Austria National Day 26 October: What's Open in Vienna and Salzburg

The short answer

On Monday 26 October 2026 (Nationalfeiertag) and Sunday 1 November 2026 (Allerheiligen), nearly all ordinary shops in Vienna and Salzburg are closed. Restaurants and cafés mostly open, public transport runs on a holiday timetable, and the big sights and many museums welcome visitors, sometimes with shorter hours. Both days suit walking the old centres and sitting in a café. Neither suits shopping or errands.

The second holiday catches people out. Austrian shops close on Sundays anyway, so travellers assume 1 November changes nothing. It does change one thing: it is a quiet, family and cemetery day, and some small restaurants close too. Check any venue you care about close to the date.

What normally closes

• Supermarkets, department stores and high-street shops. This includes the fashion and souvenir shops along Graben and Kärntner Straße in Vienna and along Getreidegasse in Salzburg.
• Most small specialist shops, such as bakeries (some open briefly on holidays, but do not count on it), bookshops and craft stores.
• Some museums that keep a regular weekly closing day. A holiday Monday can land on top of it, so confirm on the museum's own site.

Shops inside major train stations and at the airport are the usual exception, and pharmacies run an emergency rota. If you need groceries, sun cream or a phone charger, buy them on Saturday 31 October, when shops keep normal Saturday hours but close earlier than on weekdays.

What usually stays open

• Restaurants, coffee houses and wine taverns. Central, tourist-facing places generally open, but book a table for a Sunday or holiday lunch. Smaller neighbourhood places may take a rest day.
• Churches and cathedrals. Open, but Mass takes priority. Sightseeing inside Stephansdom or Salzburg Cathedral can be restricted during services, especially on All Saints'.
• Hotels and public transport. Trams, the U-Bahn and city buses run, but expect Sunday-style frequency.
• Major attractions. Many open, but opening hours and admission rules vary by venue and year.

National Day in Vienna: what the public events are like

26 October marks Austria's neutrality law of 1955. In Vienna the focus is the Heldenplatz and the Hofburg area. The programme typically includes Bundesheer (armed forces) displays and vehicles, military ceremony, and open doors at some federal buildings. The programme changes from year to year, so look up the current schedule nearer the date.

Expect families, queues at the stalls and open-door buildings, and fenced-off sections around the Hofburg and Ringstrasse. It is a civic and military day, not a street party. If you want a clean photograph of the Hofburg, go early or choose another day.

All Saints' Day: a quiet Sunday

On 1 November many Austrians visit family graves and light candles, and cemeteries such as Vienna's Zentralfriedhof are busy. City-centre streets feel subdued. If you visit a cemetery, dress plainly, keep your voice down and do not photograph mourners. Monday 2 November is an ordinary working day.

Walking days that work when shops are shut

The old centres are the point of these days, and a walk needs no open shop. Helios runs two three-hour city walks by road-accessible routes within each city, each in small-group and private formats.

In Vienna, the Vienna historic centre walk links Stephansdom, Graben, the Hofburg exterior and Kohlmarkt. The Hofburg is seen from outside, which suits a day when interiors may be restricted. The window displays on Graben and Kohlmarkt are there to look at even with shutters down. It runs as a small shared group of up to 12 guests, or as a private tour for your own party.

In Salzburg, the Salzburg old town and Mozart walk covers Getreidegasse, Mozart's Birthplace from the outside, Salzburg Cathedral and Residenzplatz. The wrought-iron shop signs on Getreidegasse are worth seeing even when the shops are closed. This walk also runs as a small group of up to 12 or as a private tour.

For either walk, send us your date, group size and interests. We check local guide availability and send a plan and quote. Admission, transport, food and tastings are not included unless confirmed in your quote, so ask whether a cathedral visit fits your holiday timing.

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FAQ

Are shops open in Vienna on 26 October?

Almost all ordinary shops are closed, because it is a public holiday. Shops in major train stations and at the airport are the usual exceptions. Restaurants, cafés and many sights are open.

Is 1 November a public holiday in Austria?

Yes. Allerheiligen is a public holiday nationwide. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so the day is quiet, shops are shut as they are every Sunday, and some small restaurants close as well.

Are museums open on Austrian National Day?

Many are, but hours differ, and some have a regular weekly closing day that can coincide with the holiday. Check each museum's website a few days before you go.

Is Salzburg quieter than Vienna on these days?

Salzburg's old town is compact, so it feels busy around the cathedral and Getreidegasse, but without shopping. Vienna's main public events cluster around Heldenplatz on 26 October. Neither city shuts down entirely.