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Local Germany
4 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
08-05-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
How German retailers help Swiss shoppers circumvent tax rules
Despite the lower tax exemptions, business owners in Germany are keen to keep Swiss shoppers, and have found a way to help their customers maximise the tax-free allowance without actually breaking the law. How? The answer is simple: carpooling. Rather than have one person per car – and thus be limited to a 150-franc tax allowance – German supermarkets like Edeka and Marktkauf are urging their Swiss customers to shop in groups. In other words, every passenger is entitled to a 150-franc minimum, even those who don't actually shop. Edeka and Marktkauf, for instance, are using posters showing a car with a Swiss flag and a family waving happily, accompanied by the slogan: "Shop together, save together." Many people seem to have heeded this advice because, according to media reports , 'customs officials report fuller cars, as more people are traveling together to maximise the tax allowances". Fuller cars, less tax revenue for Swiss cantons Officials in the cantons bordering Germany are obviously not happy about this shopping strategy. The original intent of halving the tax exemption in the first place was to make shopping abroad less attractive for the Swiss, encouraging them to spend their money locally instead and thus benefit Switzerland's economy in general and retail sector in particular. Advertisement Draconian measures Given the full-car strategy, the border cantons of Thurgau and St. Gallen are calling for the customs exemption limit to be completely abolished, which would imply that any shopping done abroad, no matter the amount, would be taxed. Therefore, the appeal of cross-border shopping sprees would disappear. Walter Schönholzer, director of Thurgau's Economic Affairs said that he would monitor the effects of the new regulation and make adjustments if necessary. However, Sandra Stadler of the canton's Centre Party pointed out that it would be 'disproportionate' to impose customs on even the smallest purchases. It would also create bottlenecks at border crossings as each car would have to be stopped and checked for purchases. There is no news about the situation at Swiss borders with France and Italy.
