What's open and closed for Pentecost in Germany?
Pentecost, or Whitsun, is a Christian holiday that takes place 49 days after Easter Sunday.
In Germany, it's followed by a national public holiday called
Pfingstmontag
,
or Whit Monday in English, which takes place on June 9th this year.
As with all public holidays, or
Feiertage,
you should expect the majority of shops and businesses to be closed – and the majority of bars, restaurants and cafés to be open.
Since the holiday follows a Sunday, it'll make for two days in a row when most supermarkets and grocery stores in Germany are closed, so remember to plan ahead and stock up on Friday or Saturday!
Here's a closer look at what's open and closed on June 9th.
Grocery stores
Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed on Monday 9
th
June.
However, some supermarkets (typically found in central train stations and airports) are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays.
For example, in Hamburg, Edeka will be open at the Hauptbahnhof as well as at the Altona train station. In Munich you can find supermarkets open at both Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof, and in Cologne there is a REWE To Go that should be open all day in the central station. In Berlin there are supermarkets that stay open on holidays is many of the main train stations. See
this report in
Kaufda
magazine for a list of the supermarkets open in these cities.
READ ALSO:
What your choice of German supermarket says about you
Some small kiosks or
Spätis
– especially in big cities – will remain open, offering a good option for last minute snacks and drinks.
Bakeries are also allowed to open for a few hours on public holidays – usually in the morning. But the decision to open and for how long varies from bakery to bakery, so make sure to check ahead if you're looking forward to fresh bread on Monday morning.
Advertisement
Bars, restaurants and cafés
If you're out and about in one of Germany's bigger cities during the holiday, you shouldn't have much trouble finding something to eat or a place to have a drink, but you'll want to check in advance if you have plans to meet friends at a particular place.
White peonies glow in the sunshine against the Frankfurt skyline. The photo was taken in the Taunus town of Bad Soden. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hannes P. Albert
Offices, banks and schools
Almost all offices will be closed on June 9th, as will banks, post offices and public administration offices.
Schools will also be closed and some states – including Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – are giving their pupils (and teachers) the day off on Tuesday June 10
th
as well.
Public transport & emergency services
Public transport runs as usual on holidays, including
Pfingstmontag
, but be aware that the majority of services will be running on a reduced, holiday timetable.
Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for June 9th, you might want to check to see if the appointment was made in error.
Emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open.
Most pharmacies will be closed, so it's best to ensure you have enough medication ahead of the holiday. German regulations require that a certain number of pharmacies remain open for emergency purposes, however. You can find a list of emergency service pharmacies
here
.
Tourist attractions and leisure activities
Many museums and other major tourist attractions close for public holidays, but some maintain holiday hours. So check ahead for the holidays hours before heading to a particular attraction on Monday.
Advertisement
Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany over
Pfingsten
, the holiday offers numerous opportunities to experience both traditional and contemporary German cultural traditions.
If you're in the countryside, you may get the chance to see maypole dancing and cows decorated with flowers.
In Rothenburg, the
Meistertrunk Show
features a historical market, medieval costumes, and
Biergarten
parties.
Visitors to Berlin will also have the chance to attend one of Europe's largest street festivals. The
Karneval der Kulturen
(Carnival of Cultures) is a free, four-day festival and parade which features more than 4,000 performers showcasing the city's cultural richness.
Dancers are seen at the parade for the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin. The international street parade with music and dance groups attracts thousands of visitors. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska
Take note that the
route
has changed this year, temporarily moving from Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain.
READ ALSO:
Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025
And have fun over the long weekend!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Germany
2 days ago
- Local Germany
What's open and closed for Pentecost in Germany?
Pentecost, or Whitsun, is a Christian holiday that takes place 49 days after Easter Sunday. In Germany, it's followed by a national public holiday called Pfingstmontag , or Whit Monday in English, which takes place on June 9th this year. As with all public holidays, or Feiertage, you should expect the majority of shops and businesses to be closed – and the majority of bars, restaurants and cafés to be open. Since the holiday follows a Sunday, it'll make for two days in a row when most supermarkets and grocery stores in Germany are closed, so remember to plan ahead and stock up on Friday or Saturday! Here's a closer look at what's open and closed on June 9th. Grocery stores Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed on Monday 9 th June. However, some supermarkets (typically found in central train stations and airports) are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays. For example, in Hamburg, Edeka will be open at the Hauptbahnhof as well as at the Altona train station. In Munich you can find supermarkets open at both Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof, and in Cologne there is a REWE To Go that should be open all day in the central station. In Berlin there are supermarkets that stay open on holidays is many of the main train stations. See this report in Kaufda magazine for a list of the supermarkets open in these cities. READ ALSO: What your choice of German supermarket says about you Some small kiosks or Spätis – especially in big cities – will remain open, offering a good option for last minute snacks and drinks. Bakeries are also allowed to open for a few hours on public holidays – usually in the morning. But the decision to open and for how long varies from bakery to bakery, so make sure to check ahead if you're looking forward to fresh bread on Monday morning. Advertisement Bars, restaurants and cafés If you're out and about in one of Germany's bigger cities during the holiday, you shouldn't have much trouble finding something to eat or a place to have a drink, but you'll want to check in advance if you have plans to meet friends at a particular place. White peonies glow in the sunshine against the Frankfurt skyline. The photo was taken in the Taunus town of Bad Soden. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hannes P. Albert Offices, banks and schools Almost all offices will be closed on June 9th, as will banks, post offices and public administration offices. Schools will also be closed and some states – including Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – are giving their pupils (and teachers) the day off on Tuesday June 10 th as well. Public transport & emergency services Public transport runs as usual on holidays, including Pfingstmontag , but be aware that the majority of services will be running on a reduced, holiday timetable. Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for June 9th, you might want to check to see if the appointment was made in error. Emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open. Most pharmacies will be closed, so it's best to ensure you have enough medication ahead of the holiday. German regulations require that a certain number of pharmacies remain open for emergency purposes, however. You can find a list of emergency service pharmacies here . Tourist attractions and leisure activities Many museums and other major tourist attractions close for public holidays, but some maintain holiday hours. So check ahead for the holidays hours before heading to a particular attraction on Monday. Advertisement Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany over Pfingsten , the holiday offers numerous opportunities to experience both traditional and contemporary German cultural traditions. If you're in the countryside, you may get the chance to see maypole dancing and cows decorated with flowers. In Rothenburg, the Meistertrunk Show features a historical market, medieval costumes, and Biergarten parties. Visitors to Berlin will also have the chance to attend one of Europe's largest street festivals. The Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is a free, four-day festival and parade which features more than 4,000 performers showcasing the city's cultural richness. Dancers are seen at the parade for the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin. The international street parade with music and dance groups attracts thousands of visitors. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska Take note that the route has changed this year, temporarily moving from Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain. READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025 And have fun over the long weekend!
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Local Germany
Where drivers from Germany can save on fuel over the Whitsun weekend
Regularly employed workers in Germany are looking forward to the upcoming public holiday of Pfingstmontag , or Whit Monday, on July 9th -- and many are sure to take advantage of the three-day weekend with a short trip across Germany or elsewhere in Europe. If you're driving somewhere for the holiday weekend you can save yourself some money by being strategic about where you fuel up. Especially if you'll be driving outside Germany it's worth taking a moment to consider refuelling before or after certain borders. Price differences across Europe are primarily the result of different taxes and duties. Fluctuations in oil prices, on the other hand, usually affect all countries. Here's an overview of where drivers coming from Germany can save the most on fuel, depending on where you're going -- according to recent fuel price data from the EU Commission. Heading south Gasoline in Austria is 22 cents cheaper than in Germany on average, and diesel fuel is six cents cheaper. So it's generally better to refill your tank on the other side of the border. However, if you're merely passing through Austria on the way, the most cost effective place to refuel depends on your destination: in Italy, fuel is more expensive than in Austria, but in Slovenia, Croatia or Hungary it's cheaper. In Slovakia, gasoline and diesel are slightly cheaper than in Austria. Advertisement Switzerland is not a cheap country for refuelling. There are no figures from the EU Commission, but according to information from the Touring Club Switzerland, fuel is more expensive there than in Germany, Italy or France. Any diesel drivers with plans to cross Switzerland to Italy would be advised to fill up the tank before leaving Germany, because diesel is cheaper in Germany than either of the other countries. READ ALSO: Switzerland suspends Deutsche Bahn trains due to chronic delays Heading west Fuel in France is almost on a par with Germany. But if you're driving through to Spain, you can save significantly by holding off on your refill until then. Belgium has significantly cheaper gasoline - by 16 cents per litre - but diesel is 7 cents more expensive than in Germany. In the Netherlands, it is 17 and 7 cents more expensive than in Germany, respectively. Luxembourg has the cheapest fuel in the West, with gasoline that is 24 cents less than in Germany and diesel that is 16 cents less. Advertisement To the East If you're headed eastward, you'll naturally benefit from some of the cheapest gasoline prices within driving distance of Germany. In both Poland and the Czech Republic, drivers can save around 35 cents per litre. Diesel is also cheaper here, at about 18 and 22 cents less, respectively. Continuing in the direction of the Baltic States, fuel is still cheaper than in Germany, but more expensive than in Poland. The same is true in Hungary or Slovakia in comparison with the Czech Republic. In all these cases, you can save a bit on your return journey by topping up before the border before entering Poland or the Czech Republic. Northbound If you're headed to Denmark, it's cheaper to fill up beforehand. Premium gasoline is 23 cents more expensive there than in Germany, and diesel is 14 cents more. If you continue on to Sweden, however, fuel becomes cheaper: Super is 28 cents cheaper there than in Germany, and diesel is 9 cents less. READ ALSO: Five 'coolcation' spots you can reach by train from Germany Other tips Prices also vary between individual petrol stations, and depending on the time, region and whether you fill up on the motorway or a country road. Also, differences between countries are often lower directly before and after the border. Generally, you are better off refuelling late in the evening, or at least outside commuter hours. You might consider filling up the evening before departure when fuel tends to be a few cents cheaper than in the morning, for instance. Planning your fuel stops for strategic points on your route may help you save a bit on transport costs, but driving out of your way for cheaper gas usually won't. With reporting by DPA.
Local Germany
26-05-2025
- Local Germany
German rail passengers to see long-distance connections cancelled over Pentecost
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced repairs to be carried out between Saarbrücken and Mannheim from June 4th to the 13th -- including the Whitsun holiday weekend. The construction work will bring long-distance rail services through the region to a halt, affecting trains travelling between Frankfurt or Stuttgart and Saarbrücken. The work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 4th, at 7:00 p.m. and finish on Friday, June 13th, at 5:00 a.m. During this time some long-distance services between Paris and Frankfurt will be disrupted. DB's long-distance (ICE) trains as well as France's high-speed intercity TGV trains, which normally stop in Saarbrücken, will be diverted via Karlsruhe and Strasbourg. Long-distance disruptions around Saarbrücken During the work, long-distance EC trains that run between Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Munich, and Graz are to be cancelled between Saarbrücken and Stuttgart. The same applies to the ICE trains between Saarbrücken and Munich. So passengers coming from Saarbrücken, Homburg, Kaiserslautern, and Neustadt (Weinstraße) will only be able to connect to long-distance services via regional trains and S-Bahn services to and from Mannheim. Local and regional disruptions S-Bahn services in the Saarland will also be affected (and replaced with bus services in some instances). The S2 line from Kaiserslautern to Mosbach (Baden) will be cancelled between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern in both directions. According to a report by SR Aktuelle , an hourly connection on the S1 line -- linking Homburg, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Osterburken is available as an alternative. In the evening, both the S1 and S2 will be replaced by buses -- starting in Neustadt from 8:39 p.m., and in Kaiserslautern from 8:58 p.m. Buses will also run for the S44 from Kaiserslautern at 3.55 a.m. and 4.00 a.m. to Neustadt. Advertisement Several regional (RB) connections will also be cancelled or altered. The RE 6 line from Kaiserslautern to Karlsruhe will be cancelled in both directions between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern. The RB56 from Kaiserslautern to Bundenthal Rumbach will be cancelled at certain times: on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8.37 a.m. In the opposite direction, the train from Neustadt to Kaiserslautern will be cancelled from 5.50 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. Between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern, the RB45 trains will be cancelled at specific times on June 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Both regional and long-distance passengers travelling in this region would be advised to double check current timetables on the DB app or website before beginning their journey. LISTED: The major rail disruption to prepare for in Germany this summer
