After the string of holidays in the spring and the Feast of the Assumption in August, German Unity Day is coming up this weekend. Since it falls on a Saturday this year and most of us only work Monday through Friday, many people won’t get an extra day off. It’s easy to forget that most stores are closed and that shopping on October 3 isn’t exactly a given. Fortunately , however , there are still a few stores that will be open for you, so you won’t necessarily have to do your shopping during the week.
Shopping on October 3 in Munich
German Unity Day is a nationwide holiday on which retail stores are usually closed. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, stores that sell everyday necessities and are located at train stations or airports are allowed to open. In Munich, this applies to the Edeka stores at the Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof, the Rewe at the airport, the Lidl at Hackerbrücke, and the dm, also at the Ostbahnhof. The following opening hours apply on German Unity Day:
- Edeka Hauptbahnhof: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Edeka Ostbahnhof: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- dm Ostbahnhof: 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Rewe Airport: 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Lidl Hackerbrücke: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition, you can shop at Aral gas stations with Rewe To Go, and some of the kiosks also stock snacks, basic groceries, and ready-to-eat meals. Furthermore, there are a few 24/7 stores with vending machines where you can pick up small items and cosmetics.
Other Highlights on German Unity Day
It’s not just shopping on October 3 that’s different from usual. Public transportation and municipal recreational activities will also operate differently than usual. For example, the city’s indoor swimming pools won’t offer quick swims on German Unity Day, and the saunas will only be open for mixed-gender use. Public transportation will follow the Sunday schedule, which means less frequent service.
On the other hand, the Oktoberfest grounds open as early as 9 a.m. So if you want to really make the most of the day before the big Oktoberfest finale this year, you can head to the grounds an hour earlier. There’s no ban on dancing, so you can party hard—first at the Theresienwiese, then at the after-party. The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum, however, will remain closed, so you’ll have to postpone your visit to another day.
