Ramadan in Hurghada: 2027 dates, opening hours, restaurants and tips

Updated on October 18, 2026

Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting: from sunrise to sunset, people do not eat, drink or smoke. In 2027 it is expected to begin around 8 or 9 February and end around 9 or 10 March, with the Eid al-Fitr holiday; the exact date is announced the evening before by Dar al-Ifta, Egypt's religious authority, based on the sighting of the moon. The dates move forward by about ten days each year. In Hurghada, a town geared to tourists, hotels, excursions and beaches run as usual; only the rhythm of the town changes: quiet by day, very lively at night.

Highlights

The fanous

This lantern, lit and hung in the streets, at windows and in hotels, is the symbol of Ramadan in Egypt. Shops in El Dahar and Sakkala sell them in metal, coloured glass or fabric, a simple souvenir to take home.

Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast

At sunset, after the call to prayer, families gather around long tables, sometimes set up in the street for any passer-by. Many hotels offer an iftar buffet open to non-guests, and Ramadan tents serve the meal and then stay open for the evening.

Practical info

Tips

Do not eat, drink or smoke in the street in broad daylight, out of respect for those who are fasting; hotels and tourist restaurants serve as usual, often behind screens, and most local restaurants close by day and reopen at sunset. Alcohol is still served to non-Muslims in hotels and some venues, but some places remove it or turn down the music during the month: ask before you come. Dress more modestly in town (shoulders and knees covered). The price of an iftar buffet varies by hotel; ask when you book. Bank and government office hours are shortened, and shops often open late in the morning and reopen in the evening until late at night. The Eid holiday at the end of the month is a break when hotels are in high demand: book early.

How to get there

Ramadan tents and iftar buffets are found mainly in the hotels of Sheraton Road and the marina; the old town of El Dahar and Sakkala are the liveliest areas in the evening, for cafés and pastry shops. A taxi or Uber is enough to get there from the hotels.

Opening hours

Best: Evenings, after iftar

Every day, from iftar (sunset) until late at night; by day most local restaurants are closed and offices close early (2027 dates expected from 8-9 February to 9-10 March, to be confirmed)