Public Holidays in Germany

ByDavid J. Stuck Hours Posted on
A scenic view of a mountain with a river and a historic castle, representing Germany holidays.
đŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș Part of: Germany Guide

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 LĂ€nder). 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.

HolidayWhenWhat It Usually Means For You
New Year’s Day (Neujahr)January 1Quiet streets, closed shops, relaxed start.
Good Friday (Karfreitag)Friday before Easter SundayMany places close; plan groceries early.
Easter Monday (Ostermontag)Monday after Easter SundayLong weekend energy; transport can be busier.
Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)May 1Day 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 3Germany’s national day; expect closures like any holiday.
Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag)December 25Family-focused, very calm, most shops closed.
Second Day Of Christmas (2. Weihnachtstag)December 26Holiday 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.

HolidayWhere It’s A Day OffQuick Note
Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige)Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-AnhaltFalls on January 6.
International Women’s DayBerlin, Mecklenburg-VorpommernMarch 8; often paired with cultural events.
Easter SundayBrandenburgIt’s a Sunday anyway, but it has official holiday status there.
Whit SundayBrandenburgSame idea: Sunday, but officially recognized as a holiday.
Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam)Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland; also in some municipalities in Saxony and ThuringiaMoves yearly and always lands on a Thursday.
Assumption Day (MariÀ Himmelfahrt)Saarland; also in some municipalities in BavariaAugust 15; local rules matter here.
Augsburg Peace FestivalCity of Augsburg (Bavaria) onlyA city-specific public holiday on August 8.
World Children’s DayThuringiaSeptember 20; family-focused celebrations.
Reformation Day (Reformationstag)Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, ThuringiaOctober 31; not observed nationwide.
All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen)Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, SaarlandNovember 1.
Repentance Day (Buß- und Bettag)SaxonyAlways 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.

BrĂŒckentage: Stretching Your Time Off

German speakers love the word BrĂŒckentag—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.

  1. Spot a Thursday holiday (Ascension Day is the famous one).
  2. Take Friday off.
  3. 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

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