Pentecost, or Whitsun, is a Christian holiday that takes place 49 days after Easter Sunday.
In Germany, it's followed by a national public holiday called Pfingstmontag, or Whit Monday in English, which takes place on June 9th this year.
As with all public holidays, or Feiertage, you should expect the majority of shops and businesses to be closed – and the majority of bars, restaurants and cafés to be open.
Since the holiday follows a Sunday, it'll make for two days in a row when most supermarkets and grocery stores in Germany are closed, so remember to plan ahead and stock up on Friday or Saturday!
Here's a closer look at what's open and closed on June 9th.
Grocery stores
Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed on Monday 9th June.
However, some supermarkets (typically found in central train stations and airports) are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays.
For example, in Hamburg, Edeka will be open at the Hauptbahnhof as well as at the Altona train station. In Munich you can find supermarkets open at both Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof, and in Cologne there is a REWE To Go that should be open all day in the central station. In Berlin there are supermarkets that stay open on holidays is many of the main train stations. See this report in Kaufda magazine for a list of the supermarkets open in these cities.
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Some small kiosks or Spätis – especially in big cities – will remain open, offering a good option for last minute snacks and drinks.
Bakeries are also allowed to open for a few hours on public holidays – usually in the morning. But the decision to open and for how long varies from bakery to bakery, so make sure to check ahead if you’re looking forward to fresh bread on Monday morning.
Bars, restaurants and cafés
If you're out and about in one of Germany’s bigger cities during 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 will be closed on June 9th, as will banks, post offices and public administration offices.
Schools will also be closed and some states – including Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – are giving their pupils (and teachers) the day off on Tuesday June 10th as well.
Public transport & emergency services
Public transport runs as usual on holidays, including Pfingstmontag, but be aware that the majority of services will be running on a reduced, holiday timetable.
Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for June 9th, you might want to check to see if the appointment was made in error.
Emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open.
Most pharmacies will be closed, so it's best to ensure you have enough medication ahead of the holiday. German regulations require that a certain number of pharmacies remain open for emergency purposes, however. You can find a list of emergency service pharmacies here.
Tourist attractions and leisure activities
Many museums and other major tourist attractions close for public holidays, but some maintain holiday hours. So check ahead for the holidays hours before heading to a particular attraction on Monday.
Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany over Pfingsten, the holiday offers numerous opportunities to experience both traditional and contemporary German cultural traditions.
If you’re in the countryside, you may get the chance to see maypole dancing and cows decorated with flowers.
In Rothenburg, the Meistertrunk Show features a historical market, medieval costumes, and Biergarten parties.
Visitors to Berlin will also have the chance to attend one of Europe’s largest street festivals. The Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is a free, four-day festival and parade which features more than 4,000 performers showcasing the city’s cultural richness.
Take note that the route has changed this year, temporarily moving from Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain.
READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025
And have fun over the long weekend!
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