The majority of countries you can travel to with our agencies have Islam as their main religion. And this March 2025 coincides with the month in which believers practice daytime fasting. Therefore, we consider it a good opportunity to give you a catalog of tips for visiting a Muslim country during Ramadan, whether this year or in years to come.
#1. Double Your Empathy
This advice is valid for any time of the year, but it becomes especially important during Ramadan. You should keep in mind that Muslim people (except for exceptions like children, the elderly, and pregnant women) cannot eat, smoke, or engage in sexual relations from dawn to dusk. And that can make some people more sensitive, which is understandable. Therefore, you should avoid attitudes that may be considered disrespectful or, at least, lacking empathy. For example, eating in front of them, smoking in public, or wearing clothing that may be considered provocative (for instance, low-cut or revealing shoulders and knees).
#2. More Patience
Consciously or unconsciously, the pace of life slows down during the day. On one hand, many establishments close or reduce their opening hours, as we will see in the next point. And on the other hand, those who do maintain their normal work routine may work at a slower pace, to conserve energy and better cope with the day without ingesting food. Therefore, it is recommended not to rush another person to attend to you more quickly or similar situations, directly related to the empathy mentioned earlier. For all these reasons, a smile on your face will always be a great ally.
#3. Better Time Organization
During Ramadan, the opening hours of shops and administrations are modified. Normally, they reduce the number of hours open to the public, closing one or several hours earlier. In other cases, they close completely. Therefore, it is possible that these changes may affect a standard program that does not take into account situations of this type. For this reason, it is advisable to plan in advance issues such as visits to monuments or the purchase of basic products. Public transport schedules may also undergo variations: fewer frequencies during the day, due to the aforementioned slowdown of the day, but also more frequency at nightfall to favor those movements after sunset, to go to pray at the mosque (sunset or maghrib prayer) or to travel to the family dinners of iftar (breaking the fast).
#4. Wish a Happy Ramadan
If during your trip you are going to engage in conversation with local Muslims, they will appreciate you wishing them well for this month, in the same way that Christmas greetings are usually given to Christian people. The most appropriate formula to make this greeting is Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem, and it is usually used after iftar, when the fast is broken and joy fills all believers. In this way, the greeting serves as an implicit recognition of the effort they are making.
#5. Share the Moment
A further step in respect and empathy during Ramadan is, precisely, to share that moment with Muslims themselves. This doesn’t mean fasting like them (although it can be a voluntary choice of great consideration) but, above all, being part of their celebrations, if you receive an invitation to do so. For example, attending a meeting held by a Muslim cultural association that seeks to explain the meaning of this month to non-believers. Or especially, participating in an iftar dinner, which families and groups of friends can share with non-Muslim acquaintances if they have enough trust to do so.
