Public holidays in France, and other closing times (2024)

FAQs

Are shops closed on public holidays in France? ›

Commemorative services are held in most towns and villages across the country, along with parades in larger towns and cities. Always a public holiday (no school and shops are generally shut but some may open a half day or 'Sunday hours').

Sunday and public holidays are the usual closing days, although there are some exceptions ... During the week, department stores all have one late-night opening day, known as a 'nocturne', until 9pm. Supermarkets are open at different times depending on the neighbourhood, every day except Sunday, until 8, 9 or 10pm.

There is a total of 11 public holidays in France unless you live in the Alsace region or the Moselle department that has an additional 2 days: New Year's Day – 1st January. Good Friday – Varied date but always a Friday (Alsace and Moselle only)

Holiday Leave in France

Employees are entitled to 30 days of annual leave (working days – jours ouvrables). They acquire the days at a rate of 2.5 vacation days per month, but employers may agree to anticipate the days. The holiday calendar runs from June 1st to May 31st.

The law in France is on your side: it states that people should make no noise at all between 10pm and 7am, and nothing above 'ambient noise' for a prolonged period outside of these times, and by now you have extensive evidence to use to show that your neighbour has been breaking this law.

The reason lies in France's enshrined labour code, the Code du Travail, which was first published in 1910. The Code du Travail used to say that it was illegal for anyone to work more that six days a week and that workers should have 35 consecutive hours of rest.

Many French people are obliged to take the bulk of their holidays in August, because their workplaces are closed. School children also have a long break in August, so it's often the best opportunity for a family to holiday together.

Standard hours

The French working hours are usually 8 or 9 AM to 4 or 5 PM, with 1 hour of unpaid lunch break. This will, however, vary depending on the business and company agreements. The weekly working hours are 35 (7 hours a day, five days a week). Hours worked beyond this quota are compulsory paid as overtime.

Throughout France, Sundays are traditionally a day of rest. Banks, shops, supermarkets and many restaurants are closed across the country. This mostly holds true in Paris as well, though shops in popular tourist areas (e.g. Champs Elysées) remain open seven days a week.

Public life in France is quiet on Easter Monday. Post offices, banks, stores and other businesses are closed. Outside of tourist areas, restaurants and cafes may also be closed. However, some stores in Paris, as well as at airports and railway stations and along major highways, are open.

What is the main holiday in France? ›

The two most widely celebrated holidays in France are Bastille Day (14 July) and All Saints Day (1 November). The first French national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and is a celebration of nationhood with communal fireworks, tricolor flags flying, and moules frites at the mairie.

Thanksgiving, Veterans day, and Mother's day are the most popular holidays in the United States. According to a survey conducted in the third quarter of 2022, Thanksgiving had a popularity rating of 80 percent, followed by Veterans day and Mother's day with 76 percent.

In France, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday, no time off is granted. If an official public holiday falls on a Thursday, most businesses allow employees to take Friday as a “bridge” day, allowing for an extended four-day weekend.

In France, employees are entitled to a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation under French labor laws. However, additional days exist for some contract types which can significantly increase the leave entitlement.

Parisian 'rush hour'

With one of the busiest underground systems in Europe (and the world!) it's best to travel on the metro outside of commuter hours, which are from 08.00-10.00 and 17.00-20.00.

The answer is, for the most part, yes. Sundays are quiet for the French — typically, the day is devoted to rest, family, and a time-honored commitment to relaxation. Most businesses shut their doors after about noon, and many don't open them at all.

They found that French people spend close to nine hours sleeping each night, which was slightly higher than the hours Americans were found to sleep.

August is holiday season in France, the month when offices close, many small bars, cafés and shops close and people head away from the cities towards the coasts.

On Christmas, New Year's Day, 1st May and 14th July, virtually all shops are closed.

The whole city is in holiday mode with shops, squares, and streets festooned with seasonal decorations. We adore being here on Christmas Day. Remember, though, if you will be here on December 25, most restaurants and activities are fermé — closed — so you must be sure to plan ahead.

Is everything closed in France in August? ›

Don't get your heart set on any one restaurant.

Because yes, many businesses still do close during August in Paris. It's not so many that you'll ever be hard up for food options–at a glance, the city mostly runs as normal–but if you have your heart set on a specific place to eat, you may walk away disappointed.

They generally open from 8.30 a.m. (or earlier) until 8 p.m. (or later); other large stores in out-of-town shopping centres often close a bit earlier in the evening, often at 7 p.m. For Sunday opening and other exceptions, see below.

I actually grew to love the fact that shops were shut on Sunday and every day for two hours so that the workers could have a long lunch break. Shops have been closed on Sundays in France for more than a century due to a 1906 law.