Berlin Info: Public Holidays / Bank Holidays - nuBerlin (2024)

On this page you’ll find the dates for Public Holidays and Bank Holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg. For other states the dates may vary.

Public Holidays / Bank Holidays 2023

Public Holidays / Bank Holidays 2024

* only in Brandenburg / Potsdam –but not in Berlin
** only second half of the day is public holiday
*** only in Berlin
**** neither in Berlin nor in Brandenburg

local differences

As you might know already, Germany is a Federal Republic, consisting of 16 more or less independent states: Berlin, Brandenburg, Bavaria etc. – I guess you get the picture. And every state has or can have basically it’s own calendar of Public Holidays / Bank Holidays.

Although most of the dates, especially the Christian holidays are the same, some others may vary, depending on the local laws and regulations of the particular state. While the north and central regions of Germany are mostly Protestant, the south regions are mostly Catholic.

On this page I only list the dates for Public Holidays and Bank Holidays in Berlin. For Brandenburg and other states the dates may be handled differently.

Details

Good Friday

German: “Karfreitag”
The Friday before Easter all shops are closed. Only at airports and in train stations you may find shops that are open – and some kiosks and late shops may be open too. But you better do you your grocery shopping already a couple of days in advance. My personal recommendation at least on Wednesday, latest on Thursday before Easter you should have some food stocked for the weekend. Easter Saturday is however a regular Saturday so you could get buy groceries – theoretically. But my experience is that the Easter Saturday shopping experience is not a good one.

Easter Monday

German: “Ostermontag”
The Monday after Easter also all shops are closed – basically the same situation as on Good Friday. Easter Monday feels like another Sunday.

First of May / International Workers’ Day

German: “Tag der Arbeit” / “Erster Mai”
All shops are closed, all restaurants and bars open – feels like a regular Sunday*. There are however traditionally various different demonstrations across the city. Walking around some areas in Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and/or Mitte can be a bit ‘adventurous’ since every now and then there have been clashes / riots.

Feast of the Ascension / Father’s Day

(approximately 40 days after Easter)
German: Vatertag / Himmelfahrt
Shops are closed, restaurants open – feels like a Sunday.

Pentecost / “Whit Sunday” / Pfingsten

Pfingstsonntag Sunday “Whit Sunday” Sunday, approximately 49 days after Easter Sunday
Pfingstmontag / Monday “Whit Monday”
All shops are closed except for some shops atairports, in train stations, some kiosks and late shops. Restaurants are open – feels like another Sunday.

German Unity Day / Tag der Deutschen Einheit

On German Unity Day (“Tag der Deutschen Einheit”) basically all shops are closed. Bars, restaurants and café are however open. At airports and in train stations you may find shops that are actually open – and some kiosks and late shops may be open too.

Reformation Day / Reformationstag

In the Berlin surrounding state Brandenburg the Reformation Day (“Reformationstag”) is actually a Public Holiday – and most if not all shops are closed. In Berlin however Reformation Day is usually not a Public Holiday – but in 2017 on Reformation Day it actually was, because it’s the 500th anniversary of Luther putting up his thesis papers on the door of the Wittenberg Church.

All Saints / Allerheiligen

In Berlin All Saints (“Allerheiligen”) is not a Public Holiday in Berlin. It is however a Public Holiday in five other states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria (Bayern), North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) and Saarland. So chances are you may find quite a number of German short-trip visitors on All Saints in Berlin.

Day of Prayer and Repentance / Buß- und Bettag

The Day of Prayer and Repentance (“Buß- und Bettag”) is not a Public Holiday in Berlin – actually only in Saxony (Sachsen) the Day of Prayer and Repentance is a Public Holiday. In all other German States it’s a regular day – so shops and restaurants etc. are open.

New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Day (Silvester / Neujahrstag)

The last day of the year is half a public holiday. Shops are usually open until some time in the afternoon. Check the opening times early, in case you need to buy something on New Year’s Eve. Also don’t expect to be the only one who needs to get some last minute shopping done. The first day of the year is an off day – Public Holiday – shops are closed. And some restaurants and bars may also be closed – others may be open. But who wants to walk the Berlin streets on New Year’s Day anyways? Well – maybe I should give it a try someday…

General note on Public Holidays in Germany

These above listed Public Holidays are valid in Berlin. Depending on local laws and regulations other regions and states such as Bavaria and Saxony may have different or even more off-days. You can find a complete list of Public holidays in Germany over here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Germany

Do you have and thoughts, suggestions, additional recommendations or comments? Please feel free to leave your comment below. Thank you!