Easter is fast approaching with Easter Sunday falling on April 5th this year. But the holiday weekend kicks off a few days earlier on Good Friday (April 3rd), or even Green Thursday (2nd) for some.
Many Germans may also take off some additional work days before or after the public holidays to secure a longer spring break. Families in particular often plan for a week or two of vacation to align with the school holiday period.
If you're not planning a longer vacation yourself, you'll still want to make note of the public holiday dates (on Friday, Sunday and Monday) that will see most businesses closed. If possible, you'd be advised to get your holiday grocery shopping done well ahead of the weekend.
Here's what to expect whilst you're out and about over the Easter break in Germany.
Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday
Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday (also called High or Holy Thursday in English) falls on April 2nd this year. This is the day that Christian churches remember The Last Supper.
READ ALSO: What exactly is Germany's Green Thursday?
It's not an official public holiday, so shops remain open and in most companies work continues as usual.
But it's not uncommon for Kitas to be closed on Thursday. In most states, the Easter school holidays have already started.
One thing to remember is that grocery stores will be very busy on this Thursday as people stock up for the holiday weekend.
Karfreitag or Good Friday
Good Friday is a public holiday, or Feiertag, which falls on the 3rd this year.
In the German Christian tradition, this day is observed as a day of mourning for the crucifixion of Jesus. (The word Kar comes from old German Kara, meaning sorrow or grief.)
For this reason, silence and quiet reflection are expected on Good Friday - church bells are not supposed to ring and music is not played. In many parts of Germany, maintaining this quiet holiday means it's still illegal to dance on Good Friday. But how strictly this is enforced is another question.
Most workplaces, as well as virtually all schools, will be shut for Karfreitag.
Also supermarkets, retail stores and pharmacies will mostly be closed. The main exceptions are some grocery stores in major train stations that are allowed to maintain open hours on Sundays and holidays.
Restaurants and cafes, however, are usually open on public holidays as are some kiosks, kebab shops and bars.
Saturday
On April 4th, life across the country will briefly resume as it would on any normal Saturday, because it's the one day that is not a public holiday during the four-day Easter weekend.
Most shops will be closed again on both the Sunday and Monday, so Saturday offers your last chance to run to the grocery store for any last items you'll need for the rest of the holiday.
Of course, you should expect that supermarkets will be busier than normal as many people will be doing the same thing. To avoid the crowds, try and go early if possible.
Ostern or Easter Sunday
Supermarkets and businesses will of course be closed over Easter - but on Sunday in Germany, that is par for the course.
Germans often spend this day with their families, so you can expect to see lots of people out in the city parks or nearby forests. Some families may engage in classic traditions like Easter egg hunts or attending an Easter church service.
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Ostermontag or Easter Monday
Easter Monday marks the end of the Easter holiday weekend and also the last public holiday of the set. This year it falls on April 6th.
In the Christian tradition, this day is for the celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, who reappeared to Mary Magdalene and many of his disciples three days after his crucifixion.
Once again, most businesses, including banks, post offices and supermarkets will be closed, and most employees will have the day off work. Hospitality businesses such as restaurants and bars, however, are likely to be open.
What about public transport?
Public transport runs throughout the holiday period, but on the public holidays most transport operators maintain a Sunday schedule.
Nationwide travel services, operated by Deutsche Bahn or Flix Bus, for example, also operate during the holiday period.
This year there major transport strikes over the holiday period are not very likely, despite a recent wave of strikes in public transportation and also at Lufthansa and Berlin airport. At Berlin airport, the Verdi union has ruled out further strikes until at least April 13th, and at Lufthansa a new agreement covering 20,000 ground staff was recently settled. However, strikes by other groups of Lufthansa employees, or in other sectors are still possible.
READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about Easter travel in Germany
What about schools?
Schools in Germany are closed on Easter Monday and Good Friday.
Pupils also get a longer spring or Easter holiday. This usually lasts two weeks and is known as the Osterferien.
The exact dates of school breaks vary from state to state.
In Baden-Württemberg, schools are out this year from March 30th to April 3rd. Meanwhile schools in Bavaria and also Berlin get an additional week off for their Easter break, which also starts on March 30th but extends to April 10th. And the same goes for students in North Rhine-Westphalia, with just one additional day at the end – until April 11th.
You can find the school holiday dates for your state here.
READ ALSO: How employees can make the most of Germany's public holidays in 2026
Doctors, pharmacies and hospitals
Doctors' offices and pharmacies are mainly closed on public holidays, such as Good Friday and Easter Monday.
If you need non-emergency medical attention, however, you could still try calling your GP first in case they have a message letting you know the details of an on-call doctor.
You can also contact the medical appointments service by dialling 116 117 if you have an urgent question about your health or need to find an emergency doctor. The 116117 website also has a directory for local medical offices near you.
In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police.
Since most pharmacies will be closed, you should make sure you have enough medication to get through the public holidays ahead of time. However, if you do need something urgently, you can search for an emergency pharmacy on Aponet.de.
Tourist attractions
Many tourist attractions will be open as normal throughout the Easter period, including Good Friday and Easter Monday but some may have altered opening hours.
If you plan to do some sightseeing at museums or similar attractions, be sure to check the opening hours before visiting.
With reporting by Rachel Loxton.
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