What's open and closed over Easter weekend in Germany
Easter is fast approaching with Easter Sunday falling on April 20th this year. But the holiday weekend kicks off a few days earlier on Good Friday (April 18th), or even Green Thursday (17th) for some.
Many Germans may also take off some additional work days before or after the public holidays to secure a longer spring break. Families in particular often plan for a week or two of vacation to align with the school holiday period.
If you're not planning a longer vacation yourself, you'll still want to make note of the public holiday dates that will see most businesses closed. (If possible, you'd be advised to get your holiday grocery shopping done well ahead of the weekend.)
So if you're planning to be out and about over the Easter break, here's what to expect.
Gründonnerstag
or Green Thursday
Gründonnerstag
or Green Thursday (also called High or Holy Thursday in English) falls on March 17th this year. This is the day that Christian churches remember The Last Supper.
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It's not an official public holiday, so shops remain open and in most companies work continues as usual. But it's not uncommon for
Kitas
to be closed on Thursday. In most states, the Easter school holidays have already started.
One thing to remember is that grocery stores will be very busy on this Thursday as people stock up for the holiday weekend.
Karfreitag
or Good Friday
Good Friday is a public holiday, or
Feiertag,
which falls on the 18th this year.
In the German Christian tradition, this day is observed as a day of mourning for the crucifixion of Jesus. (The word
Kar
comes from old German
Kara
, meaning sorrow or grief.)
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For this reason, silence and quiet reflection are expected on Good Friday - church bells are not supposed to ring and music is not played. In many parts of Germany, maintaining this quiet holiday means it's still
illegal to dance on Good Friday
. But how strictly this is enforced is another question.
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Most workplaces, as well as virtually all schools, will be shut for
Karfreitag.
Also supermarkets, retail stores and pharmacies will mostly be closed - so, again, make sure you have enough groceries at home ahead of the holiday weekend. The main exceptions are some
grocery stores in major train stations
that are allowed to maintain open hours on Sundays and holidays.
Restaurants and cafes, however, are usually open on public holidays as are some kiosks, kebab
shops and bars.
Saturday
On April 19th, life across the country will briefly resume as it would on any normal Saturday, because it's the one day that is not a public holiday during the four-day Easter weekend.
Most shops will be closed again on both the Sunday and Monday, so Saturday offers your last chance to run to the grocery store for any last items you'll need for the rest of the holiday.
Of course, you should expect that supermarkets will be busier than normal as many people will be doing the same thing. To avoid the crowds, try and go early if possible.
A tree decorated with plastic Easter eggs. Photo: Ina Fassbender
Ostern
or Easter Sunday
Supermarkets and businesses will of course be closed over Easter - but on Sunday in Germany, that is par for the course.
Germans often spend this day with their families, so you can expect to see lots of people out in the city parks or nearby forests. Some families may engage in classic traditions like Easter egg hunts or attending an Easter church service.
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Ostermontag
or Easter Monday
Easter Monday marks the end of the Easter holiday weekend and also the last public holiday of the set. This year it falls on April 21st.
In the Christian tradition, this day is for the celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, who reappeared to Mary Magdelene and many of his disciples three days after his cruxifiction.
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Practicising Christians take this resurrection as proof that Jesus is the son of God and believe that his death was to cleanse the world of sin.
Once again, most businesses, including banks, post offices and supermarkets will be closed, and most employees will have the day off work. Hospitality businesses such as restaurants and bars, however, are likely to be open.
What about public transport?
Public transport runs throughout the holiday period, but on the public holidays most transport operators maintain a Sunday schedule.
Nationwide travel services, operated by Deutsche Bahn or Flix Bus, for example, also operate during the holiday period.
This year there is little to no threat of transport strikes during the holiday as transport companies and unions have
just struck a deal
for better pay and conditions.
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How to navigate roads and trains in Germany over the Easter holidays
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What about schools?
Schools in Germany are closed on Easter Monday and Good Friday.
Pupils also get a longer spring or Easter holiday. This usually lasts two weeks and is known as the
Osterferien.
The exact dates of school breaks vary from state to state.
Chairs are stacked on top of desks at a school in Frankfurt am Main during the Easter holidays. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Arne Dedert
This year many states - including Berlin, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg - have school holidays from April 14th until the 25th. But in Bremen and Lower Saxony, for example, the holiday began the 7th and ends on the 21st.
For children in the city-state of Hamburg, things are a little bit different. Though pupils in the
Hansastadt
get the usual long weekend, their longer spring holidays take place in March instead, so they'll be back in school on Tuesday.
READ ALSO:
How employees in Germany can make the most of public holidays in 2025
Doctors, pharmacies and hospitals
Doctors' offices and pharmacies are mainly closed on public holidays, such as Good Friday and Easter Monday.
If you need non-emergency medical attention, however, you could still try calling your GP first in case they have a message letting you know the details of an on-call doctor.
You can also contact the medical appointments service by dialling 116 117 if you have an urgent question about your health or need to find an emergency doctor. The
116117 website
also has a directory for local medical offices near you.
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In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police.
Since most pharmacies will be closed, you should make sure you have enough medication to get through the public holidays ahead of time. However, if you do need something urgently,
you can search for an emergency pharmacy on Aponet.de
.
Tourist attractions
Many tourist attractions will be open as normal throughout the Easter period, including Good Friday and Easter Monday but some may operate altered opening hours.
If you want to some sightseeing, be sure to check the attraction's opening hours before visiting.
With reporting by Rachel Loxton.
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