What's on in Casablanca (Rabat), Morocco through the year

Busy — Mid-year holiday in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  19 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Cafes shut through the day in a city built around them, then the entire seafront eats at once. Working hours shorten and the traffic in the hour before sunset is the worst of the year. Source ↗

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter Atlantic swell (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  20–21 MarRamadan & EidClosures

  Two days when the city closes almost completely: no cafes, few taxis, and a corniche that belongs to families walking off a long lunch. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter Atlantic swell (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (20–21 Mar)

Peak crowds — Eid al-Adha, Fourth interim break (May) in Morocco

• Holiday

  Eid al-Adha

  27–29 MayRamadan & EidClosuresBook early

  The sheep festival empties Casablanca for two or three days while people travel home, and shops, restaurants and much of the transport stop with them. Book trains and flights a month out. Source ↗

Peak crowds — The Marhaba summer, Summer holidays in Morocco

• Holiday

  The Marhaba summer

  10 Jun – 15 Sep · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The annual return of Moroccans living abroad runs through the port and Mohammed V airport from mid-June to mid-September. Flights, ferries and coastal rentals price for it. Source ↗

• Festival

  Jazzablanca

  2–11 JulMajor festivalCrowded

  Ten days of concerts at Anfa Park in early July, with free stages in the Arab League park. It is the one stretch of the year the city centre behaves like a festival town. Source ↗

Still on: Eid al-Adha (27–29 May)

Peak crowds — The Marhaba summer, Jazzablanca

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: The Marhaba summer (10 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)), Jazzablanca (2–11 Jul)

Peak crowds — The Marhaba summer, Summer holidays in Morocco

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: The Marhaba summer (10 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — The Marhaba summer, Summer holidays in Morocco

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: The Marhaba summer (10 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — First interim break (October) in Morocco, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Winter Atlantic swell

  1 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallySurf seasonRisk

  The winter groundswell lands on Dar Bouazza and Ain Diab: good news for anyone who surfs, poor news for anyone who wanted a swim, and the lifeguards finish in October.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Second interim break (December) in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))