May 1st in Germany/Austria/Switzerland
 

Does anyone know what a typical May Day holiday is like in Germany/Austria/Switzerland?

Will tourist hot spots (specifically Castle Neuschwanstein) have reduced hours? It doesn't say its closed on May 1 on their website, but just wondering.

Will stores be closed?

Thanks for the help!

In Zürich it's an official holiday. In my area, Canton Schwyz, there's no holiday.

Check out myswitzerland.com for more info.

Everything is closed in Germany.

In Germany, only shops and offices are closed. Neuschwanstein Castle and other attractions are open, of course.

Many Germans use the holiday for tours and visiting attractions.

Hi D,

>Will tourist hot spots (specifically Castle Neuschwanstein) have reduced hours?

See www.hohenschwangau.de/556.0.html

((I))

Public holiday. Shops are closed, with the exception of a) those in airports and large train stations and b) souvenir shops near tourist attractions.

No special activities except some demonstrations organized by the trade unions in the cities, which tend to be smaller every year - no need to worry about that.
For everyone else, it's just a day off.

Opening hours of tourist attractions will be like any Sunday.

Thank you for your responses! I was told that Europeans do it up big for May Day - dressing up and dancing around the may flower pole, big festivals, etc.

Thanks for the clarification!

schuler
I note you mention canton Schwyz. I also saw mention of Einsedeln and the Sihlsee on a recent post. My DH and I have good friends who live in a lovely home overlooking the Sihlsee. We stayed overnight there in December 06. It was really delightful! I got to shop the Christmas market in Einsedeln and found some lovely things.
Carol

>do it up big for May Day
It's the night before May Day, the "Freinacht", when youngsters play jokes on others and sometimes exaggerate "a little". If the kids manage to steal the "Maibaum" from the neighboring town they get free food and beer in return. In Berlin this is the "classic" night for riots!

Yup, logos, also known as Walpurgisnacht. According to legends that's the night when the witches take off on their broomsticks to go dancing. Some kids may have Halloween-like parties and play dirty tricks on other people.

You may come across events named "Tanz in den Mai" (dance into May) that take place the night of April 30. If you find one, that might be a nice way to spend that evening. These dances are quite popular among those who have, say, outgrown Halloween-like parties.

The usual German (if he/she doesn't use the long weekend for travelling) goes for a walk in the forest on the first of May. Even people who never do any hiking will feel the need to do so that day to enjoy the spring green.

Hi Simpson,

Glad you've been to Einsiedeln. The hotels aren't the greatest but there's still a lot of charm in the area. And the Christmas market is great too. And the church, ah the church, quite an undertaking for such a farming area.

Schuler
We stayed in the new home of our friends, overlooking the lake, so did not look into hotels in Einsedeln at all. But the church was amazing, yes!
Carol