Name: Does Ramadan Affect Tourists in Egypt
Brand: Egypt Tours Plus
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The holy month of Ramadan is the single most important event on the Islamic calendar, so does Ramadan affect tourists in Egypt? Since Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims, it is best for travelers to familiarize themselves in terms of what to expect if they choose to visit Egypt during this holy month. In this post we will attempt to address the most common concerns travelers have about visiting Egypt during Ramadan.

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When is Ramadan?

Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and as a result, it changes every year. Generally speaking, Ramadan typically takes place 10 to 12 days before Ramadan of the previous year. Bearing in mind that Egypt is a Muslim country, nearly every person in the country observes Ramadan, which means that it is sometimes necessary for travelers to make small adjustments to their schedules.

Do Foreign Travelers Also Have to Fast From Sunrise to Sunset?

Does Ramadan affect tourists in Egypt as far as eating meals is concerned. Many cafes and restaurants either partially close or they reduce their operating hours throughout the entire month of Ramadan. While Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset, non-Muslims are not required to observe fasting, and travelers should have no difficulty finding places in the busy cities where they can sit down and enjoy a meal at any time of the day.

Typical, Egyptian restaurants and food stalls that remain closed during the day, tend to open at around 5:00 p.m. to prepare pre-ordered meals. Also, once they open for business in the evenings, expect to see massive crowds in front of popular restaurants and food stalls.

Several larger restaurants in touristy areas stay open throughout the day and it is basically business as usual. Business hours are also not affected by Ramadan in many of the large modern hotels and on board Nile River cruise ships.

Interestingly, some non-Muslim tourists voluntarily choose to follow the fasting tradition, enjoying a pre-dawn meal and then waiting until after sunset before they have another meal.

Are Tourists Allowed to Drink Water and Soft Drinks in Public During Ramadan?

While Muslims are not allowed to drink anything, including water, this does not apply to tourists. At several tourist attractions you will even find vendors selling cold bottled water and various cold soft drinks, and as a tourist, you are free to drink such beverages whenever you want, even in public.

Are Tourists Allowed to Consume Alcohol During Ramadan?

Does Ramadan affect tourists in Egypt in terms of alcohol consumption? During the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, even non-Muslim Egyptians, refrain from consuming alcohol. Most liquor outlets throughout the country also don’t sell any alcohol during Ramadan, and neither do most standalone bars.

Non-Muslim tourists are free to drink alcohol during Ramadan, but since nearly all liquor outlets and standalone bars close for the entire month, your choices for purchasing alcohol will be somewhat limited. At this time of the year you will generally only be able to purchase and consume alcohol as some of the large tourist friendly restaurants and at many of the large hotels that are regularly frequented by tourists. The sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks on board Nile cruise ships is also not affected by Ramadan.

Cultural Norms during the Month of Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, there is an incredibly strong sense of spirituality and self-reflection, with many Muslims involved in religious acts of worship, self-discipline, and also charity. It is very important to be mindful and respectful of religious traditions and cultural norms in Egypt, and even more so during this holy month.

One rather fascinating cultural norm during Ramadan involves Iftar, the meal which Muslims enjoy after the day’s fasting ends. For most Muslim Egyptians, their iftar meal will include various types of Arabic food as well as snacks and sweet desserts. At this time of the day the streets are more or less deserted as hungry Egyptians are enjoying iftar.

This eerily quiet iftar period tends to last for about 30 to 45 minutes and then absolute mayhem erupts on the streets. The hour or two following iftar is definitely not the time to visit busy shopping areas such as the Khan el Khalili Bazaar in Cairo.

Since generosity is an important aspect of this sacred time, don’t be surprised if some people offer you free snacks, sweets or cold drinks after they have broken their fast with iftar.

How are Tourist Attractions Affected by Ramadan?

Does Ramadan affect tourists in Egypt in terms of visiting the country’s historical sites? No, Ramadan doesn’t have any impact on popular tourist sites. Even if you visit Egypt during this time of the year you will still be able to visit all of country’s iconic sites such as the Giza Pyramids and the country’s many ancient temples. Opening and closing hours at some tourist attractions may be changed, but this is typically not the case.

Nile River cruises are also not affected by Ramadan, so feel free to go ahead and book your 5-star luxury Nile cruise and enjoy visiting the top tourist attractions in Upper Egypt while sailing along the Nile in the lap of luxury. With Nile River cruises, it is business as usual, even during the month of Ramadan.

Conclusion

If you are comfortable with the idea that many shops and restaurants will be closed or have reduced operating hours from sunrise to sunset, then you can still have an absolutely wonderful experience in Egypt, even during the month of Ramadan.

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At Egypt Tours Plus, we have a fantastic range of Egypt tour packages and 5-Star Nile River cruises that are perfect for any time of the year. We also offer high quality custom Egypt tours that only include those attractions and activities which you have told us you want to enjoy.

So, contact us now to find out more about how does Ramadan affect tourists in Egypt, or to start planning your trip or even to book your dream vacation to Egypt today.