New Year's Eve in Germany: Where and when you can still shop!

On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2024, many supermarkets and discounters are open in Germany, but with shortened opening times. New Year's Eve is not a statutory holiday, which causes the regular provisions of the shop closing and shop opening laws. The shops often adapt their opening times, so that they usually open between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. This year New Year's Eve falls on Tuesday, which means that some supermarkets and discounters are open until 6 p.m.

It is recommended to shop in the morning to ensure that the shops are open. The opening times vary depending on the federal state. For some regions, special regulations such as Mydealz On the following times:

• Aldi Nord: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Aldi Süd: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (partly until 5:00 p.m.)
• Lidl: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• REWE: 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (in some places until 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.)
• Edeka: usually 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Kaufland: 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (partly until 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.)
• Netto brand discount: 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Penny: 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Special regional differences are mainly in Bremen, Thuringia and Hesse, where the shops close at 2:00 p.m., while an opening in Bavaria and Saarland is allowed until 8:00 p.m. Normal opening times are usually possible for other federal states, but these are often shortened. To ensure that the shops are open, it is advisable to check the opening times of the local branches in advance.

On New Year's Day, January 1, 2025, most shops remain closed because it is a nationwide holiday. An exception is some shops, such as the Rewe at Cologne/Bonn Airport, which is open around the clock, or the Edeka at the Munich Central Station, which is open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Bakeries are allowed to open for up to five hours in some federal states.

On the holidays, petrol stations, kiosks and shops at train stations and airports are also available, which often have longer opening hours. Petrol stations are open around the clock, while shops at train stations in large cities are often open to late evening. Airport transactions are ideal for last-minute purchases.

In addition, fireworks may only be sold on December 31. It is recommended to find out in advance and use digital branch finders in order to be able to plan purchases in good time.