Marrakech During Eid: What Closes and What Changes

The dates of the two Eids

The Muslim calendar is lunar: festivals move forward by about eleven days each year. In Morocco, the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs announces each date after the crescent moon is sighted, only a few days beforehand. The dates below are therefore provisional and may vary by a day.

Each of these two festivals is a two-day public holiday in Morocco; the day before and the day after often serve as a de facto break. The dates of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, are detailed in our guide to Ramadan in Marrakech. To fit these days into your travel calendar, see also best time to visit Marrakech.

What closes during Eid

• The souks: most shops in the medina close on the day of the festival and often the next day, sometimes longer for Eid al-Adha. The souks of Marrakech are then almost empty; a few traders reopen after two or three days, late in the afternoon.
• Banks and government offices are closed on public holidays, as are most neighbourhood shops. Withdraw dirhams before the festival: cash machines stay accessible but empty quickly.
• Pastry shops and markets in Guéliz close for a day or two, often after working flat out the day before.
• Cultural sites adjust their hours: some close on the day of the festival or open only in the afternoon. The Bahia Palace and other monuments run by the Ministry of Culture post their hours on site and online; private museums publish theirs on their websites. Check the day before and visit the day before or the day after the festival.

What stays open

Hotels and riads operate normally, with breakfast and, most often, a festive meal that you book. Some restaurants in Guéliz and Hivernage stay open, often in the evening only. The stalls on Jemaa el-Fna square set up in the evening, sometimes in reduced numbers on the first day; the atmosphere is that of a family celebration, with many Moroccans in traditional dress. Public gardens such as the Menara are full of family picnics in the afternoon.

Eid al-Adha: the atmosphere in the city

Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham's sacrifice. Every family that can afford it buys a sheep before the festival. In the days before, sheep markets spring up at the entrances to neighbourhoods, on vacant lots and sometimes on rooftops; you meet animals in the alleys and on cargo tricycles. On the morning of the festival, men go to prayer in djellabas, then the sacrifice takes place at home, with the family. Offal, notably the liver, is then grilled, and the smell of grilled meat fills the neighbourhoods.

For a visitor, this mostly means a calm, very family-centred city where the street belongs to the residents. Be discreet: do not photograph the preparations without asking, and respect families' privacy. In 2025, the king asked Moroccans not to carry out the sacrifice that year because of the shortage of livestock: the festival took place without the usual tradition, a reminder that customs can change. So do not assume anything about the atmosphere and check before you leave.

Eid al-Fitr: the festival that ends the fast

Eid al-Fitr, which follows Ramadan, is more joyful than solemn: families dress in new clothes, visit each other, exchange pastries and children receive small gifts. Pastries such as chebakia and gazelle horns are given in large quantities; our guide to Moroccan pastries in Marrakech helps you choose. The morning prayer gathers thousands of worshippers in mosques and on prayer grounds.

Transport and accommodation: book ahead

• Trains and buses: departures on the eve of festivals are full several days in advance, with tickets sometimes more expensive on private buses. Book early, or avoid travelling on those days. See train and bus from Marrakech.
• Petits taxis: demand rises before the festival and cars become scarce on the day itself, then return after a few hours. Book an airport transfer in advance; our guide Marrakech airport to the city centre lists the options.
• Flights and excursions: fares rise during holidays, especially in May. Book excursions and car rental several weeks ahead.
• Accommodation: riads are in high demand at Eid al-Adha, when Moroccans living abroad come home to their families. Book early and do not count on a last-minute drop in price.

Practical tips

• Say "Aïd mubarak" ("happy festival"): it is always well received.
• Withdraw cash before the festival and keep small notes for tips; see money and tipping in Marrakech.
• Avoid planning a major purchase in the souks on those days: everything is closed.
• Keep an indoor visit (museum, garden, hammam) as plan B; our guide what to do in Marrakech when it rains offers ideas for quiet activities.
• Afterwards, the medina quickly picks up its pace again, and traders and prices are back from the third day.