In Poland ban on trade on Sundays and on certain public holidays, which means that consumers must carefully plan their purchases on selected days of the week. This will be peculiarly crucial in the coming days, as most stores will be closed both on Sunday and Monday, January 6th, for the Feast of the 3 Kings.
Where are you going to store on a non-commercial day?
The trade ban does not cover all establishments. There may be respective categories of shops open, specified as:
- Florists,
- Gas stations,
- Refreshments,
- Small shopswhere the owner becomes behind the counter,
- Self-service facilities if the owner decides to open them.
It is worth remembering that even if we find an open place, the offer of products may be limited. This peculiarly applies to tiny residential shops that may not have a full scope as on average days.
Trade Sundays in 2025 – what is worth knowing?
In 2025 it was foreseen eight trade Sundays, which means that consumers will have more opportunities to buy than in the erstwhile year, erstwhile there were 7 specified days. The first trade Sunday is already due 26 January.
Here is simply a complete list of commercial Sundays in 2025:
- 26 January,
- 13 April,
- 27 April,
- 29 June,
- 31 August,
- 7 December,
- 14 December,
- 21 December.
Three Sundays before Christmas Eve – fresh regulations
In 2025 an additional convenience for consumers was introduced – shops will be able to be opened in three more Sundays before Christmas Eve. These are dates: December 7, 14 and 21. This change aims to increase the comfort of pre-Christmas purchases so that consumers can complete gifts and supplies for Christmas in a more convenient time.
However, on Christmas Eve, December 24th, the trade ban is inactive in force, which means that Poles must complete their preparations earlier.
Free Christmas Day Act – what changed?
President Andrzej Duda signed the Free Christmas Day Act, thanks to which stores must be closed that day. Although the Act is controversial – among another things, by trade workers' organisations, which point to possible problems of discrimination in the manufacture – it was addressed to the Constitutional Court in the follow-up control procedure.
What are the exceptions to the ban on trade?
The ban on trade applies in most large-area shops and buying malls. However, it is worth remembering the exceptions that let any establishments to operate despite restrictions:
- Housing stores – open if the owner or his/her loved 1 is handling the service.
- Post office – if they have the position of a service point of the Polish Post Office or a courier company.
- Fuel stations – full scope of services available without interruptions.
- Cafés and restaurants – they can act normally, offering both food on site and to go.
Why are trade Sundays restricted?
The ban on trade on Sundays was introduced in Poland in March 2018 under the Trade regulation Act on Sundays and holidays. The main nonsubjective of the regulation was to support trade workers by providing them with 1 day off a week that they could spend with their family.
From year to year, the number of commercial Sundays has been gradually reduced – since 2020 buying can only be done on respective selected Sundays per year.
Shopping planning is key
In the face of a trade ban, Poles are increasingly planning their purchases in advance. The days before Christmas buying malls and shops are usually crowded, so it is worth considering online shopping. Many online stores offer fast delivery, allowing you to avoid queues and save time.
However, if you are planning to store in physical stores, keep in head designated business Sundays specified as the mentioned 26 January. This is the first time that Poles will be able to store without obstacles this year.
Continued here:
Stores will be closed on Monday January 6th
