Shops with more than 200 square meters of retail space will remain closed this Saturday, while small shops, petrol stations, and pharmacies will remain open as usual.
The Czech public holiday falling on Saturday, 28 September, is one of the designated days when large retail chains are required to close. According to the law governing shop opening hours, this applies to stores with more than 200 square meters of space. Small shops, petrol stations, and pharmacies are exempt, and shops at airports and railway stations will also remain open.
Under the Shop Closing Hours Act, which came into force in 2016, shops larger than 200 square meters must close on the following days: 1 January, Easter Monday, 8 May, 28 September, and 28 October. On Christmas Eve, they must close by 12 noon, and they remain closed on 25 and 26 December.
The Czech Trade Inspection Office monitors compliance with these regulations on public holidays and can impose fines of up to CZK 1 million for violations. In addition to shops, bazaars, pawnbrokers, and recycling centers must also close on these days.
Public Holiday Shop Opening Hours
- January 1 – New Year’s Day – Closed
- Good Friday – Open
- Easter Monday – Closed
- May 1 – Labour Day – Open
- May 8 – Victory Day – Closed
- July 5 – Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius – Open
- July 6 – Day of the Burning of Jan Hus – Open
- September 28 – Day of Czech Statehood – Closed
- October 28 – Day of the Founding of Independent Czechoslovakia – Closed
- November 17 – Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy – Closed
- December 24 – Christmas Eve – Open until 12:00 noon
- December 25 – Christmas Day – Closed
- December 26 – Second Christmas Day – Closed