One of the common questions I see from travellers is “Is Europe closed on Sundays?” I can understand the concern. Planning a trip and working out what you are going to do each day can be complicated, and adding a complication, such as Sunday opening hours, can be vexing.
This can be a special concern if you are planning to stay in an Airbnb or to self-cater. Hotels operate seven days a week, but if you are planning on landing in Munich on a Saturday night and need to buy some groceries then you may be out of luck until Monday morning. Sunday openings vary across Europe so I recommend checking the opening hours of local stores before you arrive can save you from having empty cupboards.
The day of rest is still taken seriously across Europe. Sunday is a day to see family, to get out into nature, and to attend religious services. Tradition dictates that commerce pauses for a day.
In some cases it isn’t just commerce that pauses, it is anything noisy. Cutting grass or using any noisy garden machinery is prohibited in Germany on Sundays. Even in France I am only given a 2 hour time slot, 10am until midday, to make noise. After that lunch with family and friends takes over and it is illegal for noise to disturb that. It is one of those rules that seem ridiculous when you first come across them, but appreciate fully when you are having a long lazy lunch outside with your friends with no noise of lawnmowers to disturb you.
I understand why music that is audible outside of your own property may be forbidden on a Sunday, perhaps that should stretch to any day of the week.
How do Sunday rules affect travellers
From a traveller’s point of view Sundays could be seen as annoying, if you are on a short trip of only a week or two, having one day in seven disturbed can be seen as an issue.
I instead prefer to see it as a bonus. Sundays are special, and if I can work 2 or even 3 into a trip I will. Cities have a different feel about them on a Sunday, less rushed, more serene. River banks are full of joggers and parks are full of families. In summer many of the best local shows and festivals are on a Sunday, precisely because people don’t work and so are able to attend.
Museums and other attractions generally stay open, and in some cases have lower entrance fees or are even free on Sundays. Restaurants are generally open on Sunday lunchtimes, though some might not open on Sunday evenings.
Fleamarkets on Sundays in Europe
One of my favourite things to do on Sundays is visit a flea market. Walking down aisles of stands with antiques, handicrafts and whatever happened to be in Grandma’s attic, is such a great way to get a peek inside of a different culture. From the Vide Greniers (literally empty attic) of France the car boot sales (items sold out of the trunk of a car) in the UK to the Flohmärkte (literally flea market) of Germany this is one aspect of the commercial world that is embraced on Sundays. There is nearly always some sort of food truck or stand selling traditional food, and they are altogether friendlier places than commercial shopping zones. Some of my most treasured souvenirs have come from flea markets, I love to pick out old kitchen wear, glasses or even tablecloths.
Remember though, these are not normal commerce and it is one of the few times where you need to have cash in your pocket. Even in the UK, where I can spend weeks without needing currency, car boot sales still run on a cash basis.
Can you visit Notre-Dame on a Sunday
Notre-Dame de Paris, along with the majority of other churches across Europe, hold church services on a Sunday morning that are open to all. Sitting in the pews along with other worshippers listening to the choir singing or the organ playing gives a very different perspective on a visit to a place of worship. Even if you don’t speak the language, there is a rhythm to the service which will feel familiar. I find the memories last far longer than those of a simple visit.
It also a way to visit for free those churches such as Westminster Abbey in London which charge an entrance fee. Rather than pay the £31 you can join the congregation for a sung Eucharist, which is likely to touch your heart more than a guided tour would.
Are shops open on Sunday in the UK?
Walking down any high street in the UK and you could be forgiven for thinking Sunday is a day like any other. Women laden down with bags from their favourite stores, buses and taxis running past. The shops and supermarkets are open (albeit with limited hours) and doing good business. Step into any pub or traditional restaurant however and you will know instantly that it is Sunday. The smell of onion gravy will fill the air and plates piled high with roast lunches and Yorkshire puddings will be leaving the kitchen.
The UK perhaps doesn’t have a great culinary tradition, but despite the modern world where everything runs seven days a week, the British tradition of the Sunday roast is still alive and kicking.
How to plan for Europe on a Sunday
My advice to travellers on a Sunday is to embrace the Sunday feeling. Just because you are travelling doesn’t mean you can’t have a day of comparative rest. Sleep in, make the most of the Brunch offerings that are all over Europe’s major cities. Paris, Lisbon and Berlin in particular have embraced the brunch culture, but you will need to book ahead to get the best spots.
Go to a church service, or take a walk in the park. Hire a bicycle and explore on two wheels. Meander the quiet streets or seek out a flea market.
But if you are staying in an Airbnb then buy your groceries before 7pm on Saturday.
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