Throughout the year, there are several Christian and national holidays in the city of Vienna and throughout Austria. Holidays in Vienna are very similar to Sundays in the city – most shops are closed. Although the city feels more sleepy on these days as many locals travel out of the city, even if you stay within Vienna, there are enough things open to fill a full day of sightseeing. It’s worth noting that on these days there is often more pressure on popular attractions and there may be queues at the entrance.
Holidays in Vienna and Austria when many businesses are closed – all the updated dates:
12 days a year are national holidays in Austria. Most of the holidays are actually Christian holidays (some are famous like Easter or Christmas and some are memorial days for Christian saints). Some of the holidays are civil holidays. In addition, every Sunday is like the Austrians’ Sabbath. On these days, according to the law, businesses must be closed to allow employees to be with their families and rest.
When planning a trip to Vienna, it’s a good idea to check in advance if there is a holiday during your stay and prepare accordingly – on these days most businesses that are not in the tourism sector will be closed.
This is the list of holidays (regardless of Sundays) on which many places are closed, details and an explanation of what is open and what is closed will be given later in the article:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 6 – Christian Holiday
- April 1-21 – Easter (The date of Easter changes every year. This date is valid for 2025. Click for the list of Easter dates until 2029)
- May 1 – Labor Day
- May 29 – Christian Holiday (The date of the holiday changes every year. This date is valid for 2025. Click for the list of holidays until 2029)
- June 9 – Christian Holiday (The date of the holiday changes every year. This date is valid for 2025. Click for the list of holidays until 2029)
- June 19 – Christian Holiday (The date of this holiday changes every year. This date is valid for 2025. Click for the list of holidays until 2029)
- August 15 – Christian Holiday
- October 26 – National Day (“Independence Day”)
- November 1 – Christian Holiday
- November 15 – Christian Holiday (in Vienna only)
- December 8 – A minor Christian Holiday (most shops are open unless it falls on a Sunday)
- December 25 – Christmas
- December 26 – Christian Holiday
On these days, Vienna will feel a little different from a regular day, but surprisingly, many tend to get stressed and think that “everything is closed” on these days, like a Sabbath or Yom Kippur in Israel. But when they say “everything” is closed, not everything is really closed.
Is “everything” closed on holidays? What does that really mean?
Although holidays are days of rest, the city continues to function properly. Even on holidays in Vienna, not everything is closed (even on the most important holidays of the year like Christmas). There are many businesses that are closed, such as shops, but all those involved in tourist attractions as well as Vienna’s excellent public transport, operate as usual or even on an enhanced schedule.
Which places are closed in Vienna and throughout Austria on holidays?
On Christmas, for example, there are stricter restrictions, so more places will be closed. You should check directly with the attractions and restaurants you want to visit. For more information on the Christmas period in Vienna.
The full list of places that will be closed during holidays in Vienna:
- 99% of supermarkets and grocery stores (there are supermarkets open on Sundays and holidays that are located in or near the underground train stations)
- All shops (except for flower shops near cemeteries and shops located near underground train stations)
- Shopping malls
- Offices and companies
- Currency exchange points
- 99% of pharmacies and clinics (except for emergency clinics and hospitals that operate as usual)
What is open on holidays?
15 types of businesses throughout the city of Vienna that operate on holidays:
- Attractions
- Museums
- Restaurants
- Clubs and bars
- Concerts
- City parks
- Observation points over the city
- Selected supermarkets
- Selected pharmacies
- All public transport throughout Vienna and Austria
- The airport
- A number of kosher shops, kosher restaurants, and Turkish food stores
- A number of bakeries (usually until 12:00 PM)
- Most gas stations
- Intercity trains
In fact, almost all the places of interest to travelers are open as usual on holidays (again, except for Christmas when fewer places are open). If you prepare properly for these days, you should have no problem making the most of the city.
What can you do in Vienna and Austria on holidays?
Since holidays in Vienna are the same as Sundays in terms of the availability of shops, attractions, and restaurants that are open, you can continue reading for details on activities in the city on Sundays – the places that are open on Sundays will also be open on holidays, so there should be no problem using the information in this article to plan a vacation during the Austrian holidays.
