Official List of Berlin Public Holidays in 2025
In 2025, Berlin observes the following public holidays in Berlin 2025 according to official schedules published on Berlin.de:
- Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag)
- Saturday, March 8 – International Women’s Day (unique to Berlin public holidays)
- Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday
- Thursday, May 1 – Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)
- Thursday, May 8 – 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II (special regional holiday in Berlin) (Berlin.de)
- Thursday, May 29 – Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
- Monday, June 9 – Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)
- Friday, October 3 – Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day (Second Day of Christmas)
Altogether Berlin has 10 statutory public holidays in 2025—among the lowest compared to other German states (Bild).
Ways to Maximise the Public Holidays in Berlin in 2025
Planning around Berlin public holidays 2025 unlocks excellent opportunities for long weekends, bridge days, and city breaks.
- Easter weekend (April 18–21): With Good Friday and Easter Monday, you get a 4‑day break.
- Labour Day + Liberation Day (May 1 & 8): Both fall on Thursdays—take off Friday, May 2 and Friday, May 9 to enjoy consecutive long weekends or a single extended trip.
- Ascension Day (May 29) and Whit Monday (June 9): Both Thursdays/Mondays offer great chance to take the adjoining Friday or Tuesday as holiday.
- German Unity Day on Friday, October 3: Perfect for a three-day autumn weekend.
- Christmas (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26): On Thursday and Friday, you can extend into a full festive long weekend or combine with New Year’s leave for a longer break. (visitBerlin, Berlin.de)
Planning using these bridge days allows you to optimise leave and enjoy Berlin’s spring, summer, and winter cultural highlights like open‑air cinemas, Christmas markets, museums, and festivals.
Some Shops and Supermarkets Will Still Be Open
While most shops and supermarkets in Berlin are legally closed on Sundays and public holidays under German retail laws (Ladenschlussgesetz), exceptions apply:
- Supermarkets and small shops inside major train stations and airports — such as Rewe, Edeka, Denns Biomarkt, Go Asia, SPAR Express, and Ullrich at stations like Hauptbahnhof, Südkreuz, Ostkreuz, Potsdamer Platz, Zoologischer Garten, and Lichtenberg — often remain open even on holidays. (visitBerlin, Berlin.de)
- Spätis (late-night convenience stores) across Berlin neighbourhoods may also open, selling essentials, snacks, drinks and more. These are not subject to usual Sunday‑closing rules.
- Restaurants, cafés, museums, cultural institutions, and cinemas typically remain open, offering dining, entertainment and leisure even on holidays. Public transport runs on a Sunday or holiday schedule.
Community reports confirm that on holidays like International Women’s Day (March 8, 2025), shops will be closed as on a Sunday—though cafés and restaurants usually remain open (reddit.com, facebook.com).
Summary Table: Berlin Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday | Take‑off Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Wed | New Year’s Day | — |
| Mar 8 | Sat | International Women’s Day | falls on weekend |
| Apr 18–21 | Fri–Mon | Good Friday & Easter Monday | natural long weekend |
| May 1 | Thu | Labour Day | + Fri May 2 |
| May 8 | Thu | 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII | + Fri May 9 |
| May 29 | Thu | Ascension Day | + Fri May 30 |
| Jun 9 | Mon | Whit Monday | + Tue Jun 10 |
| Oct 3 | Fri | German Unity Day | natural long weekend |
| Dec 25–26 | Thu–Fri | Christmas & Boxing Day | extend to New Year’s |
Planning Tips for Visitors and Locals
- Book accommodation and events early around key holidays like Easter, Ascension Day, and Unity Day.
- Check train schedules, which often run on a Sunday timetable on holidays.
- Remember station‑based supermarkets and Spätis for grocery needs when most retail is closed.
- Enjoy the cultural offerings—museums, festivals, open‑air cinemas and markets remain lively even on holidays.
For official confirmation, always refer to the Berlin.de public holidays & school holidays 2025 page as published by the Senate (source in citations above). Planning ahead using these Berlin public holidays, bridge days, and cultural highlights lets you make the most of your year in the capital.