Dates to Avoid When Planning Your Vacation
Europe
London, UK
Boxing Day (December 26): Shops and services often have limited hours, but many people flock to post-Christmas sales.
Christmas Day (December 25): Almost everything is closed, including public transport.
Portugal
St. Anthony Festival (June 12-13): The city is jam-packed with celebrations, parades, and sardine barbecues. This could be a fun experience
for some, but others may not appreciate the crowds.
Carnival (February/March, varies):
Cities like Madeira and Lisbon host parades, and some businesses may close or reduce hours.
France
May 1st (Labor Day): Many businesses, museums, and shops are closed.
Paris: Bastille Day (July 14): A mix of closures and massive celebrations with fireworks and parades.
Christmas Markets (December):
Alsace towns like Strasbourg and Colmar are packed, while other businesses in smaller cities may shut down.Assumption of Mary (August 15):
Many businesses and services close across the country.
Rome, Italy
Ferragosto (August 15): Many businesses close for the Assumption of Mary, and locals often leave the city.
Jubilee - every 25 years, this extraordinary event brings an entire nation together to honor a monarch’s significant reign. The city comes alive with solemn rituals and vibrant gatherings, making it an unforgettable experience steeped in history and faith. All of Italy, not just Rome, will be exceptionally busy, making it even more crucial to collaborate with a professional to ensure a smooth and successful trip.
Athens, Greece
Orthodox Easter: Many shops and services close from Good Friday through Easter Sunday.
Spain
Semana Santa (Holy Week, March/April):
Cities like Seville and Malaga see massive processions, with some businesses closed.La Tomatina (Buñol, last Wednesday of August):
A city-wide tomato fight; most shops and services are closed.
Switzerland
Swiss National Day (August 1):
Most businesses are closed, with celebrations and fireworks in cities like Zurich and Geneva.
The Netherlands
King’s Day (April 27):
Amsterdam and other cities turn into giant orange-clad parties, with road closures and limited business hours.
Belgium
National Day (July 21):
Public holiday with closures and parades in Brussels.
Austria
Christmas Day & St. Stephen’s Day (December 25-26):
Cities like Vienna are quiet, with limited openings.Corpus Christi (June, 60 days after Easter):
Public holiday with closures in many areas.
Sweden
Midsummer (Friday-Saturday between June 19-26): Nearly everything shuts down, with celebrations in rural areas.
Norway
Constitution Day (May 17): Streets are filled with parades, and businesses close early or stay shut.
Iceland
Thorrablot (January-February): While not a public holiday, traditional celebrations dominate, and some services may reduce hours.
Munich:
Oktoberfest (Munich, late September to early October):
While the city doesn’t "close," the festival dominates, causing heavy traffic and crowded public spaces.
Asia
Japan
Tokyo: New Year's Eve & New Year's Day (December 31–January 3): Most businesses, restaurants, and attractions are closed as families celebrate at home or visit shrines.
Golden Week (April 29–May 5):
A series of national holidays. Many Japanese travel domestically, causing crowded transport and some closures in major cities.Obon Festival (August, dates vary by region):
A time for honoring ancestors. Shops and businesses close as families return to their hometowns, and traditional dances (Bon Odori) are held.
Beijing, China
Chinese New Year (varies, January/February): The city empties as locals return to their hometowns, and many businesses close.
Mumbai, India
Diwali (varies, October/November): Shops and offices may close early, and celebrations fill the streets.
Thailand
Bangkok: Songkran (April 13–15): The city turns into a giant water fight, with many businesses and offices closed.
Loy Krathong (November, date varies by lunar calendar):
Cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok host stunning lantern and floating candle festivals, with some local businesses reducing hours.Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May, dates vary):
A traditional holiday marking the rice-growing season, with closures in some regions.
Vietnam
Tet (Lunar New Year, January/February):
The entire country slows down for family gatherings and traditions. Businesses close for at least a week, and cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City empty out.
Bali
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence, March):
Bali shuts down entirely for this Hindu holiday—no flights, businesses, or activities occur as the island observes silence.
South America
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Carnival (varies, February/March): The city becomes a massive party, with road closures and limited business operations.
Colombia
Barranquilla Carnival (February/March, 4 days before Ash Wednesday):
The city is alive with music, parades, and dances, and many businesses close or reduce hours during one of the world’s largest carnivals.Independence Day (July 20):
Public holiday across the country, with parades and closures in major cities like Bogotá.
Peru
Inti Raymi (June 24, Cusco):
A vibrant celebration of the Incan Festival of the Sun. Cusco is packed with visitors, and many locals participate in events.Holy Week (Semana Santa, March/April):
Especially notable in Ayacucho, where elaborate religious processions occur, and many services close early.
Chile
Fiestas Patrias (September 18–19):
Celebrating Chilean independence, Santiago and other cities experience closures, traditional celebrations, and massive festivals.New Year’s Eve in Valparaíso (December 31):
The city becomes a hotspot for one of South America’s largest fireworks displays, drawing crowds and causing some disruptions.
Argentina
Gualeguaychú Carnival (January–March weekends):
This small city becomes a hub for parades and festivities, attracting thousands of visitors.National Independence Day (July 9):
A public holiday with closures and parades, especially in Buenos Aires.
Brazil
Reveillon (New Year’s Eve, December 31, Rio de Janeiro):
Copacabana Beach hosts massive celebrations, with crowds filling the city and many businesses focusing on the event.Corpus Christi (varies, 60 days after Easter):
Many businesses close, and streets in cities like Ouro Preto are adorned with intricate flower carpets.
Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
Heritage Day (September 24): Many businesses close, with locals celebrating "Braai Day" (barbecue).
Marrakech, Morocco
Eid al-Fitr (varies, end of Ramadan): Many businesses and markets close as families gather to celebrate.
Oceania
Australia
Australia Day (January 26): Businesses may close or reduce hours, with celebrations taking place throughout the city.
Melbourne Cup Day (First Tuesday in November, Melbourne):
A public holiday in Victoria for the iconic horse race. Many businesses close or reduce hours, and the city focuses on race-day festivities.Easter Long Weekend (April, dates vary):
Nationwide, many shops and businesses close from Good Friday to Easter Monday, with events like Sydney’s Royal Easter Show drawing large crowds.Anzac Day (April 25):
A solemn day of remembrance with dawn services and parades across cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Many businesses open only after the morning services.Christmas Day & Boxing Day (December 25–26):
Almost everything closes on Christmas Day, while Boxing Day is a major shopping and sports day (e.g., Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, Boxing Day Test cricket match).New Year’s Eve (December 31):
Sydney becomes the epicenter of celebrations with its world-famous fireworks display. Roads close, and the city fills with crowds.
New Zealand
Waitangi Day (February 6): National holiday with some closures.
Christmas Day & Boxing Day (December 25–26):
Widespread closures across the country for family gatherings.Anzac Day (April 25):
Similar to Australia, the day begins with dawn services and parades. Many businesses remain closed until midday.Matariki (Māori New Year, late June/early July):
A recently added public holiday celebrated with cultural events and gatherings.Waitangi Day (February 6):
Commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, this national holiday features cultural events, parades, and some closures across cities like Auckland and Wellington.
Fiji
Fiji Day (October 10):
A public holiday celebrating Fiji’s independence. Expect parades and festivities, with some businesses closing for the day.Diwali (varies, October/November):
Widely celebrated due to Fiji's Indian population, with many businesses closing early and cities lit up with decorations.
