Public Holidays in Germany by State

German public holidays (Feiertage) are set by each federal state (Bundesland), not only by the federal government. Most states share the same nationwide holidays, but Catholic southern states often have more regional days than northern Protestant states.

On a public holiday, daily life slows down: shops, banks, and offices usually close. Public transport often runs a Sunday schedule. Restaurants, gas stations, and station shops may still open.

You will have about 9 to 13 public holidays per year depending on where you live. Bavaria has the most (about 13); the city of Augsburg has one more, the Peace Festival on 8 August. Many northern states have about 9 to 10.

For Sunday norms and quiet hours, see German Culture and Etiquette.

Nationwide holidays (all states)

These days are public holidays in every Bundesland:

• New Year’s Day (Neujahr) — 1 January
• Good Friday (Karfreitag) — date moves with Easter
• Easter Monday (Ostermontag) — day after Easter Sunday
• Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) — 1 May
• Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) — 39 days after Easter Sunday (always a Thursday)
• Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) — day after Pentecost Sunday
• German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) — 3 October
• Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag) — 25 December
• Boxing Day (2. Weihnachtstag) — 26 December

Easter-linked holidays change each year. Check a calendar when you plan travel.

State-only holidays (regional)

These apply only in the states listed. If you live in Saxony (including Dresden), the extra state holidays are mainly Reformation Day and Buß- und Bettag, not the Catholic feasts common in Bavaria.

Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) — 6 January
Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt (not Saxony).

International Women’s Day (Internationaler Frauentag) — 8 March
Berlin only.

Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) — Thursday, 60 days after Easter Sunday
Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and parts of Saxony and Thuringia (check your district).

Augsburg Peace Festival (Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest) — 8 August
City of Augsburg only (Bavaria).

Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) — 15 August
Most of Bavaria and Saarland.

World Children’s Day (Weltkindertag) — 20 September
Thuringia only.

Reformation Day (Reformationstag) — 31 October
Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.

All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) — 1 November
Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland.

Repentance Day (Buß- und Bettag) — Wednesday before Totensonntag (the Sunday before Advent Sunday) (Saxony only).

What closes, Brückentage, and school breaks

What is open or closed

Usually closed: supermarkets, most shops, banks, post offices, government offices, many businesses.

Often open: restaurants and cafes, gas stations (limited groceries), shops in train stations and airports, some museums.

Still running: emergency services, essential infrastructure. Trains usually operate on a reduced Sunday-style timetable.

Shop the day before a holiday if you need groceries.

Brückentage (bridge days)

A Brückentag is a vacation day taken to connect a holiday with a weekend.

• Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) is always on Thursday, so the following Friday is a popular bridge day.
• Any holiday on Thursday or Tuesday invites a four-day weekend.
• 24 and 31 December are often half-days at many employers (not always public holidays themselves).

Trains, hotels, and attractions fill up early. Book ahead.

School holidays (Schulferien)

School breaks are separate from public holidays and are staggered by state (KMK coordination).

Typical breaks include:

• Summer (Sommerferien) — about six weeks, dates vary by state
• Autumn, Christmas, Easter — usually one to two weeks each
• Some states add winter or Pentecost school holidays

Flights and accommodation cost more during school holiday periods. Exact dates: schulferien.org.

Planning tips

• Mark your state’s holidays in your calendar at the start of the year.
• Grocery-shop before long weekends and Easter week.
• Confirm appointments; offices often close the day before long breaks too.
• Avoid scheduling moves or official errands on holidays.
• Expect heavy Autobahn traffic when school holidays start or end in neighboring states.
• If you live in Saxony, remember 31 October and Buß- und Bettag in addition to nationwide dates.

Useful links

• schulferien.org — School holiday dates by state