OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

AUSTRIA1

06.00 – 21.00

06.00 – 18.00

Exemptions for tourist
areas.

The maximum opening time per week is 72 hrs.
BELGIUM

2

05.00 – 20.00: working
days
05.00 - 21.00: Friday’s
and working days
before a public
holiday.

05.00 - 20.00.
05.00 – 21.00 if the
following Monday is a
public holiday

In principle Sunday is
the day of weekly rest,
excepted if it is the
choice of the retailer to
replace it by another
day of the week.
Possibility to open 7/7
days:
• All retail stores:
05.00 - 12.00.
• Furniture or
gardening shops:
40 Sundays / year
5.00 - 20.00
• Food chains with
less than 5
employees, butcher's,
baker's, newsagents,
flower shops, shops
in tourist areas:
05.00 - 20.00.
• Exceptions:
possibility of opening
on the Sunday before
Christmas and 2
other Sundays to
choose.
• Super/hypermarkets
: 3 Sundays/year
Night shops : from
6pm to 7am. Products
sold must be limited to
food stuff and
household goods.

CROATIA 3

06:00 – 21:00

06:00 – 21:00

Normally closed
General exception:
permission to keep

1

The maximum number of opening hours per week is 60 hours for non-food and 66 hours for food shops. There are
exemptions for tourist areas.

2

The Federal Government announced for the coming months a public debate on (enlarging the) shop opening hours.

3

The article of the Trade Act regulating shop hours on Sunday and on public holidays will come into force on 1
January 2009.

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 1

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

shops open on all
Sundays during the
summer period (1/061/10) and in
December from 07.00
to 14.00.
Other exceptions are
shops
located
at
railway and airline
terminals,
petrol
stations, shops
in
hospitals and cinemas,
fower shops, bakeries,
etc.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Normally closed.
During the summer
st
st
period (1 April-31
October) shops close
as followed: Mo, Tue,
Thu at 8:30pm, Wed.
at 2 pm, Fri. at 9:30
pm. The opening
hours varies according
to the nature of the
shop ( 07:00-09:00
am)
Winter period: Mo,
Tue, Thu at 7:00 pm,
Wed at 2:00 pm Fri at
8:00 pm.

During the summer
st
st
period (1 April-31
October) shops close
on Saturday at 5:00
pm.
During the winter
st
period ( 1 November
st
– 31 March) shops
close on Saturday at
3:00 pm.
During the summer
season special
provisions are
enforced for the shops
which operate within
the designated tourist
areas, they are
allowed to stay open
until 10:00 pm.

All the shops are
obliged to stay closed
between 2:00 pm –
5:00 pm from 15th
st
June till 31 August.
During Christmas and
Easter holidays
special provisions are
enforced:
th
-from 12-30
December all shops
can stay open until
8:00pm. On Christmas
and NY’s eve shops
can stay open until
7:00 pm. Shops must
be closed during the
public and national
th
holidays (25 Marsh,
st
st
1 April; 1 October,
28th October).

CZECH REPUBLIC

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

DENMARK

Closed between 00.00
to 06.00 Monday. Else
no restrictions.

No restrictions until
Saturday 17.00. After
that time closed.

Exception:
Retail shores with a
turnover below 30.5
million Dkr. have no

Exception:
The last Saturday
before Christmas,
Easter and Whitsun

In principle closed.
However, it is allowed
to have opened
Sunday from 10.00 to
17.00:
1. The first Sunday in
every month
2. Per calendar year
6 “loose Sundays”,

CYPRUS

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 2

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

restriction on opening
hours.

where the shops are
allowed to close at
20.00.
Exception:
Retail stores with a
turnover below 30.5
million Dkr. Have no
restriction on opening
hours.

of which two
Sundays have to
be in the period 1.
July to 1.
September, and
3. All Sundays before
Christmas. These
special Sundays
can not be placed
on a holiday or
Constitution Day
4. The last Sunday
before Christmas
from 10.00 to
20.00.
Exception:
Bread, dairy produce
and newspapers can
be sold on Sundays,
holidays, Constitution
Day or Christmas eve
from 7.00 to 11.00, but
only from shops that
has this as its usual
business.
Exception:
Retail stores with a
turnover below 30.5
million Dkr. Have no
restriction on opening
hours.

ESTONIA

No restrictions
4

GERMANY

4

00.00 - 24.00.
Exception:
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Saxony 06.00-22.00
Saarland-Bavaria
06.00-20.00
Reorganisation can be
done only by the
Länder

00.00 – 24.00
Exception:
Meckleburg-Western
Pomerania 06.00 –
22.00
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Saxony 06.00 – 22.00
Saarland 06.00 –
20.00
Saxony – Anhalt,

Limited number of
exceptions possible:
bakery products,
flowers, newspapers,
dairy products,
museums, train
stations, airports,
resorts and places of
pilgrimage), sowie in
einigen Bundesländern bei
öffentlichem Interesse.

The maximum number of opening hours per week is 80 hours. Bakeries can open already from
05.30 onwards. In addition, they can open for three hours on Sundays..

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 3

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

FINLAND

In Bundesländern, die
keine durchgehenden
Öffnungszeiten haben,
können an Werktagen
Ausnahmen (bestimmte
Sortimente und
Örtlichkeiten) analog der
Angaben für Sonn- und
Feiertage ermöglicht
werden.

Thuringia 0.00 – 20.00

Die Regelungen lassen in
eingeschränktem Umfang
auch Sonntagsöffnungen in
Ausnahmefällen zu.

07.00 - 21.00.

07.00 - 18.00.

12.00 – 21.00
in May, June, July,
August, November
and December

! Different opening hours depending on the size of the store – year 2004:
Foodstores under 400 m²
other shops
• Sundays 7.1-1.4:
between 12.00-21.00
not open
•
•

Easter Monday
Sundays 15.04-29.04

4h between 8.00-18.00
12.00-21.00

not open
not open

•
•

30 April
1 May

open until 18.00
not open

open until 18.00
not open

•

Sundays 6.5, 20.5,
3.6-17.6

12.00-21.00

12.00-21.00

•
•

Midsummers Eve
Sundays 24.6-26.8

7.00-13.00
12.00-21.00

7.00-13.00
12.00-21.00

•
•

Sundays 2.9-28.10
Sundays 4.11,
18.11-2.12

12.00-21.00

not open

12.00-21.00

12.00-21.00

•
•

Independence Day 6.12 not open
Sundays 9-23.12
12.00-21.00

not open
12.00-21.00

•
•

Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

7.00-13.00
not open

7.00-13.00
not open

•
•

26.12
30.12

4h between 8-18
07.00-18.00

not open
not open

•
•

31.12
01.01.2008

7.00-18.00
not open

7.00-18.00
not open

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 4

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

FRANCE

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

•

•

•

•

•

5

GREECE

5

05:00 -21:00
Within this period, the
shops may choose
their own timetables.
An extension is
possible, upon
decision by the local
prefecture council.

Same timetable, with
the restriction that the
opening hours end at
20.00 (art.12-13 of the
law 3377/2005)

Food shops can
open on Sunday
until 13.00
5 Sundays a year,
the mayor can ask
for an extension of
opening hours on
Sunday
In thermal and
touristic zones, all
shops can open
on Sunday
In the cities with
more than 1
million of
inhabitants (Paris,
Lille, AixMarseille) with
strong
consumption
habits on Sunday,
the “préfet” can
establish a socalled “perimeter
fur use of
exceptional
consumption –
PUCE”. The city of
Lyon is not a part
of this system
The regions of
Moselle, Bas-Rhin
and Haut-Rhin are
excluded from
these enacting
terms and follow
the prescriptions
of the local
professional code

All shops are closed
except petrol stations,
restaurants, bars,
cafeterias,
convenience stores,
pastry shops, photo
shops, florists,
antiquaries, shoe
shine and nuts-selling

Distinction between the winter period (1/10 - 15/5) and the summer period (15/5 -30/9).

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 5

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

HUNGARY

The shops opening
hours are decided by
the trader with respect
to the purchase habit.
In Budapest and in its
suburb the
representatives of
Mayor Office have the
right to regulate the
opening hours from
06:00 – 22:00.

Shops are open
up to 14:00 pm or
16:00 pm.

shops. The prefect of
an area may allow the
opening of designated
shops, upon
agreement of the local
trade and labour
unions. All shops are
open on the Sunday
before Christmas and
on the 31st of
December even if it
coincides with a
Sunday.
(art.12-13 of the law
3377/2005)
th
The 24 December
the shops are limited
up to 14:00, exception
for restaurants; hotels,
flower shops, gasoline
stations and
confectionary outlets.

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 6

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

No restrictions.
Usual opening hours
are however from 9:00
am to 6:00 pm

No restrictions,
But in practice many
shops close at 2 pm
and others mostly at 4
or 5 pm.

On Sundays many
shops are closed but
in the malls shops are
open from 10 am to 5
pm.
On 24th December
shops have to close at
16:00 pm and may not
open up until 6:00 am
on 25 December.

IRELAND

No restrictions.
However, alcohol may
not be sold before
10.30 a.m. and not
after 10.30 p.m.

No restrictions.
However, alcohol can
before 10.30 a.m. and
not after 10.30 p.m.

Alcohol may not be
sold until 12.30 p.m.
on Sundays. Alcohol
may not be sold on
Christmas Day and
Good Friday.

ITALY

Opening: from 7.00
onwards, closing: until
22.00 (with a
maximum of 13
opening hours per
day) except for
different regional
provisions.

See previous column

In principle closed.
However, exceptions
for certain types of
shops (e.g bakeries
and flower shops) and
for tourist areas.
In total, shops can
open on Sundays 8
times a year and are
generally open all
Sundays of December
except for different
regional provisions.

06.00 - 18.00.
(These opening hours
also apply to days
which precede public
holidays.)

06.00 - 13.00.
Opening after 1.00 pm
is subject to
authorisation
(employment of paid
personnel for more
than 4 hours is subject
to prior authorisation).

ICELAND

No restrictions

LATVIA
LITHUANIA

No restrictions
7

LUXEMBOURG

06.00 - 20.00.
Once per week shops
can close at 21.00.

6

exceptions set by different regional laws

7

Derogations from the general framework legislation can be obtained from the Ministry for SMEs
(for instance for tourist areas, special events etc.). Small shops without employees have a
general derogation from the framework legislation.

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 7

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

MALTA

Between 08/01 and
31/10 included
04.00-19.00
Between 01/11 and
07/01 included
04.00 – 22.00

Between 08/01 and
31/10 included
04.00- 20.00
Between 01/11 and
07/01 included
04.00 – 22.00

Between 08/1 and
31/10 included
04.00 – 22.00
Between 01/11 and
07/01 included
04.00 – 22.00

Exceptions for specific
commercial activities
Petrol stations
6.00-18.00
Automated pumps
unrestricted
Lotto receivers
24 hours on a daily
basis subject to permit
from gaming
authorities
Catering, night clubs,
etc.
Daily up to 1.00 AM
(possibility of
extension by Minister
subject to clearance
by police and MTA
and certain conditions)

Exceptions for specific
commercial activities
Petrol stations
06.00-15.00
Automated pumps
unrestricted
Lotto receivers
24 hours on a daily
basis subject to permit
from gaming
authorities
Catering, night clubs,
etc.
Daily up to 1.00 AM
(possibility of
extension by Minister
subject to clearance
by police and MTA
and certain conditions)

Exceptions for specific
commercial activities
Petrol stations
Automated pumps
unrestricted

Valletta commercial
premises
Up to 10.00 PM

Valletta commercial
premises
Up to 10.00 PM

Valletta commercial
premises
Up to 6.00 PM also on
public holidays
whenever a cruise
liner is in harbour
Essential items (also
applies to street
hawkers)
6.00 – 1.00 PM also
on public holidays

Commercial fairs
9.00 -22.00

Commercial fairs
9.00 -22.00

Hiring Carnival
Costumes
Up to 10.00 PM
Thursday before to
Tuesday after Carnival

Commercial fairs
9.00 -22.00

Lotto receivers
24 hours on a daily
basis subject to permit
from gaming
authorities
Catering, night clubs,
etc.
Daily up to 1.00 AM
(possibility of
extension by Minister
subject to clearance
by police and MTA
and certain conditions)

Flowers, plants,
seeds, fertilizers
6.00-19.00 also on
Public holidays
* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 8

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

Tourist localities
(Beverages, tobacco,
fish, jewellery,
souvenirs,
photographic
equipment…)
06.00 -23.00

Tourist localities
(Beverages, tobacco,
fish, jewellery,
souvenirs,
photographic
equipment…)
06.00 -23.00

Tourist localities
(Beverages, tobacco,
fish, jewellery,
souvenirs,
photographic
equipment…)
06.00 -23.00
Also on public holidays
Tourist localities
(commercial premises
selling predominately
grocery items)
06.00-17.00
Also on public holidays

THE NETHERLANDS

06.00 - 22.00.

06.00 - 22.00.

In principle, closed.
However, local
governments can
allow Sunday opening
(max. 12 Sundays per
year). They can also
permit Sunday
opening for tourist
areas.
On Good Friday ,
24.12 and 04.05,
shops need to be
closed after 19h.
Other rules for shops
in (gasoline) stations
and hospitals.

NORWAY

No restrictions

No restrictions

Groceries up to 100
sq. meters or gas
stations up to 150 sq.
meters may be open.
All shops may be open
the last three Sundays
before Christmas

No restrictions

No restrictions

No restrictions, but
local authorities can
introduce a regulation
to define hours during
which food retail shops
may be open on data
field. There are not the
same legal regulations
for the whole country:

POLAND

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 9

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

according to
jurisdiction, local
authorities cannot take
resolutions optionally.
Each resolution must
be reasonable and it
cannot have the
purpose of limiting
commerce.
There are 12 idle days
with prohibition of
commerce.
PORTUGAL

06.00 - 24.00.
The Mayor can restrict
or extend these hours
provided they meet
the conditions of the
law.
Exceptions: coffeeshops, restaurants,
tea houses, snack
bars, self services and
convenience stores
may be opened until 2
o’clock in the morning.
Other exceptions are
shops located in sea,
road and airline and
railway terminals, as
well as gas/petrol
stations that work
permanently.

06.00 - 24.00
Exceptions: coffeeshops, restaurants,
tea houses, snack
bars, self services and
convenience stores
may be opened until 2
o’clock in the morning.
Other exceptions are
shops located in sea,
road and airline and
railway terminals, as
well as gas/petrol
stations that work
permanently.

Opening of
hypermarkets is
limited to 08.00 - 13.00
from January to
October (November
and December: 06.00
- 24.00)

SLOVAKIA

No restrictions.
Position of Slovak
Association of
Commerce and
Tourism is liberal.

No restrictions.

No restrictions apart
from:

SLOVENIA

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

•
•

24/12 after 12.00
25/12

•
•

01/01
Easter Sunday

No restrictions
Shop opening hours
are regulated in Trade
Act ( Official Journal of
Republic of Slovenia,
No. 24/2008 from
10.3.2008).
Due to the Article 8 of
the Trade Act, there
are no restrictions in

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 10

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

Slovenia regarding the
shop opening hours
for any day of the
week - also Saturdays
and Sundays and
Public Holidays.
The trader determines
the opening hours
according to its
business decision and
the needs
of consumers. The
shop must operate in
accordance with the
publicly available
schedule at the
entrance .
The law also stipulates
the obligation of the
trader to consider the
rights and obligations
of the workers due to
the Labour Act and
Collective Agreement
for the Trading Sector
in Slovenia when
determinig the opening
hours of the shop on
Sundays and Public
Holidays. This
concernes primarily
the provisions which
regulate the working
hours, breaks, rests
and supplements for
the less favourable
working time.
SPAIN

Legislation defined at
regional level.

No restrictions.

Defined per region but
opening is allowed for
at least 12
Sundays/public
holidays per year

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

No restriction for
shops wit less than
150 m²
SWEDEN

No restrictions.

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 11

OVERVIEW*
LEGISLATION REGARDING SHOP OPENING HOURS
Last updated: January 2010
MEMBER STATE

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY/PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS

UK

No restrictions.

No restrictions.

Small shops (not more
than 280 square
metres) can open
freely. Larger shops
may open for any six
continuous hours
between 10.00 and
18.00. On public
holidays there are no
restrictions other than
the ones above,
except that larger
shops may not open
on Easter Sunday or
on Christmas Day.

* The information contained in this document does not engage any responsibility from the part
of EuroCommerce
Overview shop opening hours, p. 12