List of 17 public holidays in Germany for 2027, including New Year's Day, Epiphany, International Women's Day and more.
Germany's holiday culture is a blend of deep-rooted Christian traditions and regional secular festivals. From the cozy atmosphere of Christmas markets to the lively celebrations of Oktoberfest and the colorful chaos of Carnival, the country embraces seasonal festivities with local pride and community spirit.
On public holidays (Feiertage), Germany essentially shuts down; nearly all shops and supermarkets are closed. While public transport runs on a reduced Sunday schedule, long-distance trains can be extremely crowded. It is crucial to stock up on groceries a day in advance and book travel seats well ahead of time.
Business slows down significantly during the two weeks around Christmas and New Year. Avoid scheduling important meetings during 'Brueckentage' (bridge days), which are Mondays or Fridays falling between a holiday and a weekend. Sending festive greetings is appreciated, but keep them professional unless you have a close personal relationship.
Visit in December to experience the magical Christmas markets or late September for Oktoberfest. To avoid crowds and closures, late spring (May and June) is ideal, though travelers should be mindful of several religious holidays that result in 'Stille Tage' (silent days) in certain regions.
For Christmas: 'Frohe Weihnachten'. For New Year: 'Guten Rutsch' (before) and 'Frohes Neues Jahr' (after). During Easter: 'Frohe Ostern'. In Bavaria during Oktoberfest: 'O'zapft is!'.