around Mosques.

• Alcohol: It is important to note that in Muslim countries alcohol consumption is restricted / prohibited during Ramadan. Be sure to respect local laws regarding alcohol.

• PDA: If you are traveling with your partner, you should avoid public displays of affection as well.

Best Time to Visit Morocco

While you can visit Morocco at any point in the year, the best time to visit Morocco (according to Google) is during the Spring (March - May) or during the Fall (September to October). The weather is warm and you can take advantage of exploring the city with slightly less crowds. Casablanca will be a bit chillier since it is right on the water. I visited in March during Ramadan and thoroughly enjoyed my time.

Getting to Morocco & Around While There

I took a flight from the Portugal Humberto Delgado Airport (in Lisbon) to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport in Morocco. Two one-way tickets for my boyfriend and I was priced at ~$430 - which was reasonable. When you arrive in Morocco, there are a range of transportation options from public transportation to taxis to private car service. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I am a big advocate for exploring a new city’s public transportation. The train service in Morocco was incredibly easy to navigate and allowed for an impeccably scenic route to our hotel.

When it comes to taxi services, as with anywhere else, if the driver chooses not to use the meter, they may quote significantly higher prices than usual (which is what I experienced). Always negotiate fares. I was quite surprised by the substantial price variations for similar distances.

Where I Stayed & Places I’d Recommend

I stayed at the Mellibar Appart Hotel. Please note, this hotel is not located in the City Center area. The reason I went with it was because of the amazing view it offered of the Mosque from our balcony. I would highly recommend. The hotel is fairly priced, offered daily breakfast, spacious rooms, a spa, and a dedicated work from home (WFH) space. If you don’t mind walking a bit, it’s conveniently located so you can explore different areas of Casablanca on foot.

Other hotels I considered and would recommend

• Hyatt (located in City Center)

• Le Casablanca Hotel

Food to Try

Okay, I will be honest. Finding food during Ramadan was not the easiest task. A lot of places were closed / open during irregular hours. Three Places I went that I really enjoyed were:

• Rick's Café: You cannot go to Casablanca without paying Rick’s Cafe a visit. The restaurant gained mass popularity after the 1942 Casablanca romantic film.

• Chez Reda (Café - Grillades- Pizzeria) - Walking distance from the Mellibar Appart Hotel

• Mood's Café-restaurant
  

My next blog will focus on traveling from Casablanca to Chefchaouen - The Blue City! I'll also dive into the top sites to explore in Casablanca in a future post. Stay tuned! :)

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