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Shopping hours in Austria have long been very much like those in Germany. Recent changes have pretty much kept it that way.
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| A bookstore in the Alexa shopping mall in Berlin, Germany. PHOTO © Hyde Flippo |
Shopping Hours in Austria
In January 2008, Austria modified its 2003 Öffnungszeitengesetz (“opening times law”) to allow stores to be open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Bakeries can open 30 minutes earlier at 5:30 a.m. The Austrian law also sets a limit of a total of 72 hours in a calendar week that a store can remain open (an average of 12 hours per day). As in Germany, stores are closed on Sunday, but there are exceptions for tourism, train stations, airports, and the Christmas season.
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| This 1995 photo of Austrian shopping center doors indicates the limited shopping hours that were typical in the German-speaking countries. “Mo.-Do.” means “Mon.-Thur.” PHOTO: H. Flippo |
Shopping Hours in Switzerland
Opening hours in Switzerland are regulated by each of the country’s 26 cantons (Kantone), or provinces. Consequently, there is a wide variation in Swiss store hours. On Monday through Friday, stores often close by 6:30 p.m. (even if by law they could be open longer). In Zurich and some other cities there is no regulation of business hours, and stores are open later, usually until 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. (20:00 oder 21:00 Uhr). Some communities may have a “long Thursday” (or Friday, open until 8:00 p.m.).
As in the other German-speaking countries, Sunday is a no-shopping day, except for up to four shopping Sundays, depending on the city or canton. Even in cantons with regulations, there are usually many exceptions for family businesses, bakeries, newsstands, and florists. The French-speaking Swiss cantons may lean more towards the French system. In France, store hours are basically unregulated, and Sunday shopping is common. All of the cantons have to observe the Swiss federal laws that protect workers and limit workers’ hours.
Other Shopping Matters
See our Shopping in Germany pages for advice on shopping for clothes, furniture, groceries, electronics and more in the German-speaking countries.
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Related Pages
- Shopping in Germany - Advice for better, easier shopping in Austria, Germany, Switzerland.
- Business in the German-speaking world - from the German Way book
- Sending Money to or from Germany
- Money, banks, and credit (from The German Way)
- The Post Office in Germany - Deutsche Post
- German Business Links - Banks and businesses in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
