Ramadan and public holidays 2027 in Tunisia: dates and what they mean for travellers
In Tunisia, Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February and end on 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr on 10 March; Eid al-Adha is expected on 16 and 17 May. Beach resorts carry on almost as usual, but elsewhere restaurants close during the day and alcohol sales stop. Tunisia also has eight fixed national holidays, including 17 December.
Checked on 20 October 2026
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start in Tunisia on Monday 8 February and end on Tuesday 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr, the festival that ends the fast, on Wednesday 10 March. These dates come from astronomical calculations by the Cité des sciences in Tunis. The official date is set by the Fatwa Office, Tunisia's religious authority, after the new crescent moon is sighted the evening before, so a one-day shift is still possible.
The 2027 calendar
Religious holidays
Muslim holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar and move about ten days earlier each year. The 2027 dates are forecasts:
| Holiday | Expected date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Start of Ramadan 1448 | 8 February 2027 | Monday |
| Last day of Ramadan | 9 March 2027 | Tuesday |
| Eid al-Fitr, end of the fast | 10 March 2027 | Wednesday |
| Eid al-Adha (Aïd el-Kébir, Feast of the Sacrifice) | 16 and 17 May 2027 | Sunday and Monday |
| Ras el-Am el-Hijri, Islamic New Year 1449 | 6 June 2027 | Sunday |
| Mouled, the Prophet's Birthday | 14 August 2027 | Saturday |
The Eid al-Fitr holiday lasts two to three days. Some calendars put it on 9-11 March, assuming a 29-day Ramadan; 10 March, the date given by the Cité des sciences, remains the most likely.
Fixed national holidays
| Date | Holiday | Day in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Friday |
| 20 March | Independence Day | Saturday |
| 9 April | Martyrs' Day | Friday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Saturday |
| 25 July | Republic Day | Sunday |
| 13 August | Women's Day | Friday |
| 15 October | Evacuation Day | Friday |
| 17 December | Revolution and Youth Day | Friday |
17 December replaced 14 January as Revolution Day under a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette in December 2021. In 2027, Women's Day and the Mouled fall on consecutive days, 13 and 14 August.
Ramadan day to day
During Ramadan, observant Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke between dawn and sunset. Visitors are not expected to fast, but they are asked not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during the day. Fasting makes people tired, especially in the late afternoon.
In the beach resorts
Ramadan restrictions on alcohol and restaurants do not apply in holiday resorts. In Hammamet, Port El Kantaoui, Monastir or Djerba, hotels serve meals at the usual times. Some seat guests who eat during fasting hours apart from Muslim guests, for example behind screens.
In towns and inland
Outside tourist areas, restaurants close during the day and government offices shorten their hours. Alcohol sales are banned for the whole month and drinking is limited to a few bars and restaurants. Dress matters more: particular decency is expected during Ramadan, and clothing seen as inappropriate causes more offence at this time.
The evenings
After the fast is broken at sunset, streets and cafés come back to life. In Tunis, the Medina Festival is held every year during Ramadan, with evening concerts; its 42nd edition ran from 21 February to 15 March 2026, and the 2027 dates have not yet been announced.
Sites, museums and trains
Public sites and museums keep special Ramadan hours, in local time:
| Site | Ramadan hours |
|---|---|
| Bardo National Museum, Tunis | 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, closed Mondays |
| Carthage archaeological site | 8 am - 5 pm |
| El Jem amphitheatre | 8 am - 5 pm |
| Dougga | 8 am - 5 pm |
| Ribat of Sousse | 8 am - 5 pm |
| Sousse Archaeological Museum | 9 am - 4 pm, closed Mondays |
The timetables of SNCFT, Tunisia's national railway, valid from 1 September 2026 to 30 June 2027, exclude Ramadan, which has its own schedule: check departure times locally before taking a train. The guide Getting around Tunisia covers the useful lines, and Tunisia's sites and museums covers tickets.
Should you travel during Ramadan?
Ramadan 2027 falls at the end of winter. WMO (World Meteorological Organization) normals for 1991-2020 give average highs of 17 °C in February and 19 °C in March in Tunis, 18-21 °C in Djerba and 19-23 °C in Tozeur. It is a good time for the Saharan south and the ancient sites, less so for swimming: the sea stays around 15 °C.
For a beach stay or a large hotel, Ramadan changes little. On a tour inland, in Kairouan for example, plan to have lunch at your hotel, do your sightseeing in the morning and enjoy evenings that are livelier than usual. The Kairouan page gives the Great Mosque's opening hours.
Other holidays and what they change
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. These are the two big family festivals of the year. Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, falls in mid-spring in 2027, on 16 and 17 May.
- Mouled. In Kairouan, the Prophet's Birthday is celebrated over several days: in 2026 the festivities ran from 15 to 25 August. See the Mouled in Kairouan.
- National holidays. European governments note that demonstrations take place mainly at weekends, on Friday afternoons and on national dates, especially 14 January and 17 December. The guide Safety in Tunisia gives your country's advice.
The pages for Ramadan 2027, Eid al-Fitr 2027 and Eid al-Adha 2027 will be updated once the official dates are announced. Customs to observe the rest of the year are in the guide Customs in Tunisia.
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Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start in Tunisia?
On Monday 8 February 2027, according to astronomical calculations by the Cité des sciences in Tunis. The Fatwa Office announces the official date the evening before, after the crescent moon is sighted.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027 in Tunisia?
Wednesday 10 March 2027 is the most likely date. The holiday lasts two to three days.
Can you drink alcohol in Tunisia during Ramadan?
In the beach resorts, yes: Ramadan rules do not apply there. Elsewhere, alcohol sales are banned for the whole month and only a few bars and restaurants serve it.
Are restaurants open during Ramadan?
In tourist areas and hotels, yes. Outside them, most close during the day and reopen after the fast is broken at sunset.
Are museums open during Ramadan?
Yes, with special hours: the Bardo Museum opens from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and the Carthage site and El Jem amphitheatre from 8 am to 5 pm (local time).
What are the public holidays in Tunisia in 2027?
The eight fixed national holidays (1 January, 20 March, 9 April, 1 May, 25 July, 13 August, 15 October, 17 December) plus the religious holidays: Eid al-Fitr around 10 March, Eid al-Adha around 16-17 May, Islamic New Year around 6 June and the Mouled around 14 August.
Official sources
- France Diplomatie, Tunisie (accessed 20 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Tunisia travel advice (accessed 20 October 2026)
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