National holidays Germany - be prepared

Shopping - where to go in Stuttgart

ANOTHER German national holiday - and you forgot to shop?

Lets start with IMPORTANT TIPS first:

On a national holiday shops, pharmacies, doctors  and government offices are closed - just like on a Sunday.

Make sure to do your shopping at least a day in advance and not on the day before the national holiday. Especially if there are more than one like Easter (Friday, Sunday, Monday) the shops become CRAZY.

Here is the link to an overview of German national holidays.

Also take into account that the traffic can be gruesome especially if it concerns a long weekend. Be aware  on the day before, starting at lunch time and the actual day in the morning and the evening and coming back – also the airport can be more crowded.

Shopping

Please note that the opening times for Sundays equal usually the opening times on national holidays.

Gas Stations

Nearest is your local gas station – they usually have an array of food – mainly frozen pizza, canned stuff, snacks and chcoloates – but also water, sodas, beer, wine and spiritis. Further they carry the main toiletries. Depending on the gas stations they sometimes have a real shop inside.

(Stuttgart) Airport

At Stuttgart Airport in the basement there is quite a big EDEKA where you can find everything – a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables and all the rest you might or might not need.
Open everyday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A bakery (Treiber) is right next to it. Open from 5.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There is a pharmacy on the ground level. It is open Saturday, Sunday AND national holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
https://www.aeroatoll-apotheke.de/index.php
On their website (right on the main page) you can find NOTFALL, then NOTFALLKALENDER  - just click on there to find emergency pharmacies, which are open in the area of Stuttgart on that day. (a new window will open).

And if you forgot to buy a present... there are several other shops open on a Sunday or national holiday...
https://www.stuttgart-airport.com/at-the-airport/shops-more/

(Stuttgart) Main Station

Here you can find lots of shops and bakeries. The grocery store is called Spar Express (there are two - open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and the drug store is called Müller (next to the service center – open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Here you can find an overview. Just click on the symbols to see their opening times.
https://www.einkaufsbahnhof.de/stuttgart-hauptbahnhof/stores/

To locate them you can click on LAGEPLAN on the left hand side.

Bakeries

Some bakeries are open in the morning for Brötchen (bread rolls) and cake. The ones with cafes might be open also in the afternoon. Check before hand, please. They usually have a sign in the window.

April 2019
This blog post is a personal recommendation and based on personal experience. It has been prepared with the greatest possible care and does not claim to be correct, complete or up-to-date.“
Picture credit Gerhard Gelling & Benedikt Geyer,Pixabay.