Day of German Unity: Shopping despite the public holiday - where possible

Created: 09/28/2022, 17:39

By: Oliver Schmitz

Since German Unity Day is a public holiday, most shops have to remain closed.

Cologne - put your feet up and enjoy the holiday: That applies to many on October 3rd, the day of German unity.

At the same time, this also means that on October 3rd, 2022, the vast majority of shops will keep their doors closed.

However, there are exceptions for bakeries, some supermarkets and discounters, albeit only under certain conditions.

Day of German Unity: opening hours of the bakeries on October 3, 2022

In principle, bakeries are allowed to open on the Day of German Unity - at least partially.

All shops offering bakery and confectionery can sell their goods on October 3, 2022.

But not all day.

Due to the public holiday, the opening hours are limited to a few hours, the opening times regulations for bakeries vary depending on the federal state.

For example, while bakers in Bavaria are only allowed to open for three hours, in NRW it is five hours.

Day of German Unity: Are supermarkets open on public holidays?

The Day of German Unity on October 3rd is the official national holiday of Germany.

(Iconic image) © Rainer Jensen/dpa

Ordinary supermarkets and discounters must remain closed throughout Germany on October 3, 2022.

This applies to all branches of Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka or Kaufland, among others.

Shopping despite the public holiday: Where to shop on German Unity Day

• gas stations

• Shops at train stations

• shops at airports

• kiosks

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If you still want or have to go shopping on German Unity Day, you should go to gas stations, train stations or airports.

The shops there can also be open all day on Sundays or public holidays such as October 3, 2022, but strictly speaking they are only allowed to sell travel supplies.

Holiday NRW: Which supermarkets in Cologne and Düsseldorf are open?

(Selection)

• Cologne Central Station

  : Rewe To Go (midnight to midnight) and Reformhaus

• Cologne/Bonn Airport

  : Rewe (midnight to midnight)

• Düsseldorf main station

  : Edeka (midnight to midnight)

• Dusseldorf Airport

  : Rewe (5 a.m. to midnight)

As on other public holidays, there is an exception for supermarkets at train stations or airports on German Unity Day.

These are still allowed to open on October 3, 2022 in Cologne and Düsseldorf.

Day of German Unity 2022: Are food delivery services open?

Like many supermarkets, food delivery services such as Gorillas, Flink or Getir are not open.

These are not allowed to deliver any products on October 3, 2022.

Shopping on October 3, 2022: where is it possible on German Unity Day?

In Germany, shops may have to remain closed on October 3, 2022, but there are some alternatives for people close to the Netherlands.

Because in the neighboring state of North Rhine-Westphalia or Lower Saxony it is not only a regular weekday, but the shops are also allowed to open on public holidays.

For example, the Roermond outlet on the border was open on German Unity Day.