What's open and closed in Germany on Ascension Day?

Ascension Day, known as Christi Himmelfahrt in German, is among the nine public holidays that are observed in all federal states.

It's observed on May 14th this year, so those living in Germany should expect most businesses to be closed on Thursday.

The day is also known as Father's Day (Vatertag) or Men's Day (Männertag), and many German men take it upon themselves to spend the day hiking outside with a wagon full of beer in tow.

Almost all supermarkets are to be closed for the holiday, as will be offices, government services and schools. 

Restaurants, cafes and beer gardens on the other hand can often remain open as holiday traffic makes it a good day for business.

Here's an overview of what's open and what's closed this Thursday, May 14th, in Germany.

Grocery stores

Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed closed for Christi Himmelfahrt.

However, there certain supermarkets (typically found in central train stations, airports or petrol stations) that are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays. So if you know of a grocery store in your local Bahnhof where you like to shop on Sundays it may also be open for the holiday.

Small kiosks or Spätis -- especially those in big cities -- may also remain open, and are a decent option if you need last minute snacks or drinks.

Bakeries are also sometimes open, at least for a few hours, on public holidays -- usually in the morning. But holiday hours here depend on the operator, so check ahead before counting on picking up fresh bread on Thursday morning.

Generally speaking, however, you'll want to stock up on groceries for Thursday ahead of time.

REVEALED: Where to buy groceries on a Sunday in Germany

Bars, restaurants and cafés

As mentioned above, many hospitality businesses, especially those in tourist areas and big cities, will often stay open to cater to the holiday crowds.

But it is also sometimes the case that business owners or staff would rather have the day off themselves.

So if you're out and about in a bigger city for 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.

Offices, banks and schools

Almost all offices are set to be closed on May 14th, as are banks, post offices and public administration offices.

Since the holiday falls on a Thursday, some offices (and many workers) often plan to 'bridge' the holiday and remain closed Friday as well.

Schools also close and, once again, some schools may decide to give their pupils (and teachers) the Friday off too.

READ ALSO: Brückentag, Fenstertag and Zwickeltag - All the German words for getting longer holiday weekends

Public transport & emergency services

Public transport runs as usual on holidays including Christi Himmelfahrt, but be aware that transport in most cases will be running on a holiday timetable with reduced services.

Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you do have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for May 14th, you may want to check ahead that the appointment was not made in error.

But emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open.

If you have a non-emergency medical issue on Thursday, you can dial 116 117 or try this website for a directory for local medical offices near you. In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police.

Most pharmacies will be closed. But German regulations require a certain amount of pharmacies to remain open for emergency purposes. If you need one, you can find a list of emergency service pharmacies here.

Tourist attractions and leisure activities

Museums and other major tourist attractions can be a mixed bag, with some closing for public holidays and others maintaining holiday hours. 

Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany at this time, the holiday offers an opportunity to experience contemporary German cultural traditions.

You could do as the Germans do and take a crate of beer to the nearest forest or lake, and not return home until every last drop has been drunk.

For both drinkers and non-drinkers alike, the holiday is celebrated by many Germans with a trek or a bike ride into nature with a group of friends.

EXPLAINED: Why Germans get wholly wasted on Ascension Day

Or you could take it easy and plan your day around any of the special events set to make the holiday. To get started, here are the official city event pages for Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich.

Regional differences in shop closures

It's worth noting that the extent of shop closures for the holiday varies from region to region.

According to a report by Heidelberg 24, all day closures are standard i the state of Baden-Württemberg where opening hours are severely restricted by state regulations.

Compared to other regions, the city-states of Berlin or Bremen are more relaxed -- there some Spätis can remain open all day.

Touristy places such as the island of Sylt or some parts of Bavaria also use special regulations for the holiday which make allowances for certain hospitality businesses.