Is there a downside of going to Egypt during Ramadan?
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Rashad
Yeah my first visit was during Ramadan(unknowingly like a derp). Anyway, from my firsthand experience, lots of places will be closed during the day that would normally be open during the day. Places that are open like restaurants, sometimes will have one-way mirrors so you can at least eat, and not worry about being disrespectful to the locals. Though many locals will tell you that it's fine, I personally didn't feel ok drinking water or eating during the day in public areas or restaurants that at least didn't have one-mirrors set up. So the best option during the day would be to have food delivered to you.
At dusk or fast breaking however, everything absolutely comes alive and will usually stay alive till about 2 or 3am. So its pretty fun at night to be honest since everyone is eating and in a good mood at that point. Khan el-Khalili comes alive then too.
Would I recommend it? To the average traveler, no I wouldn't. Plus it's hot as hell during Ramadan too.
For the experienced traveler or the traveler that wants to really experience something different and have a learning experience/cultural understanding of the most important holiday for one of the largest religions on the planet, I would say it's a good experience to have.
At dusk or fast breaking however, everything absolutely comes alive and will usually stay alive till about 2 or 3am. So its pretty fun at night to be honest since everyone is eating and in a good mood at that point. Khan el-Khalili comes alive then too.
Would I recommend it? To the average traveler, no I wouldn't. Plus it's hot as hell during Ramadan too.
For the experienced traveler or the traveler that wants to really experience something different and have a learning experience/cultural understanding of the most important holiday for one of the largest religions on the planet, I would say it's a good experience to have.
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Heather
I spent Ramadan in a Muslim country (Bangladesh) in 2019. It's different, for sure - but cool in its own way. I'm also the type who likes immersive cultural experiences & was staying with a local family while I helped open a business there.
PROS: You get to see a real part of culture and daily life that most people will look over, which gives you a much more authentic experience in the country. You also get to try foods that are only eaten during Ramadan (Iftar - breaking the fast is a whole ordeal and the foods were delicious!).
CONS: Most things are not open during the day, especially restaurants. People are hungry and dehydrated and can be snappy. They will get annoyed if they see you eating or drinking in public, so be mindful & respectful of their traditions & don't flaunt it like an asshole. Bring granola bars lol. Everyone is also in vacation mode so the pace is much slower & there is less motivation in general.
PROS: You get to see a real part of culture and daily life that most people will look over, which gives you a much more authentic experience in the country. You also get to try foods that are only eaten during Ramadan (Iftar - breaking the fast is a whole ordeal and the foods were delicious!).
CONS: Most things are not open during the day, especially restaurants. People are hungry and dehydrated and can be snappy. They will get annoyed if they see you eating or drinking in public, so be mindful & respectful of their traditions & don't flaunt it like an asshole. Bring granola bars lol. Everyone is also in vacation mode so the pace is much slower & there is less motivation in general.
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Mohand
Everything is running during Ramadan it is just because we fast until the sunset you may find the restaurants closed but not all of them.
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Steph
I was in Egypt for 2 weeks of Ramadan. In Cairo all the tourist sites were still open, but restaurants were lacking before 7pm. But you can find restaurants run by Christian’s which will be open, so it works out! In Luxor it was no issue at all.
In Luxor It was actually quite beautiful as I was able to participate in Eid with my Egyptian hosts and really learn a lot about the religion, people and culture.
The only thing to be mindful of is for your guides, who will take you out to the pyramids or elsewhere in the heat of the day, they aren’t drinking water while they’re still observing Ramadan, so be sure to tip them well!
In Luxor It was actually quite beautiful as I was able to participate in Eid with my Egyptian hosts and really learn a lot about the religion, people and culture.
The only thing to be mindful of is for your guides, who will take you out to the pyramids or elsewhere in the heat of the day, they aren’t drinking water while they’re still observing Ramadan, so be sure to tip them well!
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Damian
I went to Morocco during Ramadan and it was amazing. Nothing was closed down and the rush of energy and vitality at sunset was magical.
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Rana
Really depends on the purpose of your travel. If you’re someone who wants to divulge in culture and experience religious practices/tradition.. then go ahead. People are not hostile towards tourists and on the contrary, you’ll find many people greeting you with warmth as thats the impact the “holy month” has on communities there. Tourist attractions are still open during the day! I just think most employees will be fasting so won’t get the same “accessibility”... right at sunset everyone will hurry to eat and then most restaurants will come to life at night. There’s also a lot of things you can do outside of Cairo that are “touristy”.
If you’re there for a lively nightlife or “adventure”, then I wouldn’t recommend as most night clubs/lounges are closed. However, restaurants will be open til 3 am with a ton of variety! Tough luck finding any booze though. Unless you’re at a resort, then all this doesn’t apply. If you were to ask me if it’s a good time to visit, as an Egyptian I would say no if it’s your first time and craving an array of experiences. But otherwise, (and this part might be biased) the energy during that time is something I can’t describe.. and the people are so kind.
Also, I don’t recommend going during the pandemic. People barely social distance and the number of cases are sky rocketing there. Healthcare can be super tricky as well. Be careful.
If you’re there for a lively nightlife or “adventure”, then I wouldn’t recommend as most night clubs/lounges are closed. However, restaurants will be open til 3 am with a ton of variety! Tough luck finding any booze though. Unless you’re at a resort, then all this doesn’t apply. If you were to ask me if it’s a good time to visit, as an Egyptian I would say no if it’s your first time and craving an array of experiences. But otherwise, (and this part might be biased) the energy during that time is something I can’t describe.. and the people are so kind.
Also, I don’t recommend going during the pandemic. People barely social distance and the number of cases are sky rocketing there. Healthcare can be super tricky as well. Be careful.
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Raghda
Yes, there are downsides to going during Ramadan. During the day, it will be difficult to find businesses that are operating since the majority of people will be fasting.
The country comes to life after everyone breaks their fast.
You will probably get harassed for eating and drinking in broad day light even though you’re a tourist.
Attractions will be opened and almost empty which of course is great but this makes it difficult to find guides.
I don’t drink or party so I’m not sure about those 2. Liquor stores close but I’m guessing you can buy some at your hotel?
If you’re planning on going this Ramadan (April ‘21) please be careful as Covid cases are soaring. Egypt’s healthcare system is extremely lacking so if you were to catch the virus you aren’t in good hands.
The country comes to life after everyone breaks their fast.
You will probably get harassed for eating and drinking in broad day light even though you’re a tourist.
Attractions will be opened and almost empty which of course is great but this makes it difficult to find guides.
I don’t drink or party so I’m not sure about those 2. Liquor stores close but I’m guessing you can buy some at your hotel?
If you’re planning on going this Ramadan (April ‘21) please be careful as Covid cases are soaring. Egypt’s healthcare system is extremely lacking so if you were to catch the virus you aren’t in good hands.
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Christopher
Also, it does depend on what you mean by Egypt. I am not 100% certain but I imagine Sharm al-Sheikh and Hurghada are likely still pretty tourist friendly during that time as compared to larger cities like Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan that also have non-tourist based populations.
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Maximiliano
As many others said, it can be difficult to get food when it's fasting time. It's not the easiest period, as (per my experience) some local people may get a bit nervous especially towards westerners. That said, if you are respectful you shouldn't get much problems, and in addition if one gets lucky enough to be invited to an iftar (the evening meal), he/she would get a wonderful experience.
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Gus
The only main downside is that nightclubs are closed, liquor stores are closed, and you can’t get alcohol at a lot of places. Also, if you are in smaller cities many restaurants will be closed during the day, but in places like Cairo, Luxor, or Alexandria this wouldn’t be an issue. I think it’s an awesome time to be in Egypt, but if possible, try to include some days either before/after Ramadan so you can experience the country both during Ramadan and during normal times too!
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