Autumn holidays in Czechia: Which stores will remain open?

Public holidays in autumn come with a list of store closures that start this Thursday.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 26.09.2022 12:00:00 (updated on 26.09.2023) Reading time: 3 minutes

The public holiday of Saint Václav (Wenceslas) occurring this Thursday (Sept. 28) means that shoppers will only have access to small shops for their groceries. This is because of a law passed in 2016 that requires most stores over 200 square meters to close on some holidays, but not on others. The list for mandatory closure includes Sept. 28, which is Statehood Day as well as St. Václav Day.

Stores will also close next month on Oct. 28, which is Independent Czechoslovak State Day. If you want to do some last-minute Christmas shopping, make sure to do so before noon on Dec. 24, when stores close until Dec. 27. The New Year starts with more store closures on Jan. 1 for Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State.

A holiday that allows stores to remain open is the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day on Nov. 17.

WHAT TO DO ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

  • Sept. 28 marks also the Open Day of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, which opens the doors of the Nostitz Palace to visitors and welcomes both adults and children with a host of special programs. The Ministry of Finance and the Straka Academy are also open.
  • This Thursday will also see a free-to-visit wine festival at Písecká Gate, near Prague Castle. It lasts until Oct. 1.
  • On Sept. 28, members of the public will also be able to attend an open day at the capital's main hygiene station in Prague 1. The aesthetic building dates back to the early modern period.
  • Many Czech pubs and breweries will partake in the Days of Czech Beer event that is set to last until Sept. 30 and includes Sept. 28.
  • The Ministry of Finance will open the doors of its headquarters to the general public for free on Thursday, too.
  • On Sept. 28, the St. Wenceslas Celebration 2023 family-friendly event, which features "knights" jousting on horseback, a falconer's show, and live music, will take place at Na Jezerce Park in Prague 4's Nusle.
  • Prague Zoo offers a special program on Sept. 28; members of the public will be able to hear speeches and see new photographic exhibitions.
  • On Oct. 28, you can visit for free The National Museum; the Straka Academy; the Senate of the Czech Parliament; the exhibitions Old Masters, Old Masters II, Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe 1200⁠–⁠1550, 1796⁠–⁠1918: Art of the Long Century, 1918⁠–⁠1938: First Republic, 1956– 1989: Architecture for All, 1939–2021: The End of the Black and White Era at the National Gallery Prague; and the National Museum of Agriculture in Prague.
  • The City of Prague's open day takes place this year on Oct. 28. The annual event allows the public access to several of the city's most beautiful and historic buildings from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year visitors can peek inside the Mayor's Residence, the Škoda lounges, and the New Town Hall. 
  • Oct. 28 will also see members of the public able to visit the Municipal House and the Czech Senate, the upper house of the Czech government.
  • You'll also be able to see the Liechtenstein Palace for free on Oct. 28, as well as the building of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Czech government.
  • The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in November will see the Hrzánský palác (Hrzán Palace) and the National Agriculture Museum open its doors to the public for free.
  • On Nov. 17, you can visit all buildings of the National Museum for free as well as the National Gallery and the same exhibitions as on Oct. 28. The Kramář villa is also open.

It is also worth keeping in mind that the closures do not apply to all stores. Pharmacies, gas stations, and shops at airports, railway stations (including Prague’s Hlavní nádraží), and hospitals are exempt.

Delivery services are not covered by the law and should operate as normal. However, personal-shopper services that rely on sourcing items from supermarkets will be faced with limited suppliers.

Neither shop owners nor shoppers are happy with the current calendar, which requires large stores close to completely close on seven of a total of 13 legal holidays in Czechia.

Holidays when large shops must close:

  • New Year's Day
  • Easter Monday
  • May 8: Liberation from Fascism
  • Sept. 28: Czech Statehood Day (St. Wenceslas)
  • Oct. 28: Establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic
  • Dec. 24: Christmas Eve (after noon)
  • Dec. 25: Christmas
  • Dec. 26: Christmas/ Boxing Day

Holidays when large shops remain open:

  • Good Friday
  • May 1: Labor Day
  • July 5: Cyril and Methodius Day
  • July 6: Jan Hus Day
  • Nov. 17: Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy
  • Dec. 24: Christmas Day (until noon)

Did you like this article?

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more