Easter Week in Europe — dates, closures & crowds

Semana Santa crowds & closures. When it falls in 2026, 2027, 2028, what actually closes, and how to plan around it — plus a live checker for your exact dates. Verified 2026-09.

Quick answer: Easter Week in Europe runs Mon 22 Mar 2027 – Mon 29 Mar 2027. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in most of Europe — shops close, transit runs Sunday schedules. Semana Santa processions in Andalusia are world-class — book Seville months ahead.

Destination

From

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Spain · Mon 22 Mar 2027 → Mon 29 Mar 2027

⛪ Easter Week in Europe · Mon 22 Mar 2027 – Mon 29 Mar 2027

Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in most of Europe — shops close, transit runs Sunday schedules

Full Easter Week in Europe guide →

Public holidays in this window

Fri 26 Mar 2027 — Good Friday

Holidays: nationwide public holidays only (regional ones excluded), verified 2026-09. Lunar-calendar events are approximate. Confirm anything date-critical locally.

What it is

Western Easter falls on 5 Apr 2026, 28 Mar 2027 and 16 Apr 2028. Good Friday through Easter Monday is a 4-day holiday block across most of Europe, and school half-terms make it a full travel week. (Greek Orthodox Easter often falls on different dates.)

Dates

Year	Impact window
2026	Mon 30 Mar 2026 – Mon 6 Apr 2026
2027	Mon 22 Mar 2027 – Mon 29 Mar 2027
2028	Mon 10 Apr 2028 – Mon 17 Apr 2028

What to expect

Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in most of Europe — shops close, transit runs Sunday schedules
Seville, Málaga, Rome and pilgrimage cities are at peak crowds (processions are the draw)
Flights and trains across Europe price like summer for the long weekend
Many museums close Easter Sunday; opening hours are irregular all week

How to plan around it

Semana Santa processions in Andalusia are world-class — book Seville months ahead
Check attraction opening hours for Good Friday–Easter Monday specifically
Grocery shopping: do it Saturday — Sunday and Monday closures are widespread

Questions

Is Easter a bad time to visit Europe?

It's a trade: processions, festivals and spring atmosphere at their best — against summer-level prices for the long weekend, closed shops on the holidays, and packed trains. City-break logistics are fine; just plan around Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday closures.

When is Easter in 2026, 2027 and 2028?

Western Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026, 28 March 2027 and 16 April 2028 — with the travel-impact window running Palm Sunday through Easter Monday. Orthodox Easter (Greece, much of Eastern Europe) often differs; check separately if you're headed there.

Plan the trip

Power adapter for Spain →Power adapter for Italy →Power adapter for France →Power adapter for Germany →Power adapter for United Kingdom →Power adapter for Greece →Power adapter for Portugal →Power adapter for Poland →

Other dates to know about

🎏 Golden Week in Japan 🧧 Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)🌸 Tết in Vietnam 🌙 Travelling During Ramadan 💦 Songkran in Thailand 🦃 Thanksgiving Week in the USA

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⚠️ Nationwide public holidays only; regional holidays and one-off closures aren't listed. Lunar-calendar dates (Ramadan, Tết, Diwali) are approximate. Verified 2026-09 — confirm anything date-critical with official local sources.