How Czech Shops Will Operate During the Easter Holidays

Czech residents are about to enjoy the first long weekend of 2025, thanks to the upcoming Easter holidays.

With Good Friday and Easter Monday both designated as official non-working days, people will have a four-day break, from April 18 to 21.

But what about shopping? Here’s what you need to know: on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 18, 19, and 20), stores will operate as usual. However, on Monday, April 21, large supermarkets will be closed.

Since October 2016, a law has been in place in the Czech Republic prohibiting stores larger than 200 square meters from opening on certain public holidays. This rule applies to all big shops, not just grocery stores. The law was introduced to allow supermarket employees, like others, to spend time with their families during these holidays.

Good Friday, falling on April 18 in 2025, is not covered by this restriction, so all stores will be open as normal. However, Easter Monday is one of the holidays when the law mandates closures, meaning that on April 21, all large supermarkets must remain closed.

Here’s a Quick Overview:

Public holidays when stores remain open:

• Good Friday (April 18, 2025)
• Labor Day (May 1)
• Day of Slavic Saints Cyril and Methodius (July 5)
• Jan Hus Day (July 6)
• Day of the Fight for Freedom and Democracy and International Students’ Day (November 17)

Public holidays when stores must close:

• Day of the Restoration of the Independent Czech State and New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Easter Monday (April 21, 2025)
• Victory Day (May 8)
• Day of Czech Statehood (September 28)
• Day of the Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak Republic (October 28)
• Christmas Eve (December 24, from 12:00 to 00:00)
• Christmas Day (December 25)
• Boxing Day (December 26)

What About Shopping Centers?

Shopping centers are not required to close, but large stores within them must comply with the law and shut their doors. As a result, while shopping centers often remain open during holidays, many boutiques and larger stores are closed, which can diminish the overall shopping experience.

Exceptions

Certain types of stores are exempt from the law. These include shops located at train stations, airports, hospitals, pharmacies, gas stations, and wholesale stores, which are allowed to operate regardless of their size.

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