When are Berlin's Shopping Sundays in 2024

Every Berliner is very familiar with factoring in their shopping around the country-wide shutdown each Sunday, particularly after one too many instances of waking up to an empty fridge and nothing but whatever that Spati down the road has to see you through until the week begins.

Every once in a while, however, the powers that be bestow upon us a Sunday on which Berlin’s shops are actually allowed to open. These days usually coincide with busy periods such as the leadup to Christmas, or when large events are happening in the city. Plus two extra surprise Sundays that retailers can choose from (under certain conditions).

While it’s good news for those of us who might fancy a little retail therapy on a leisurely Sunday afternoon, the Shopping Sundays do not come without criticism. Churches and workers’ rights unions aren’t all that happy about the days, in fact, the Ver.di Union has repeatedly and often successfully sued Shopping Sundays for an infringement of workers’ rights.