Public holidays in Germany can feel like surprise little “pause buttons” on everyday life. One minute you’re planning errands, the next minute you’re staring at a closed supermarket door like it’s a plot twist. The good news: once you know how the system works, you can plan smarter, travel smoother, and actually enjoy the quiet.
Quick Snapshot
- 9 public holidays are observed nationwide across Germany.
- Extra days off depend on the federal state (and sometimes even the city).
- Many dates move each year because they’re linked to Easter (yes, it’s that powerful).
Tiny tip: If you’re traveling, always check the holiday calendar for the specific state you’re visiting—Berlin and Bavaria can have very different “days off” vibes.
How Public Holidays Work In Germany
Germany is a federal country made up of 16 states (called Länder). That matters because most public holidays are decided at the state level. So while the whole country shares a core set of holidays, you’ll also see regional public holidays that only apply in certain states—and sometimes only in specific municipalities.
On a gesetzlicher Feiertag (a statutory public holiday), many shops close, public offices take the day off, and schedules shift. Restaurants, cafés, and tourist attractions often stay open, but hours can be shorter than usual.
Friendly reality check: If a holiday lands on a weekend, it typically stays on that date. No automatic “make-up day” on Monday. So you’ll want to plan vacations with weekday holidays in mind.
Nationwide Public Holidays
These are the nine statutory holidays observed across all of Germany. You can treat them as the “standard set” no matter where you are—Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, anywhere.
| Holiday | When | What It Usually Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Neujahr) | January 1 | Quiet streets, closed shops, relaxed start. |
| Good Friday (Karfreitag) | Friday before Easter Sunday | Many places close; plan groceries early. |
| Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | Monday after Easter Sunday | Long weekend energy; transport can be busier. |
| Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | May 1 | Day off nationwide; lots of family time outdoors. |
| Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | Always a Thursday (moves yearly) | Classic long-weekend starter. |
| Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | Monday after Whit Sunday (moves yearly) | Another long weekend; popular for short trips. |
| German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | October 3 | Germany’s national day; expect closures like any holiday. |
| Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag) | December 25 | Family-focused, very calm, most shops closed. |
| Second Day Of Christmas (2. Weihnachtstag) | December 26 | Holiday continues; many places remain closed. |
Movable Holidays: The Easter Connection
If you ever wondered why Germany’s holiday dates “slide” around the calendar, Easter is usually the reason. A few key days are calculated relative to Easter Sunday:
- Good Friday: two days before Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday: the day after Easter Sunday
- Ascension Day: always a Thursday (39 days after Easter Sunday)
- Whit Monday: always a Monday (50 days after Easter Sunday)
Once you get the pattern, it’s surprisingly easy to spot long weekends coming from a mile away.
Regional Public Holidays By State
This is where Germany gets fun (and a little sneaky). Depending on the state, you may get extra holidays that your friends in another city don’t get. If you work across states, this can be a real calendar puzzle—in a good way.
Travel tip you’ll use forever: When you’re booking trains, hotels, or museum tickets, check both your departure state and your destination state. A holiday in one place can mean fuller trains everywhere nearby.
| Holiday | Where It’s A Day Off | Quick Note |
|---|---|---|
| Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt | Falls on January 6. |
| International Women’s Day | Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | March 8; often paired with cultural events. |
| Easter Sunday | Brandenburg | It’s a Sunday anyway, but it has official holiday status there. |
| Whit Sunday | Brandenburg | Same idea: Sunday, but officially recognized as a holiday. |
| Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland; also in some municipalities in Saxony and Thuringia | Moves yearly and always lands on a Thursday. |
| Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | Saarland; also in some municipalities in Bavaria | August 15; local rules matter here. |
| Augsburg Peace Festival | City of Augsburg (Bavaria) only | A city-specific public holiday on August 8. |
| World Children’s Day | Thuringia | September 20; family-focused celebrations. |
| Reformation Day (Reformationstag) | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia | October 31; not observed nationwide. |
| All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland | November 1. |
| Repentance Day (Buß- und Bettag) | Saxony | Always a Wednesday in November (date moves yearly). |
Not sure about your municipality? For a few holidays (like Corpus Christi or Assumption Day in parts of Bavaria), the safest move is to check your town’s official calendar. It’ll save you from turning up to a closed office door when you really needed that one stamp.
What Changes On A Public Holiday
Shops
- Supermarkets are usually closed.
- Small kiosks at big train stations or airports may still open.
- Pharmacies rotate an on-call service (good to know, even if you hope you won’t need it).
Transport
- Public transport usually runs, often on a Sunday schedule.
- Long weekends can mean fuller trains—especially around Ascension and Whit Monday.
- If you’re driving, popular routes to lakes and mountains can get lively.
Attractions
- Many museums and tourist sights open, especially in big cities.
- Guided tours often run, but booking ahead is smart.
- Parks, viewpoints, and walking routes feel extra peaceful—like the city took a deep breath.
Offices
- Public offices and many banks are closed.
- Deliveries can slow down around multi-day holiday clusters.
- If you’re waiting on paperwork, plan around holidays to avoid delays.
Brückentage: Stretching Your Time Off
German speakers love the word Brückentag—a “bridge day” you take off between a holiday and the weekend. It’s like placing one plank across a gap and suddenly you’ve got a whole mini-vacation.
- Spot a Thursday holiday (Ascension Day is the famous one).
- Take Friday off.
- Enjoy a four-day break without touching a full week of vacation days.
If you live in a state where Corpus Christi is a holiday, you get another Thursday that’s basically begging to be bridged. Plan early—prices and availability can shift fast around long weekends, and yes, it can happen definately sooner than you expect.
Simple Planning Checklist
- Check your state and your destination state for regional holidays.
- Buy groceries the day before (especially before Good Friday and Christmas).
- Reserve trains early for long-weekend travel.
- For must-do errands, aim for Tuesday to Thursday in holiday-heavy weeks.
Quick FAQ
Are All German Public Holidays National?
No. Germany has a nationwide core set, but many public holidays are decided by the states. That’s why you’ll see “extra” holidays in some places and not others.
Do Shops Always Close?
Most regular retail shops close. Tourist areas often keep restaurants, cafés, and some convenience spots running. Big train stations can be your lifesaver for basics.
Is Public Transport Still Running?
Usually yes, but often on a reduced schedule. If you’re catching a flight or long-distance train, it’s worth checking your route the day before.
Sources
- Protokoll Inland (Federal) – National Days Of Remembrance And Public Holidays
- Brandenburg Law Portal – Feiertagsgesetz (List Of Recognized Holidays)
- Baden-Württemberg Interior Ministry – Feiertage
- Berlin.de – International Women’s Day As A Statutory Public Holiday
- Landtag Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (PDF) – Amendment On International Women’s Day
- Thuringia State Law Portal – Thüringer Feier- Und Gedenktagsgesetz (Holiday List)
- City Of Augsburg – High Peace Festival (Municipal Public Holiday)
