Austria Public Holidays: 2026 & 2027 Calendar and Travel Advice
As someone who lives in Austria, I have learnt that Austria public holidays can catch first-time visitors by surprise if they don’t plan ahead.
While they are a wonderful time to experience local traditions and celebrations, they also affect shopping, dining and sightseeing. Knowing what to expect before you travel will help you make the most of your visit.
A mistake I see many visitors make is assuming everything will be open as usual. While many major attractions continue to welcome visitors, smaller museums, family-run businesses and local attractions are more likely to have reduced hours or close altogether.
Most shops close for the day on Austrian public holidays, except supermarkets at major railway stations, airports and some popular tourist areas.
Museum opening hours, cafés and restaurants can also vary, so I always recommend checking official websites before setting out for the day.
Please note that each Austrian state also observes additional regional public holidays, which may affect local businesses, attractions and services depending on where you are travelling.
About Your Austria Travel Expert
I live in Austria and experience everyday life here, including how public holidays affect shopping, transport, local businesses and travel plans. I created this guide to help visitors understand Austria’s public holidays, regional differences and practical things to know before their trip, so they can plan with confidence and avoid unexpected closures.
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Wanderlustria’s Local Insight: Shopping on Austria Public Holidays
If you’re staying in Austria during a public holiday, buy groceries the day before.
Most BILLA, SPAR, Hofer and Lidl supermarkets close on public holidays, although supermarkets in popular tourist resorts and inside major railway stations often remain open with reduced hours.
Traveller’s Tip
Austrians celebrate Christmas on 24 December (Christmas Eve) rather than waiting until Christmas Day.
Many shops, cafés, attractions and even some restaurants begin closing from around 4.00 pm, so I always recommend booking restaurant reservations in advance and planning your sightseeing earlier in the day.
2026 Austria Public Holiday
January 1: New Year’s Day (Silvester)
January 6: Epiphany (Dreikönigstag)
April 3: Good Friday
April 6: Easter Monday
May 1: Labour Day –
May 14: Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt)
May 25: Pentecost and Whit Monday
June 4: Corpus Christi
August 15: Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Maria Himmelfahrt)
October 26: Austrian National Day (Nationalfeiertag)
November 1: All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen)
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Mariä Empfängnis)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Der Heilige Abend) when Austrians celebrate Christmas
December 25: Christmas
December 26: St. Stephen’s Day (Stefanitag)
December 31: New Year’s Eve (Silvester)
2027 Austria Public Holidays
January 1: New Year’s Day (Silvester)
January 6: Epiphany (Dreikönigstag)
March 26: Good Friday
March 29: Easter Monday
May 1: Labour Day –
May 6: Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt)
May 17: Pentecost and Whit Monday
May 27: Corpus Christi
August 15: Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Maria Himmelfahrt)
October 26: Austrian National Day (Nationalfeiertag)
November 1: All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen)
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Mariä Empfängnis)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Der Heilige Abend) when Austrians celebrate Christmas
December 25: Christmas
December 26: St. Stephen’s Day (Stefanitag)
December 31: New Year’s Eve (Silvester)
What Stays Open During Austria Public Holidays?
If you’re visiting Austria during a public holiday, don’t assume everything will be closed.
In my experience, most tourist attractions continue to operate, particularly in larger cities such as Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz, as well as in resorts.
However, opening hours can vary, so I always recommend checking the attraction’s official website before you visit.
Usually Open
♦ Most museums and major attractions (check opening hours)
♦ Restaurants and cafés (check opening hours)
♦ Hotels
♦ Ski lifts and cable cars (seasonal)
♦ Petrol stations
♦ Supermarkets at major railway stations, airports and in popular resorts (reduced range and hours)
Wanderlustria’s Local Insight: Public Transport on Austria Public Holidays
As someone who lives in Austria, I always reassure visitors that public transport doesn’t stop on public holidays.
Trains, buses and trams operate 365 days a year, making it easy to continue exploring the country.
However, on Austrian public holidays, most services run to a Sunday or public holiday timetable, so buses and regional trains may be less frequent than on a normal weekday.
I always recommend checking the ÖBB Scotty app or your local transport operator’s timetable before you travel, particularly if you’re visiting smaller towns or planning an early morning or evening journey.
Usually closed
♦ Shopping centres
♦ Most BILLA, SPAR, Hofer and Lidl supermarkets
♦ Banks
♦ Post offices
♦ Many smaller independent shops
♦ Doctor’s offices
♦ Pharmacies (Apotheke)
Wanderlustria’s Local Insight: Holidays & Healthcare
If you become unwell during a public holiday in Austria, don’t panic. While most doctors’ surgeries are closed, hospitals remain open for emergencies.
As someone who lives in Austria, I know this often surprises visitors because you can’t buy painkillers or most medications from supermarkets as you can in some countries. Instead, medicines such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen are only available from an Apotheke (pharmacy).
On public holidays, most Apotheken are closed, but a designated Nachtapotheke (emergency pharmacy) is always available for urgent prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines.
If you need medication, check the notice displayed outside your nearest pharmacy or you can check on this Website for list of open Nachtapotheke
Austrian Regional Public Holidays
One thing many visitors don’t realise is that Austria’s public holidays are not always the same across the entire country. Each Austrian state (Bundesland) can observe additional regional holidays, meaning that shops, businesses and some local attractions may be closed in one region while operating as normal elsewhere.
As someone who lives in Austria, I recommend checking regional holidays if your itinerary includes multiple destinations.
This is especially important for travellers combining different parts of the country, such as Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol, as a holiday in one state may not apply just a few hours away.
For example, these regional public holidays are observed in specific Austrian states:
♦ March 19 – St. Joseph’s Day: Observed in Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
♦ May 4 – St. Florian’s Day: Observed in Upper Austria.
♦ September 24 -St. Rupert’s Day: Observed in Salzburg.
♦ October 10 -Plebiscite Day: Observed in Carinthia.
♦ November 11 -St. Martin’s Day: Observed in Burgenland.
♦ November 15 -St. Leopold’s Day: Observed in Lower Austria and Vienna.
Many of these regional holidays have deep roots in Austria’s local traditions and are connected to saint days.
If you happen to be visiting at the right time, they can be a wonderful opportunity to experience local festivals, customs and community celebrations that you may otherwise miss.
Wanderlustria’s Local Insight
If you are travelling through Austria by train or car, don’t assume a regional holiday will affect your entire trip.
For example, St. Rupert’s Day is a holiday in Salzburg, but normal services continue in neighbouring regions.
I always recommend checking the specific Bundesland I am visiting rather than looking only at the national holiday calendar.
Plan your Austria Trip Around Local Public Holidays
Austria’s public holidays are just one part of planning a successful trip.
Once you know when holidays fall, it is worth considering the season you want to visit, local events happening during your stay, and the practical details that make travelling around Austria easier.
If you are still deciding when to visit, my guide to the best time to visit Austria explains what each season offers, including weather, crowds, seasonal activities and what to expect throughout the year.
Austria’s calendar is filled with traditional celebrations, from regional festivals and cultural events to seasonal markets. Discover more in my guide to Austria festivals and events to see what may be happening during your visit.
Planning a winter trip? My Christmas in Austria guide covers Christmas markets, traditions, opening hours and what to expect when visiting Austria during the festive season.
Visiting in spring? Explore my guide to Vienna Easter Markets to discover Austria’s Easter traditions and the best places to experience the colourful spring markets.
For help building your itinerary, choosing destinations and understanding how to organise your trip, start with my complete Austria Travel Planning guide, which covers everything from where to go and how long to stay to transport and accommodation.
For practical information and useful tips from living in Austria to know before and during your trip, visit my Austria Travel Tips guide.
Chief Wanderlust’er and Austria travel expert, I’m on a mission to help you uncover the magic of Austria — from fairytale cities and alpine villages to awe-inspiring landscapes and rich cultural traditions.
As the founder of Austria Wanderlust Travel Planning, the Austria Travel Planning Facebook Group, and director of Wanderlustria eU, I provide trusted tips, local insights, and curated resources to make your Austrian adventure seamless, authentic, and unforgettable.