This post will discuss public holidays in Poland and how they may affect your port call. Please be aware that this is a general guide, and most businesses will do their utmost to accommodate your requests, even during holiday periods. However, that may come with an extra cost.
Polish Public Holidays: What Businesses and Visitors Need to Know
To truly understand a country, you need to know its culture. Holidays shape everyday life — and they affect how business works. Poland is no exception. Most Polish holidays have Christian roots. In fact, the Polish word for holidays, święta, means “holy days.”
Here are some details:
New Year’s Day — 1 st January
Celebrations begin on the evening of 31 December. New Year’s Day is an official national holiday. Most shops and shopping centers stay closed. Large public celebrations are a relatively recent tradition. They are now popular in bigger cities and in Zakopane, Poland’s winter capital. Expect open-air concerts, fireworks, and champagne toasts.
The Epiphany — 6th January,
Poles also call this “Three Kings’ Day.” Families write the year and the initials of the three wise men above their doors in chalk — for example, 2024 K+M+B. Churches bless the chalk during services. Many cities also host colorful street processions. The three kings ride through town to a central nativity scene. Crowds follow, wearing symbolic crowns. The event ends with carol singing.
Easter
Easter is one of Poland’s most important holidays. Plan meetings and orders carefully around this period. Good Friday is a day of fasting. Herring is the traditional dish. On Easter Saturday, families bring baskets of food to church for a blessing. Hand-painted eggs, known as pisanki, are a key element. Easter Monday — Śmigus Dyngus or Wet Monday — is a public holiday. People splash each other with water, following an old Slavic tradition. In rural areas, this often turns into a full water fight.
Labour Day — 1 st May
This holiday honours workers’ struggles in late 19th-century Chicago. Poland officially adopted it in the 1950s. It remains a public holiday today. Some political parties mark it with rallies in larger cities. Labour Day falls close to Constitution Day on 3 May. Many Poles take 2 May off as well, creating a long weekend.
Constitution Day — 3rd May
This is a key date in Polish history. It marks the proclamation of the Polish Constitution of 1791 — the oldest in Europe and the second oldest in the world. Expect parades, marches, and public events. Many Poles take holidays during this period, known as “majówka”, which falls on 1st–3rd May. It marks the first real sign of spring after a long winter.
Pentecost
Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. It always falls on a Sunday. Most businesses are already closed that day. The economic impact is minimal. Regular business hours apply on surrounding days.
Corpus Christi — Thursday, 60 days after Easter
Restaurants and cafes usually stay open. Supermarkets and larger stores close. Large religious processions move through city streets — visitors may find this surprising. Many Poles take the following Friday off to extend the weekend. Expect heavier traffic and some road congestion.
Assumption of Mary / Armed Forces Day — 15th August
This is both a religious and national holiday. It marks two events: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Polish army’s victory over Soviet forces in 1920 — the Miracle on the Vistula. Military parades take place across the country. Many Polish Catholics make pilgrimages to Częstochowa. Shopping centres, supermarkets, and most businesses close for the day.
All Saints’ Day — 1st November
This is a solemn day. Nearly all Poles visit the graves of family members and loved ones. Shops close. Cafes and restaurants operate on reduced hours. Heavy traffic builds up near cemeteries and on major roads. Avoid work-related calls or meetings on this day.
Independence Day — 11th November
Poland regained independence on 11 November 1918, after 123 years of foreign occupation. Poles cherish this date deeply. Government ceremonies and patriotic marches take place in larger cities. Expect road closures and limited public services. Most businesses close. Everyone is welcome to join the celebrations.
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day — 24th–25th December
Christmas is Poland’s most important holiday — culturally and economically. Almost all businesses close. Families gather for large celebrations, and many people travel to their hometowns days in advance. Avoid scheduling meetings during this period. Public transport runs on a reduced timetable. Some businesses open on Christmas Eve but with shorter hours. Expect festive decorations, carols, and traditional Polish Christmas food.
Second Day of Christmas — 26th December
This day is part of Poland’s Christmas celebrations. Poles spend it with family. Very few businesses are open. Treat it the same as 25 December for planning purposes.
Practical Notes for Businesses
Public holidays in port companies typically start at 11 p.m. the evening before and end at 11 p.m. on the holiday itself. Note that working days often end at 3 p.m. on 24 December and 31 January.
Truck traffic restrictions apply on public holidays: 08:00–22:00. When a holiday falls on a weekday, restrictions also cover the preceding day from 18:00–22:00. Between 27 June and 31 August, restrictions extend to Fridays (18:00–22:00), Saturdays (08:00–14:00), and Sundays (08:00–22:00). Vehicle availability for transport is also reduced on days before and after public holidays.
For detailed information, contact the agent directly.
