Norway is easy to travel around, but public holidays can change the rhythm of a trip. Shops may close, public transport may run on a reduced timetable, and popular attractions can have shorter opening hours or remain closed altogether. Understanding Norway public holidays before you book trains, restaurants, and activities will help you avoid surprises and make better use of your time.
How public holidays work in Norway
Norwegian public holidays are called helligdager or røde dager, meaning red days. The term red day comes from the way holidays are marked in red on Norwegian calendars. Most employees have the day off, although people working in hotels, restaurants, healthcare, transport, tourism, and other essential services may still be working.
Norway also treats Sundays as holidays for many practical purposes. This is particularly important for shopping. Even when a date is not a special national holiday, many ordinary shops close on Sundays, while grocery stores, convenience stores, cafés, restaurants, and tourist businesses may remain open under different rules.
Some holidays fall on the same date every year, while others are connected to Easter and change from year to year. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not official public holidays, but they are still important dates for travelers because many businesses close early or do not open at all.
Norway public holidays by date
The following are the official public holidays observed across Norway:
- January 1: New Year’s Day, called første nyttårsdag.
- Maundy Thursday: The Thursday before Easter Sunday.
- Good Friday: The Friday before Easter Sunday.
- Easter Sunday: Known as første påskedag.
- Easter Monday: Known as andre påskedag.
- May 1: Labour Day, or arbeidernes dag.
- May 17: Constitution Day, or grunnlovsdagen, Norway’s national day.
- Ascension Day: The Thursday that falls 39 days after Easter Sunday.
- Whit Sunday: Also called Pentecost Sunday.
- Whit Monday: The day after Whit Sunday.
- December 25: Christmas Day, or første juledag.
- December 26: Boxing Day, called andre juledag.
Because Easter determines several dates, it is worth checking a calendar for the exact year of your trip. For example, in 2025 Maundy Thursday falls on April 17, May 1 is a Thursday, Constitution Day is on Saturday May 17, and Christmas Day is on Thursday December 25. In 2026, Easter is earlier, with Maundy Thursday on April 2 and Easter Monday on April 6.
The most important Norwegian holidays for travelers
New Year’s Day
January 1 is generally quiet. Most shops, museums, and public offices are closed, and public transport may operate on a Sunday or holiday schedule. Some hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores open, particularly in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, and other tourist centers.
If you arrive on New Year’s Day, arrange your airport transfer and check your accommodation’s check-in procedure in advance. A hotel reception may not be staffed around the clock, especially at smaller properties. Restaurants that are open can be busy, so booking is sensible.
Easter in Norway
Easter is one of the biggest holiday periods in Norway. The public holidays run from Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday, creating a long break of five days when the weekend is included. Many Norwegians travel to cabins, go skiing, or visit family. In cities, the streets can feel unusually quiet.
Stores often close on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. Some may open for limited hours on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, but this varies. Grocery shops may have special exceptions or reduced hours, while shopping centers usually close on the main holiday dates.
Mountain destinations can be very busy during Easter. Accommodation, ski passes, rental cars, and popular train routes may sell out earlier than expected. On the other hand, some urban attractions and restaurants may have limited schedules. If your itinerary includes both a city and a mountain resort, check each business directly rather than assuming the same opening pattern everywhere.
Labour Day, May 1
May 1 is both a public holiday and a day associated with trade union and workers’ rights demonstrations. Parades, speeches, and gatherings may take place in larger towns and cities. Central streets can have temporary closures or changes to bus routes.
Many shops and public offices are closed. Museums and attractions decide their own schedules, so some tourist sites may open while others do not. If you are visiting a city on May 1, it is a good day for walking, scenic viewpoints, and outdoor activities, provided you have checked transport times.
Constitution Day, May 17
May 17 is Norway’s national day and the most distinctive of the Norwegian holidays. It celebrates the signing of the Constitution at Eidsvoll in 1814. Norwegians mark the day with children’s parades, marching bands, flags, traditional clothing, speeches, and public celebrations.
For travelers, May 17 is both a memorable cultural experience and a day that requires planning. Shops generally close, public offices do not open, and many businesses operate with special hours. Streets in city centers may be closed for parades, which can affect taxis, buses, and airport transfers.
Oslo hosts some of the best-known celebrations, including the children’s parade that passes the Royal Palace. Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, and smaller communities also hold lively events. Expect busy public spaces and limited availability at restaurants. Reserve a table well ahead of time if you want to eat out.
Do not assume that May 17 creates a substitute weekday holiday when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Norway generally does not move the public holiday to the following Monday. The date remains May 17, so check the calendar for the year you are visiting.
Ascension Day and Pentecost
Ascension Day is always a Thursday, while Whit Sunday and Whit Monday follow several weeks later. These holidays are often less visible to international visitors than May 17, but they still affect opening hours.
A Thursday holiday can encourage people to take Friday off as well, creating a long weekend. This may mean increased demand for cabins, domestic flights, ferries, and popular nature destinations. Shops and public offices close on Ascension Day, and many businesses use reduced hours around the weekend.
Whit Monday is also a public holiday. Since Whit Sunday is already a Sunday, the main practical effect for many travelers is that shops, offices, and some attractions remain closed on Monday. Public transport may follow a Sunday or holiday timetable.
Christmas and the end of the year
Christmas is a long holiday period in Norway. December 25 and 26 are official public holidays, but the country begins slowing down before then. On December 24, Christmas Eve, many shops close in the afternoon, restaurants may offer special menus, and public transport can finish earlier than usual.
Christmas Day is one of the quietest days of the year. Most shops and attractions are closed. Some hotels and restaurants welcome guests, especially in larger cities and winter resorts, but advance booking is essential. December 26 is also quiet, although some restaurants, cinemas, and tourist businesses may reopen.
New Year’s Eve is not a public holiday, but many businesses operate on shortened schedules. Restaurants often require reservations and may sell fixed-price celebration menus. Public transport can run late, but routes and timetables may differ from normal service.
How holidays affect shopping
Norway has strict rules around shop opening on Sundays and public holidays. Large supermarkets, department stores, and shopping centers are usually closed on the main holidays. Small grocery stores, convenience shops, and stores in some tourist areas may be allowed to open, often with a narrower selection and shorter hours.
Do your grocery shopping before a holiday begins, especially if you are staying in a cabin or traveling to a remote area. In smaller villages, there may be only one shop, and it may close earlier than its city equivalent. Petrol stations often sell basic food, drinks, and toiletries, but they are not a reliable replacement for a full supermarket.
Alcohol sales have additional restrictions. Vinmonopolet, the state alcohol retailer, closes on public holidays and normally closes earlier than ordinary shops on the day before a holiday. Supermarkets also have limited hours for the sale of beer and cider. The exact cutoff can vary by municipality and store, so buy supplies in advance rather than relying on a late evening shopping trip.
Public transport and travel planning
Trains, buses, trams, ferries, and domestic flights generally continue operating on public holidays, but services often use a Sunday or holiday schedule. This means fewer departures, earlier final services, and less frequent connections. Rural routes and small ferries can be particularly limited.
Check the operator’s website or app for the exact date of travel. In southern Norway, local transport information is often provided through regional journey planners, while long-distance rail services are listed by Vy. Express buses, airport trains, coastal ferries, and private boat operators publish their own schedules.
Allow extra time when changing between services. A route that is easy on a normal weekday may be difficult on a holiday if the connecting bus runs only once every few hours. This matters when traveling to airports, ferry terminals, hiking trailheads, and remote accommodation.
Book ahead during Easter, May 17, summer weekends near a public holiday, and the Christmas period. Rental cars can be particularly useful when public transport is reduced, but rental offices may have limited collection hours. Confirm how you will collect or return a vehicle if your booking falls on a holiday.
Attractions, museums, and restaurants
There is no single opening-hours rule for museums and attractions. Some close on every public holiday, while others open on selected dates for visitors. Outdoor sights such as viewpoints, hiking paths, and public parks are generally accessible, although visitor centers, cafés, toilets, and equipment rentals may be closed.
Check the official website of each attraction shortly before your visit. Social media pages can also be useful for last-minute updates, especially for smaller museums and seasonal businesses. Do not rely only on a general listing service, because holiday hours can change from one year to the next.
Restaurants in major cities, airports, hotels, and ski resorts are more likely to open than ordinary retail businesses. Opening hours may still be shorter, and a restaurant may serve only lunch or a set dinner menu. Booking is recommended on May 17, during Easter, and over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Practical tips for planning a holiday-period trip
- Check the exact dates of public holidays before finalizing your itinerary.
- Book accommodation, transport, restaurants, and popular activities earlier than you would for an ordinary weekday.
- Shop for groceries, medicine, and alcohol before the holiday begins.
- Download transport apps and save essential tickets before traveling.
- Allow more time for airport, ferry, and train connections when services run less frequently.
- Confirm hotel check-in instructions if you arrive on January 1, Christmas Day, or another quiet date.
- Expect road closures and crowds in city centers on May 17.
- Keep flexible outdoor activities available in case a museum or attraction is closed.
- Carry a payment card and a small amount of food and water when traveling outside larger towns.
Frequently asked questions
Are shops open on public holidays in Norway?
Most large shops, shopping centers, and ordinary supermarkets close on public holidays. Small grocery stores, convenience shops, petrol stations, and some tourist businesses may open with reduced hours. Check locally and shop in advance when possible.
Is May 17 a good day to visit Norway?
Yes, if you want to experience Norwegian culture and national celebrations. You will see parades, flags, traditional clothing, and marching bands. However, many shops and attractions close, roads may be blocked, and restaurants can fill quickly, so plan around the celebrations.
Does public transport run on Norwegian holidays?
Usually, but less frequently. Buses, trains, ferries, and trams commonly use Sunday or holiday timetables. Check the exact route and date before setting out, especially in rural areas and when connecting to an airport or ferry.
Are restaurants open during holidays in Norway?
Some restaurants remain open, particularly in hotels, city centers, airports, and major tourist destinations. Others close or offer shorter service. Reservations are strongly recommended during Easter, May 17, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Norway?
Christmas Eve, December 24, is not an official public holiday, but it is treated as an important family celebration. Many shops close early, public transport may finish sooner, and restaurants often have special schedules. Plan essential errands before the afternoon.