The only time we can travel this spring is over the Easter/Holy Week holiday. We were thinking of doing a week in France and a week in Germany. Does anyone know what those countries are like over Easter? We're looking for places where Easter isn't a big deal-no big processions or celebrations and minimal closings (more like here in the US- if you celebrate great and if not there's minimal disruption to your day). Weather is also a factor so trying to stay where it's not too cold (so not considering the Scandinavian countries)

Easter is not a big deal in France, particularly since it is a Sunday, so anything open on Sunday is open at Easter. Easter Monday is a holiday in France, but that just means that offices and schools are closed. And lots of small shops are closed in France on Monday anyway, so no change there.

Thanks kerouac!

In Germany, you will find all the big processions to do with Carnival end well before Easter - this is normally only in Catholic areas like Cologne and Mainz and everything leads up to Ash Wednesday, which is about a month before Easter. Shops are decorated with rabbits, painted eggs, etc. The weather is probably cold but nature will put on a show with some early flowers if you are lucky. Not like Scandinavian cold, just wear a parka. Good Friday is a public holiday, as is Easter Monday. You could possibly get around the problem of closed restaurants by self-catering on those days with your own apartment or aparthotel room. Probably you will be better off in big cities like Berlin, but they might be more observant in Munich (Bavaria is also Catholic).

If you really want to avoid closings, Belgium is the only Catholic country I know that has shops open on Good Friday. It is a holiday in that office workers get the day off but everything will be open on that day.

Where are you thinking of going in Germany?

Lavandula

Thanks Lavandula! We're thinking of a week in Paris and then a week in Berlin (with day trips). We've never been to either country. It's very much still in the "thinking about" stage but I'm hoping we can get something decided soon.

Great! Berlin is not a beautiful city but it is fascinating. Remember to stay anywhere near a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station. It's big and sprawling and this will help you considerably!

Lavandula

Thanks again!

Think carefully what appeals to you and what most represents Germany to you. For me personally, half-tembered houses, the painted houses of Garmisch and the mountains and lakes around Berchtesgaden are very special. OTOH, history and cities may appeal to you.

Good Friday is a normal working day in France.

why not just Alsace and Mosel, far prettier than Paris and Berlin

In Bavaria, 6, 8, 9, & 10 April are holidays, where grocery shops and most stores will be closed
(you may find some small shops open in small tourist towns like Oberammergau). Restaurants and cafes will mostly be open, but likely mobbed and booked up weeks in advance. You should be ok in Berlin, though, but this wouldn't be a great time to visit Bavaria. Oh, also, the Bavarian landscape isn't wonderful then, with tons of melting snow & rain, and flowers still some weeks away.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Thanks everyone! This is our first time in either country so we'd like to visit Paris & Berlin. We love cities (Tokyo is our favorite place) so Berlin not being "pretty" isn't a problem. And we'd like to avoid closures or jacked up lodging costs. So sounds like Berlin would work better than some of the more scenic spots anyway. We always assume we'll come back if we like the first trip to a country.

Alsace and Moselle still are bound to the German holiday rules. Go figure.

I don't think you could regret Berlin, there's so much to see and do there. It is in parts very modern, but there have been some recent rebuildings of old buildings like the Berliner Stadtschloss. And everywhere there are buildings still pockmarked from bullets from the war. It has left its scars. It is also a very happening place culturally, lots of creatives drawn by the lower rents and the artistic scene generally, but also by the nightlife (Berghain being the famous nightclub). And of course the division between east and west is still marked - the Wall is mostly gone but there are differences in architecture and mentality. The meuseum at Checkpoint Charlie is somewhat of an older museum now but I still find it really interesting. There are also newer museums looking at the war (the controversial Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion and Reconciliation, or the museum underneath the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). And food and drink - a Berliner Weisse mit Schuss - a white beer with a shot of raspberry (red) or woodruff (green) syrup. Konnopkes Imbiss for a Currywurst, or just a Dönerkebab from one of the many stalls. If you have longer, a trip out to Potsdam would be nice, or to the Wannsee. Enjoy!

Lavandula

This all sounds great, thanks for the tips! Once we've got it all decided I'm sure I'll start a new thread asking for tips especially for food. I take our restaurant planning very seriously!