Hi all, planning first trip to Germany to visit my son who is teaching near Salzburg. We're planning to go around Christmas, visiting southern Germany, Salzburg, and perhaps Innsbruck. Since we'll be there during the Christmas and New Years holidays, can someone tell me - how common are Christmas closures, how widespread? I would expect everything to be closed Christmas Day, but will we have real problems seeing things on other days around that time?
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9222 posts
Christmas Eve, everything will pretty much either be closed for the day or will close around 14:00 at the latest. This includes restaurants.
On the 25th and 26th, all stores are closed, but restaurants will be busy. Museums may or may not be open or they may trade off opening hours. One day closed, next day open, or vice-versa. Check their websites.
Posted by
San Francisco
1008 posts
I know Salzburg XMas market is open Dec 24-26...
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1389 posts
Christmas Eve is the when most German Families do their gift exchange similar to US Christmas morning. Many places will close around noon to 14:00. Later Christmas Eve is also a big partying bar hoping evening for younger folks after the family parties are coming to a close, so many night spots open. Christmas day many restaurants will be open for mid day meal featuring Christmas Goose. 26 December is also a German Holiday. If you are in the ski regions almost everything will be open that caters to the skiing families on vacation over the holidays with some limited hours. Other than mid day 24 December, 25-26 December everything will be normal until Silvester (New Years). Mid day New Years eve and New Years day will be similar to Christmas as far as closures. Lots of private fireworks New Years Eve.