Slovakia public holiday checker
This checker tells you whether a date in Slovakia is a public holiday or day of rest, which shops usually close, and when Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday fall in that year. Pick one date, or list every holiday in a month.
Slovakia changed the day-off status of several holidays between 2024 and 2026, so the tool applies those changes by year. Always check an official source before you rely on it.
Holidays the checker uses
The list follows our guide to public holidays in Slovakia: 1 January, 6 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, 8 May, 5 July, 29 August, 1 September, 15 September, 1 November, 17 November and 24, 25 and 26 December. 28 October is also listed as a national holiday since 2021, and the tool marks it as a date to check.
Recent changes in day-off status
Several dates stopped being days off, as stated in our holiday guide: 1 September from 2024, 17 November from 2025, and 8 May and 15 September from 2026. These are changes to the day of rest, not an end to the commemorations, so some businesses and events may still mark the dates. The checker shows such dates as "not a day off" for the years concerned.
Because rules change, treat this as a planning aid and verify with an official Slovak source.
How Easter dates are calculated
Easter Sunday follows the Gregorian Computus, the method used by Western churches. It places Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March. The tool uses the standard Meeus/Jones/Butcher algorithm, which works for any year in the Gregorian calendar. Good Friday is two days before Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday is the day after.
For example, Easter Sunday is 5 April in 2026 and 28 March in 2027.
Which shops close
Slovak law restricts retail opening on some holidays. In practice, most shops are closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday and 25 December, and many have shorter hours on 24 December. On other public holidays many shops close or shorten their hours. Petrol stations, restaurants in tourist areas and some stores at stations or airports often stay open, but check before you rely on them. We have not verified every shop category, so the tool says "check" where it is unsure.
The practical rule is to shop the day before a holiday, carry some cash, and book trains and timed attractions early. See trains in Slovakia and Christmas markets in Slovakia.
Planning around holidays
- Easter: Good Friday through Easter Monday is a long weekend. Book trains and rooms early and buy food on Thursday.
- Christmas: 24 to 26 December is the quietest period. Many places close, and transport can run a reduced timetable.
- New Year: 1 January is a day off, and most shops are closed.
- Summer dates: 5 July and 29 August are public holidays and can make weekends longer.
If your trip falls on a date marked "check", look at the website of each place on your list before you go. Small family businesses in particular may close on holiday weekends without much notice, so a quick message or a look at their latest social post is worth the minute it takes.
Check official sources
This tool is a planning aid, not legal advice. Public holiday rules, shop opening laws and local events change, and individual attractions set their own hours. Check official Slovak sources and the website of the shop, castle or museum you plan to visit. Our guides to Bratislava Castle and Bratislava museums are a starting point.
Questions
When is Easter in 2027?
Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, with Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March.
Is 8 May still a day off in Slovakia?
According to our holiday guide it stopped being a day off from 2026. Verify with an official Slovak source.
Are shops closed on Easter Sunday in Slovakia?
Most are. Shop the day before and check specific places.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Slovakia?
Yes. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays.
How is the date of Easter calculated?
By the Gregorian Computus: the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March.
Do trains run on public holidays?
Yes, sometimes on a reduced timetable. Check the timetable for your date.
Related guides
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