Don't forget that New Year's Day is a Feiertag, or national holiday.
This means that banks, supermarkets, immigration offices, post offices and most other regular businesses will be closed on Thursday this week.
New Year's Eve, on Wednesday, is also generally treated like a holiday (if not officially on the working calendar) and will see the closure of many businesses and services.
Then, just after the new year's first weekend comes Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, on Tuesday January 6th. This traditionally Catholic holiday is not a national holiday in Germany but is a public holiday in the states of in Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt.
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Are shops open on New Year's Eve?
Given December 31st is not a public holiday, supermarkets are allowed to open as normal on Wednesday – should you need to stock up on groceries before the holiday or grab a bottle of wine for end of year celebrations at the last minute.
While shops in half of German states are technically allowed to stay open all day, in practice most shops and supermarkets will be operating on reduced hours, with grocers like Edeka, Lidl, Rewe and Aldi closing at 2pm or at the latest 4pm.
Things are slightly different in Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Thuringia, where shops are obliged to close at 2pm.
The rules are different again in Bavaria and Saarland, where shops are only allowed to open between 6 am and 8 pm. There are also restrictions in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony, where sales are permitted from 6 am to 10 pm.
Again, just because shops can stay open later, don’t assume they will! Wherever you are in the country, it’s safest to assume that shops will close at 2pm on the 31st.
To avoid the rush, try and get your shopping done on Tuesday or as early as possible on Wednesday.
Some local shops and restaurants may also close early on the last day of the year so that their staff can join their friends and family to celebrate Silvester.
READ ALSO: Why on earth do Germans call New Year's Eve Silvester?
What's open on New Year's Day?
As New Year's Day is an official public holiday, don't expect to find much open on the first day of 2025. The first day of the new year in Germany is largely treated as a day for peaceful reflection – following the festive parties of the night before.
That said, you can expect that the types of businesses which stay open on Sundays and public holidays may also remain open on New Year's Day. These include some Döner kebab and snack kiosks, and Spätis or corner markets in urban areas.
If you really need something from the grocery store on Thursday, there are usually some options, especially in bigger cities. Supermarkets located in main train stations, such as those in a city's Hauptbahnhof (or also in big stations like SĂĽdkreuz or Ostbahnhof in Berlin) are legally allowed to operate on Sundays and holidays and many of them do.
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Some, but not all, restaurants may also be open. But its worth double checking before you head out.
Hotels also generally remain open on both New Years Eve and New Year's Day, but it'd be advisable to make reservations in advance.
Pharmacies and doctors' offices will largely be closed on Wednesday, and many of them may close early if they are open on Tuesday. For non-emergency medical assistance you can call 116 117. (In a medical emergency, call 112 for help, or 110 for police.)
Getting around
Public transportation as well as long-distance trains and buses will still run on the holiday, but many routes may run on a reduced schedule.
Berlin's BVG, for example, will run on its Saturday timetable on New Year's Eve and its Sunday / holiday timetable on New Year's Day.
Similar service reductions can be expected elsewhere in Germany. Check for local restrictions at your local transport company's website, or with your trusted navigation app.
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