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Last minute tips for shopping on Good Friday, Easter Monday etc.Opening times over Easter 2026: When bakeries, Aldi, Lidl, Rewe & Co. are open
Shopping at Easter? If you want to get everything in peace, you should start shopping early. So get planning!
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There is feasting during the Easter holidays!
A big grocery shop before the holidays is actually a must. But what about the opening times at Easter at Rewe, Aldi and Co. if we still need to get something at short notice? When you should expect the shop doors to be closed, when there will be fresh rolls – an overview.
Easter 2026: Supermarket opening times change
The Easter Bunny is coming! In principle, supermarkets can decide for themselves when they open to their customers, but on public holidays every retailer must comply with legal regulations. In order to ease the rush on the remaining days, some supermarkets are opening earlier. It is therefore advisable to take a close look before the Easter holidays to see when your favorite supermarket is open and when it is not.
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Opening hours on Maundy Thursday 2026: When Rewe, Aldi and Co. are open
First, the good news for last-minute shoppers: Maundy Thursday is not a public holiday. Therefore, Lidl, Rossmann, DM, Rewe, Aldi and Co. will be open normally on April 2nd. There are no special opening times on this day, although some retailers open their stores later or earlier. This is intended to reduce the rush on the shelves.
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Shopping on Good Friday 2026? Which shops will be open on April 3rd
Almost everything is closed on Good Friday! Good Friday is a “quiet” and also the highest church holiday. This means that particularly strict legal regulations apply on this day. The strict ban has been relaxed slightly in recent years. With a special permit, bakeries, for example, have the opportunity to open – in most of the federal states.
Exceptions are, for example: In Bavaria, bakers open for three hours on Good Friday, and in North Rhine-Westphalia for five hours. Specifically, it looks like this: Supermarkets, drugstores and discounters are closed. Bakeries, flower shops, kiosks and gas stations only open with special permission.
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Are the shops open on Easter Saturday?
Holy Saturday is a normal working day. This means that the regular opening hours of most grocers and drugstores also apply. Weekly markets are also allowed to open. However, on this day there is usually a lot going on in the shops. Prepare yourself mentally for the busy shops and don't get hectic.
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Shops closed on Easter Sunday – are there any exceptions on April 5th?
Easter Sunday is a special holiday for Christians. Unlike Good Friday, Easter Sunday is not a quiet holiday. Nevertheless, supermarkets, drugstores and the like remain closed like every Sunday. Exceptions only apply to flower shops and bakeries, as on regular Sundays.
Shopping on Easter Monday? These stores could be open on April 6th – depending on the state
Easter Monday (April 6th) is a public holiday throughout Germany. In some federal states, bakeries also have to close. But there are exceptions here too – depending on the federal state.
In North Rhine-Westphalia the rule applies: If two public holidays follow one another, such as Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, bakers are only allowed to open on the first of the two public holidays, in this case Easter Sunday.
Lower Saxony regulates things differently: here, bakers are allowed to open for five hours, like on Easter Sunday. So it's best to take precautions depending on the federal state and stock up on baked goods to bake.
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Insider tip: Airport and train station shops are open on Easter holidays
If you still need to get groceries urgently on Good Friday or Easter Sunday, you will find them in supermarkets and drugstores at train stations or airports. You are allowed to open and offer food. However, the selection is usually smaller than in regular supermarket branches and also significantly more expensive.
Pharmacies offer emergency services and can open on Sundays and public holidays. Anyone who needs baby food, hygiene products or medication will be provided with it. It's best to find out early on which pharmacy has the emergency service. Regular shopping in stores will only be possible again from April 7, 2025.
Stress-free Easter shopping: When is the best time?
Experience from previous years shows: Maundy Thursday, the last working day before Easter, is particularly busy between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Easter shopping between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. is also popular. Employees usually use their lunch break to shop for the holidays.
Holy Saturday is often particularly crowded at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co. You should avoid bulk shopping between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. This reduces the stress factor. If you still want to get into the fray, you should be prepared for long queues at the checkout or a long search for a parking space. This also protects your own nerves. (myeah)
