Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around Monday 8 February 2027, based on astronomical calculation, with Eid al-Fitr expected on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March, depending on moon sighting. Travel during the month is common. The Quran allows travellers to postpone fasts and make them up later, flights are often cheaper in the middle of Ramadan, and many cities hold iftar tents and night markets after sunset. Plan by booking around the busy Eid peak and planning your days around suhoor and iftar.
Ramadan 2027 dates at a glance
Islamic months begin with the sighting of the new crescent moon, so exact dates are confirmed only a day or so in advance, and they can differ by a day between countries. As of November 2026, astronomical calculations reported by the UAE Astronomy Centre point to these dates:
- First day of fasting: around Monday 8 February 2027 in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and much of the Gulf. Some countries that rely on local moon sighting may start a day later.
- Last ten nights: from the final days of February 2027.
- Eid al-Fitr: around Tuesday 9 March 2027, or Wednesday 10 March if the month runs to 30 days.
Because February is winter in the northern hemisphere, fasting days in 2027 will be relatively short across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. That makes this an easier Ramadan for anyone travelling north of the equator.
Editor's Note: Do not lock in non-refundable bookings on the exact first or last day of Ramadan. Official announcements can move them by a day, and Eid holidays in many countries are set only once the moon is sighted.
How the dates are announced
In the UAE, a moon-sighting committee looks for the crescent on the evening of the 29th day of the month and announces the result that night. Other countries use their own committees, and some follow a calendar calculated in advance, so dates can differ from the Gulf by a day. Muslims in Europe, North America and Australia follow whichever method their local mosque or national council uses, which is why two mosques in the same city occasionally start on different days. If you are travelling between countries, note which method each place follows and keep the first and last two days of your itinerary loose.
For travellers the practical effect is small at the start of the month and large at the end. Ramadan beginning a day late changes little; Eid moving by a day shifts public holidays, shop closures, bank hours and the peak day for flights out of every Gulf hub.
Can you fast while travelling?
The Quran gives travellers a clear concession: a person on a journey may skip fasting and make up the missed days later. Many travellers still choose to fast, especially on short or comfortable trips. Scholars agree on the principle but differ on details, such as the minimum distance that counts as travel and whether you may break a fast you started at home before setting off. Ask a scholar you trust if you are unsure.
When breaking the fast makes sense
Long-haul flights across time zones, overnight journeys with little sleep and hot destinations are where the travel concession really helps. If you are flying for twelve hours and then driving to a hotel, fasting can leave you dehydrated and exhausted on arrival. You can make up the days later in the year.
Fasting on a flight: which clock do you follow?
When you fast in the air, you break your fast when the sun sets at the plane's position. Sunset at your departure or arrival city does not apply. Flying west extends your day because you chase the sun; flying east shortens it. Some airlines announce iftar on board or show sunset times on the moving map. A prayer app with a flight feature can estimate the time along your route.
Flights during Ramadan
Flights to and within the Muslim world are usually cheaper in the first three weeks of Ramadan, when many families stay home, and rise sharply in the last week and just after Eid. Book anything that touches the Eid window early, and check how your airline handles meals for breaking the fast on board.
Prices and demand
Demand on routes to and within the Muslim world usually dips in the first three weeks of Ramadan, as many families stay home. Fares often rise sharply in the last week as people fly home for Eid, and again just after Eid when holidays begin. If you want lower prices, travel in the first two weeks and avoid the Eid rush. Search and compare on our flight booking page well ahead if your trip overlaps with Eid.
When to book
The Eid window is the one period where booking early clearly pays. Seats on routes from the Gulf to South Asia, North Africa and Southeast Asia in the last four or five days of Ramadan are usually the first to go, because migrant workers and expatriate families plan their Eid trips home well in advance. If your return flight falls between 5 and 13 March 2027, book it as soon as fares open and pick a ticket that allows a date change for a modest fee. Travel in the first half of February can usually be booked a few weeks out without paying a premium.
Meals on board
Some airlines offer iftar boxes to fasting passengers on request. Where they do not, ask the crew whether they can keep your meal until sunset. Carrying a few dates, a refillable water bottle and some snacks gives you a backup if timing does not work out.
Airports during Ramadan
Major Gulf hubs have prayer rooms, and food outlets in Gulf airports usually stay open for transit passengers during daylight. If you have a layover in Qatar or Dubai, you can still buy a meal if you are not fasting.
Getting around during the fasting month
Public transport runs throughout Ramadan in every country covered here, though timetables change. Operators such as Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority announce Ramadan timetables shortly before the month starts, so check the operator's website or app in early February 2027 for confirmed times. Expect trams, ferries and buses in any big city to be crowded in the hour before sunset.
Taxis and ride-hailing are where travellers notice Ramadan most. Demand surges in the hour before iftar, so prices on surge-based apps climb and waiting times stretch. In the half hour around the adhan itself, many drivers stop to break their fast, and the roads go briefly quiet. If you need to cross a city at that time, leave early or book a car the day before. Late at night traffic picks up again as families head out to malls and restaurants.
Intercity coaches and trains also fill up during the last week, in countries where many people travel home for Eid. Buy tickets for any long journey after 1 March 2027 as early as the operator allows, and expect roads out of major cities to be slow.
Weather in February and March 2027
The calendar works in travellers' favour this year. Ramadan 2027 sits entirely in late northern-hemisphere winter, which means short fasting days and comfortable temperatures across most of the Muslim world.
Weather still varies a lot between destinations, from cold northern cities to tropical ones near the equator. Check the forecast for each stop a week before you leave and pack layers for evenings outdoors.
Rules and etiquette in Muslim-majority countries
In Muslim-majority countries during Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum openly in the street in daylight, even if you are not fasting, because in some countries it is a legal offence. Many restaurants in the Gulf, Türkiye and Malaysia still serve non-fasting customers by day, sometimes behind screens.
Rules on eating and drinking in public vary by country, and some have relaxed them in recent years. As a general guide:
- Avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum openly in the street during daylight, even if you are not fasting. In some countries this is a legal offence; in others it is simply considered rude.
- Many restaurants in the Gulf, Türkiye and Malaysia stay open during the day for non-fasting customers, sometimes behind screens.
- Hotels serve breakfast and lunch as normal to guests, usually in an indoor restaurant.
- Dress modestly, especially near mosques and in traditional neighbourhoods.
- Avoid loud music in public and be patient with traffic just before iftar, when everyone rushes home.
What the rules look like in practice
Practice differs from one country to the next, and it changes over time. In some places restaurants serve non-fasting customers indoors as usual; in others most places outside hotels stay closed until iftar. The safe course everywhere is not to eat or drink in public view during fasting hours, and to ask your hotel how things work locally.
Working hours and opening times
Office and government hours are usually shortened during Ramadan in the Gulf and many other Muslim-majority countries. Shops and malls often open later in the morning, close in the afternoon and then stay open until late at night. Museums and attractions may change hours too, so check before you plan a day around them. Visa offices and embassies can also work reduced hours; if you need a visa, apply early through our visa guide.
Travelling in Ramadan if you are not fasting
Many visitors to Muslim-majority countries in February 2027 will not be fasting, and that is fine. Nobody expects a non-Muslim traveller to fast. What locals do expect is discretion during daylight. Carry water and snacks in your bag, and eat or drink in your hotel, inside a restaurant that is open for non-fasting customers, or in a private space. Check the local approach for each country on your route.
If you hire a driver or guide who is fasting, build their day into yours. Offer to stop for prayers, and plan to finish long drives before sunset or pause somewhere they can break their fast. Energy levels drop in the late afternoon, so morning excursions work better for everyone. An invitation to iftar in a family home is a real sign of welcome; you do not need to have fasted to accept, and bringing dates or a box of sweets is a kind gesture.
A sample travel day in Ramadan
Planning the day backwards from iftar makes a trip far smoother. A workable pattern in a city such as Amman or Istanbul looks like this. Wake for suhoor an hour or so before Fajr, eat slowly and drink water, then pray and sleep for another two or three hours. Head out around 09:30 for the main sight of the day, when it is cool and queues are short. Return to the hotel after Dhuhr, rest through the early afternoon, and leave again about an hour before sunset so you are seated at a restaurant or mosque iftar when the adhan sounds. After Maghrib, walk the markets, join Tarawih if you wish, and enjoy the city at its busiest, since many shops and cafés stay open well past midnight.
Avoid booking transfers, check-outs or airport runs in the 60 minutes before iftar. Roads in Gulf and South Asian cities fill fast as people hurry home, and drivers who are fasting are understandably keen to stop.
Common mistakes on a Ramadan trip
The biggest one is booking a non-refundable flight for the expected Eid date and then finding the holiday moved by a day. Choose flexible fares around the end of the month. Another is relying on daytime opening hours copied from a guidebook; museums, government offices and some restaurants shorten hours or close in the afternoon, so check each venue directly. Travellers also underestimate how long the night runs: if you stay out until 01:00 and wake for suhoor at 04:30, the next day will be hard. Finally, people forget their hosts are tired. Keep requests to hotel and tour staff reasonable in the late afternoon, and tip generously around Eid if you can.
Where to spend Ramadan abroad
Good places to spend Ramadan abroad include Istanbul, where evenings around the historic mosques are lively after iftar; Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where hotels set up Ramadan tents for iftar and suhoor; Makkah and Madinah for Umrah; Jordan and Oman; Malaysia and Indonesia; and Bangladesh.
Istanbul and Türkiye
Istanbul is easy for travellers in Ramadan. Evenings around the historic mosques are lively after iftar, and daily life for visitors who are not fasting carries on much as usual. In February 2027, expect short fasting days. Read more in our Türkiye guide.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Hotels across the UAE set up Ramadan tents serving iftar and suhoor buffets, and many attractions run special evening programmes. Book iftar buffets in advance at popular hotels, as weekends sell out. See our Dubai guide for districts and transport.
Makkah and Madinah
Umrah during Ramadan is a lifelong wish for many Muslims, and demand is extremely high, particularly in the last ten nights. Hotel prices near the Haram rise sharply then. If you are going, book months ahead and follow the official Saudi requirements for Umrah permits and visas, which can change from season to season. Our Saudi Arabia guide covers the basics.
Jordan and Oman
Both are quieter options with a strong Ramadan atmosphere. Families gather for iftar in homes, parks and mosques, and sweet shops stay busy into the night. Tourist sites remain open, though often with reduced hours. See our guides to Jordan and Oman.
Malaysia and Indonesia
Ramadan bazaars are a highlight in Malaysian and Indonesian cities, with long rows of stalls selling food for iftar from late afternoon.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, iftar food stalls open in cities from the afternoon. Expect heavy traffic just before iftar and on the days before Eid, when many people travel home. Our Bangladesh guide has more.
Where to stay by area
Where you base yourself matters more in Ramadan than at other times, because the evening is when cities come alive and you will want to walk home after a late meal.
In most cities the older districts around the main mosques and markets have the strongest atmosphere around iftar, while newer business and shopping districts suit families who want large hotels and malls close by. Check a map before booking and pick a hotel you can walk back to after a late meal.
In Makkah and Madinah, hotels within walking distance of the two Holy Mosques cost far more in Ramadan than those further out, which often rely on shuttle buses. In the last ten nights, crowds around the mosques slow everything down, so weigh the price of a closer hotel against the time you would spend in transit.
Whichever city you choose, ask the hotel three questions before booking: whether it serves suhoor and at what time, whether breakfast is still served for guests who are not fasting, and whether the restaurant is open for lunch. Browse options on our hotel pages and message the property directly if the listing does not say.
What a Ramadan trip costs
Ramadan changes costs in both directions. Flights and city hotels are often cheaper in the first three weeks, especially in the Gulf, where business travel slows and hotels compete for local diners with iftar deals. The exceptions are Makkah and Madinah, where the month is peak season, and anywhere during the Eid holiday, when resort and city prices both jump.
Hotel iftar buffets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi range widely, from simple set menus in local restaurants to large buffets at five-star hotels. Prices change every year, so check the current rate on the hotel's own website or social media when bookings open, usually just before Ramadan. Community iftars at mosques are free. Iftar from street stalls and bazaars usually costs much less than a hotel buffet.
Umrah in Ramadan: permits and planning
Every pilgrim needs a permit for Umrah, issued through the Nusuk app run by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Visitors from abroad need a valid visa when they create the booking in Nusuk, and permits are tied to a specific date and time slot. In Ramadan 2023 the ministry allowed only one Umrah per person during the month, and in 2025 it asked pilgrims to perform Umrah only once in the last ten nights. Nusuk has not allowed the date on an issued permit to be edited; you delete the booking and issue a new one. Rules are set each season, so check the Nusuk app and the ministry's announcements in January 2027 for the current terms.
Slots for the last ten nights, and especially the 27th night, open early and go fast. Book flights, hotel and permit together, and leave a buffer day so a moved start date does not cost you your slot. The mosques are extremely crowded at Tarawih and Qiyam prayers, so pilgrims with young children, older relatives or mobility needs often choose the first two weeks of Ramadan, when the experience is calmer.
Iftar and suhoor when you are away from home
Away from home, the easiest iftar is a free community iftar at a large mosque, where travellers are almost always welcome, or an iftar set menu at a halal restaurant in a Muslim neighbourhood, booked ahead. For suhoor, ask your hotel before booking whether it serves an early meal or can pack a meal box the night before.
Finding iftar
Mosques in many cities serve free community iftars, and travellers are almost always welcome. Ask at the nearest large mosque or check local Islamic centre social media. In non-Muslim countries, halal restaurants in Muslim neighbourhoods often have iftar set menus and fill up quickly around sunset, so arrive early or book.
Suhoor at your hotel
Ask your hotel before booking whether it offers suhoor or can pack a meal box for you the night before. Many hotels in Muslim-majority countries serve suhoor in Ramadan; elsewhere, a room with a kettle or a small fridge helps. Keep easy food in your room: dates, yoghurt, bread, fruit and plenty of water.
Staying healthy while fasting on the road
- Drink water steadily between iftar and suhoor, a little at a time.
- Choose slow-release foods at suhoor, such as oats, eggs, wholegrain bread and fruit.
- Go easy on salty and fried food, which increases thirst the next day.
- Schedule walking tours and sightseeing in the morning, and rest in the afternoon.
- Do not fast if you are unwell, and carry any regular medicines in your hand luggage.
Planning a trip around Eid al-Fitr
Eid is the busiest travel window of the Islamic year in many countries. Flights, buses and trains fill up, hotels in resort areas raise prices and some shops close for two to three days. If you want to spend Eid somewhere special, book flights and hotels early. If you would rather avoid crowds, travel in the second or third week of Ramadan and return before Eid. Organised tours may also run on a reduced schedule over the holiday.
Packing checklist for Ramadan travel
For travel in Ramadan, pack dates and long-life snacks for iftar on the move, a refillable water bottle, a prayer app with accurate local fasting times, a travel prayer mat and modest clothing, a power bank, and copies of hotel confirmations that show suhoor or late check-in arrangements.
- Dates and a few long-life snacks for iftar on the move.
- A refillable water bottle.
- Prayer app with saved cities and accurate local fasting times.
- Travel prayer mat and modest clothing.
- Power bank for long days with heavy phone use.
- Copies of hotel confirmations showing suhoor or late check-in arrangements.
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