Norway keeps its official public holiday calendar simple and consistent, with a core of Christian feast days plus a few civic dates that shape how the whole country works and travels. If you are planning a trip, moving here, or coordinating work across borders, knowing the 2025 dates will save you from closed shops, sold-out trains, and awkward meeting times.
Short answer: Norway has 12 official public holidays in 2025. Some are fixed dates, others follow Easter. There are no substitute weekdays if a holiday lands on a weekend, and most shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays. If you are visiting, plan grocery runs and transport around the long weekends in April, May, June, and December.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of public holidays in Norway for 2025, with exact dates, what is open and closed, and how locals actually spend the time.
Official Public Holidays in Norway in 2025
Below is the full list of Norwegian public holidays for 2025. I have included the weekday since that determines closures, travel patterns, and the potential for long weekends.
- New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
- Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 17
- Good Friday – Friday, April 18
- Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 20
- Easter Monday – Monday, April 21
- Labour Day – Thursday, May 1
- Constitution Day – Saturday, May 17
- Ascension Day – Thursday, May 29
- Whit Sunday (Pentecost) – Sunday, June 8
- Whit Monday – Monday, June 9
- Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25
- Boxing Day – Friday, December 26
A few notes to keep you oriented:
- No replacement days: If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no day off in lieu during the following week. In 2025, Constitution Day lands on a Saturday, so most people will already be off work if they have a Monday to Friday schedule.
- Easter is the big one: Many Norwegians add vacation days around Easter to create a longer break. Schools usually take spring holidays in or near this period as well.
Why Some Dates Move: The Easter Anchor
If you have noticed that several Norwegian holidays seem to float, you are right. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Sunday/Monday are tied to Easter Sunday, which in 2025 lands on April 20.
- Maundy Thursday is three days before Easter Sunday.
- Good Friday is two days before.
- Easter Monday is the day after.
- Ascension Day is 39 days after Easter Sunday, which creates a Thursday public holiday in late May. In 2025 that is May 29.
- Whit Sunday is 49 days after Easter Sunday, with Whit Monday the day after. In 2025 this makes another long weekend on June 8–9.
The Easter season is prime cabin time. If you are dreaming of the mountains, book early, especially for the weekend leading into Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday.
What Is Open and Closed on Public Holidays
Norway is straightforward here, but a few details matter:
- Grocery stores: Most ordinary supermarkets are closed on public holidays. Some smaller “søndagsåpne” convenience-size stores can open with limited hours, especially in larger cities, but do not rely on them for a full shop. Plan your grocery run the day before.
- Shopping centers and retail: Generally closed on public holidays. The day before a holiday, many shops close earlier than normal.
- Vinmonopolet: The state wine and liquor stores are closed on Sundays and public holidays and close early on the day before. If you want wine for a long weekend, buy it in advance.
- Restaurants and cafés: Many places stay open in the cities, but opening hours can be shorter and menus limited. Rural areas can be quiet.
- Public transport: Reduced or holiday timetables often apply. Long-distance trains and flights fill up around the biggest holiday weekends. If you need a specific departure, book ahead.
- Museums and attractions: Many close on major holidays or operate with reduced hours. Check the venue’s website in advance.
2025 Long Weekends and Smart Travel Windows
If you are optimizing vacation days or planning a Norway itinerary, these are the sweet spots in 2025:
- Easter stretch: April 17 to April 21 gives a four-day official holiday window. Many people take the whole week or at least add the Wednesday or Tuesday for extra breathing room.
- Labour Day weekend: Thursday, May 1. Add Friday, May 2 for a comfortable four-day break.
- Ascension “bridge day”: Ascension Day is Thursday, May 29. Norwegians often take the inneklemt dag on Friday, May 30, turning it into a four-day weekend.
- Pentecost: Sunday, June 8 and Monday, June 9 make a tidy long weekend at the very end of spring.
- Christmas week: With Christmas on Thursday and Boxing Day on Friday, many take vacation the earlier part of that week and glide into New Year’s.
If you plan to rent a car or travel by rail during these windows, reserve early. Mountain roads can still have winter conditions in April and even in early May at higher elevations. Bring flexibility and a warm layer.
Constitution Day on a Saturday: What That Means
Constitution Day on May 17 is the heartbeat of the Norwegian year. In 2025 it falls on a Saturday, which changes the feel slightly:
- No extra weekday off follows, since there are no substitute days in Norway.
- The parades, children’s games, bunads, and brass bands carry on exactly as usual. For visitors, this is a fantastic chance to see Norway at its most proud and playful.
- If you are in Oslo, expect large crowds along Karl Johans gate and around the Royal Palace. In smaller towns you get the same spirit at a gentler scale. Either way, book restaurants well in advance.
Not Public Holidays, But Important Dates You Will See
Norway has several widely observed days that are not official public holidays. They still affect opening hours and the rhythm of life.
- Sámi National Day – Thursday, February 6. A national flag day celebrating Sámi culture. Public offices and schools are open, but you will see the Sámi flag and local events, especially in the north.
- Palm Sunday to Easter Eve: The whole week has a holiday atmosphere. Påskeaften (Easter Eve, Saturday) is not an official holiday, but shops usually close early.
- Midsummer, St. John’s Eve – Monday, June 23. Not a public holiday, but many communities light bonfires and gather by the water if the weather cooperates.
- Christmas Eve – Wednesday, December 24. This is the main family celebration day in Norway. Not a public holiday in law, yet offices close early or shut entirely, shops close early, and the streets go quiet. Treat it like a de facto holiday for planning.
- New Year’s Eve – Wednesday, December 31. Again not a public holiday, but many businesses close early.
If your visit overlaps with any of these, expect early closing times and book restaurants where you want a festive dinner.
Work, Pay, and Practicalities
Norwegian labor rules are handled by contracts and law, and the specifics vary by sector. Here is the simple, practical version if you are new here:
- Public holidays are generally days off for employees who normally would have worked that weekday. Weekend-only workers may not gain additional days off when a holiday falls on their usual off day.
- No automatic “Monday off” if a holiday is on a weekend.
- Overtime and holiday pay depend on your agreement. Many sectors pay extra for working on public holidays, but check your contract or union arrangement.
- Schools and kindergartens usually close on public holidays and may close early the day before major holidays. Plan childcare and pickups accordingly.
If you are scheduling cross-border meetings, avoid the Easter week, Ascension Thursday and the following Friday, and Whit Monday. You will get a lot of out-of-office replies.
Tips From A Local For Smooth Holiday Weeks
A few habits we quietly swear by:
- Do the food shop early. For Easter and Christmas especially, go two days before the holiday, not the afternoon before, unless you enjoy crowded aisles and empty dairy shelves.
- Top up transit cards. Holiday timetables can mean longer waits, and ticket offices may have shorter hours. Use the local transit app and keep a payment method that works offline if your phone acts up.
- Mind alcohol sales rules. Supermarkets stop selling beer earlier on the day before a public holiday. Vinmonopolet closes early the day before and is closed on the holiday. If you want wine for a dinner, plan ahead.
- Reserve mountain cabins and ferries early. Easter and the May long weekends are peak times for cabins, coastal ferries in scenic areas, and the classic train lines.
- Expect quiet streets on Christmas Eve. If you want a restaurant dinner on December 24, book far ahead and check opening hours. Many places close so staff can be with family.
2025 At A Glance: When To Visit
If you want the full “Norway in celebration” feeling, plan around:
- Constitution Day, Saturday, May 17, anywhere in the country.
- Easter in the mountains, April 17 to 21, for sunny ski days and orange-peel snow picnics if the weather plays nice.
- Pre-Christmas Oslo or Bergen, mid to late December, for markets, lights, and that slow, candlelit mood leading into December 24 to 26.
If you prefer fewer closures and more predictable opening hours, the shoulder periods just after Easter and after the May holidays give longer daylight and more reliable access, with fewer crowds than July.
Bottom line: Mark the 2025 dates above, plan your shopping and travel around the long weekends, and you will experience Norway the way we actually live it. The calendar is simple, but it shapes everything from bus timetables to family dinners, and getting in step with it makes your time here much smoother.