Christmas in Germany 2026: What's Open and When Shops Close

Every December, someone new to Germany makes the same mistake. They head to the supermarket at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve to buy dinner, and find the doors locked and the car park half empty. In 2026 the calendar makes the trap even bigger: Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday, which means most shops will close by early afternoon and stay shut until the following Monday.

That’s roughly four days with no supermarkets, no clothes shops, and no hardware stores. If you’re spending Christmas in Germany this year, this guide shows what’s open, what isn’t, and how to plan around it. The dates below are calculated from the 2026 calendar, and opening hours come from published rules and examples from previous years, so always confirm locally.

The 2026 Calendar at a Glance

Date	Day	Status	What to expect
23 Dec	Wednesday	Normal working day	Your last full shopping day
24 Dec	Thursday	Heiligabend (Christmas Eve), not a public holiday	Shops may open until 14:00 at most
25 Dec	Friday	1st Christmas Day, public holiday	Shops closed
26 Dec	Saturday	2nd Christmas Day, public holiday	Shops closed
27 Dec	Sunday	Regular Sunday	Shops closed
28 to 30 Dec	Monday to Wednesday	Normal working days	Shops open as usual
31 Dec	Thursday	Silvester (New Year’s Eve), not a public holiday	Opening depends on state law, many shops close mid-afternoon
1 Jan	Friday	New Year’s Day, public holiday	Shops closed
2 Jan	Saturday	Normal Saturday	Shops open
3 Jan	Sunday	Regular Sunday	Shops closed
6 Jan	Wednesday	Epiphany	Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt only

Christmas Eve: Open, But Only Briefly

Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in Germany, even though it’s the main celebration of the season. Because it falls on a weekday this year, supermarkets and other shops can open, but opening hours are capped. In states such as Baden-Württemberg, retailers must close by 14:00, and chains often close earlier.

As examples from last year’s Christmas Eve, Aldi Süd opened from 7:00 to 14:00 (only until 13:30 in Baden-Württemberg and Hesse), Kaufland stayed open until 14:00, and most Rewe stores closed at 13:00. Opening hours can differ by store, so check your local branch. A few large chains also announce that they won’t open at all.

Shops at train stations and airports have more flexibility and can generally stay open until 17:00 on 24 December, and in some states that includes petrol stations and pharmacies. Most offices and many workplaces also finish around midday, and there’s no school anyway because of the Christmas holidays.

Tip: Expect the last hours before closing to be packed. If you can, shop on 23 December or early on the 24th.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

In Germany, 25 and 26 December are Erster Weihnachtsfeiertag and Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag, both public holidays in every state. Shops, supermarkets, and most services are closed, public transport usually runs on a Sunday or holiday timetable, and families spend the days at home with relatives.

Some things stay open:

Restaurants. Many serve special menus on 25 and 26 December, and booking ahead is wise. Many are closed on the evening of the 24th.
Museums and attractions. Many are open on 25 and 26 December, but not necessarily on the 24th. For example, the Hamburger Kunsthalle published a 2026 schedule that closes on 24 December and opens 10:00 to 18:00 on 25 and 26 December. Check each venue.
Petrol stations, station shops, and airport shops. Useful for essentials.
Emergency pharmacies (Notdienst-Apotheken). A rota of pharmacies covers each area. For urgent medical care outside normal hours, you can call the on-call doctor service on 116 117, and for emergencies call 112.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Silvester is not a public holiday. Shops may stay open longer than on Christmas Eve, but hours depend on state law, which in some states limits closing to the afternoon and in others allows later. In practice, many supermarkets close mid-afternoon, so shop in the morning if you’re planning a party. Many bakeries sell fresh rolls on New Year’s Eve until the afternoon, and some open on the morning of New Year’s Day.

New Year’s Day, 1 January, is a public holiday, so shops are closed. Normal opening resumes on Saturday, 2 January.

The Four-Day Stock-Up Plan

Because shops close early on 24 December and don’t reopen until Monday 28 December, plan for about four days. A simple approach:

By Wednesday 23 December: buy everything for Christmas dinner, drinks, gifts, batteries, candles, and any medicines.
Thursday morning, 24 December: pick up fresh bread, pastries, and any last-minute items before the early closing time.
Remember cash. Some smaller businesses, including bakeries and market stalls, still prefer cash.
Order specialty items in advance. Butchers, fishmongers, and farms often need advance orders for goose, duck, or carp.
Keep a backup. A station shop or petrol station can cover forgotten basics on the 24th afternoon and the holidays.

How Germans Actually Celebrate

For most families, the evening of 24 December is the main event. After an early dinner, the family exchanges gifts, called Bescherung, often after a visit to church or a candle-lit moment at home. The gift-bringer is the Christkind in many southern and Catholic regions and the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) in many northern and Protestant ones. For more on the build-up, see our guides to Advent in Germany and Germany’s Christmas markets.

Christmas Eve dinner is often simple. Potato salad with sausages is a classic in many households, and carp is traditional in some regions. The larger feast, often roast goose or duck, comes on 25 or 26 December. The goose tradition has its own story, which you can read in our article on Martinsgans.

Quiet Days and Christmas Markets

Christmas Eve is also one of the protected quiet days in several states, including Bavaria, with limits on public dancing. Our guide to the stille Feiertage explains how this works.

Christmas markets also have a calendar. Many open in the last week of November and close on or before 23 December, though a few continue later. Check the exact dates for each market before you travel, especially for 24 December, when most are closed.

Practical Tips

Book travel early. Trains and roads are busy in the days before and after Christmas.
Check local transport timetables. Holiday service is reduced, particularly on the evening of 24 December.
Reserve restaurants. Christmas Day and Boxing Day tables fill up quickly.
Don’t assume your supermarket’s hours. Individual stores set their own times within the legal limit.
Plan for next year too. In 2027, Christmas Eve falls on a Friday.

FAQ

Are shops open on Christmas Eve in Germany?
Many are, but only until 14:00 at the latest, and some close earlier or stay closed. Stations and airports have longer hours.

Is 24 December a public holiday in Germany?
No. It’s a normal working day for most people, although many workplaces close around midday.

Are supermarkets open on 25 and 26 December?
No. Both days are public holidays, and shops are closed.

When do shops reopen after Christmas in 2026?
On Monday, 28 December, because 27 December is a Sunday.