Shops closure legislation enacted
In the German state of Bavaria, a new Shop Closing Act is set to be passed, maintaining the strictest shopping hours in Germany, up to a maximum of 20:00. This follows a series of relaxations in shopping hours, but with some notable exceptions and specific rules.
Traders in Bavaria will now be able to choose four weekdays per year to open later than 20:00, providing flexibility for businesses and customers alike. Similarly, cities and municipalities can allow extended shopping hours until 24:00 on up to eight weekdays per year, offering more convenience for shoppers.
Digital mini-supermarkets, without staff and with a maximum sales area of 150 square meters, will be allowed to open continuously, even on Sundays. This includes on public holidays, a significant shift from the past when shops generally closed on these days.
Bus terminals in Bavaria are treated the same as international airports and train stations, theoretically allowing for 24/7 operation for the sale of specifically defined "travel essentials".
At tourist destinations, the sale of specific product groups and food suitable for immediate consumption is now permitted. This includes cut flowers, newspapers, magazines, religious items, bathing and sports equipment, souvenirs of low value, and items aligning with the tourist focus of the sales location.
Municipalities will be able to offer eight extended shopping nights per year, without needing a specific reason. However, no new relaxations have been made in the area of sale-open Sundays and public holidays beyond the four exceptions already allowed.
Around 500 municipalities in Bavaria, listed as excursion, spa, or pilgrimage destinations, can sell a predetermined range of goods on 40 Sundays and public holidays.
It is important to note that these changes have made a separate Bavarian law necessary. The current shopping hours and exceptions for shops in Bavaria reflect both general regulation and specific exceptions based on past and present circumstances.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bavaria was the first German state to declare a curfew, which included restrictions on shop operations. However, these restrictions have likely ended, and no updated general statewide shopping hour changes or 24/7 opening permissions for shops in Bavaria have been indicated in recent sources.
For the most precise local details, checking individual shop or city regulations in Bavaria is recommended. Some commissaries near Bavaria operate on specific holiday hours, while a notable exception is the shop in 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian München, which advertises being open 24/7.
In summary, Bavaria's general shopping hours remain regulated with normal business hours and special exceptions. Shops generally close on Sundays and public holidays unless otherwise specified. No broad 24/7 opening permissions for general shops exist as of mid-2025. Specific sites may operate 24/7 independently.
- In Bavaria, digital mini-supermarkets, travel essentials at bus terminals, and several tourist destinations are permitted to operate beyond normal business hours, even on Sundays and public holidays.
- The finance department of businesses in Bavaria now has the flexibility to choose four weekdays per year to open past the usual closing time of 20:00, while cities and municipalities can allow extended shopping hours until 24:00 on up to eight weekdays annually, according to specific regulations.
