Many key services close or reduce hours on Good Friday, but it varies a lot by country and even by city.

The basics

Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and is treated as a public or bank holiday in many countries, especially those with strong Christian traditions. When it is a public/bank holiday, you can expect widespread closures similar to a Sunday or other major holiday.

Commonly closed on Good Friday

In places where Good Friday is a public or bank holiday (for example, Canada, the UK and parts of Europe), these are often closed or on significantly reduced hours:

  • Government offices and local administration.
  • Public schools and many universities.
  • Banks and many financial institutions.
  • Post offices and some shipping counters.
  • Many small shops and independent businesses, especially in more religious or traditional areas.
  • Some professional services (law offices, medical clinics that aren’t emergency or urgent care).

In the UK, for instance, Good Friday is a bank holiday , so many schools, banks, government offices and some businesses are closed, and public transport may run a reduced schedule. In Canada it is a statutory holiday in every province and territory except Quebec, where it is optional but still widely observed; schools and post offices are closed, and many stores either close or run restricted hours.

In some European regions, Good Friday is also specifically listed as a public holiday, which typically means many offices and institutions in those areas shut down.

Often open or partially open

Not everything stops. In many countries, especially where Good Friday is not a nationwide public holiday, large parts of daily life keep running with some adjustments.

Typically open or partially open:

  • Major grocery chains and supermarkets (sometimes with shorter hours).
  • Big-box and chain retail stores in less strictly regulated areas.
  • Restaurants, cafes and bars (though some family-run or religiously observant ones may close).
  • Tourist attractions and entertainment venues in big cities.
  • Essential services like hospitals, emergency care, and often pharmacies.

Forum-style discussions and news pieces that compare regions point out that a lot of shops do stay open, but local laws and customs can make a big difference, so you’ll see everything from “almost everything closed” to “feels like a normal business day.”

Why answers differ so much

  • Legal status: Some countries treat Good Friday as an official public holiday; others do not, or only in certain regions.
  • Local culture: More religious or traditional communities are more likely to close shops and workplaces.
  • Type of business: Essential services and large retail chains are more likely to stay open, while government offices, banks and schools follow official holiday calendars.

A simple way to think about it: if Good Friday is a public or bank holiday where you live, assume government, banks, schools and many offices are closed, but big retailers and essential services are open on reduced or normal hours.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.