Traveling During Major Holidays: What Actually Closes and How to Plan Around It

A practical guide to understanding holiday closures, crowds, and travel timing during major holiday periods

I’ve arrived in more than one country over the years, only to learn from the taxi driver that I had walked straight into a public holiday or even a three-day closure I didn’t know existed. Part of me hoped for something special. Instead, I found quiet streets, closed tourist sites, reduced train schedules, and limited food options.

If you’ve ever stepped off a long-haul flight ready to explore and discovered half the city shut down, you know how disruptive that moment can be. If you haven’t experienced it yet, this guide will help you avoid one of the most common travel surprises: holiday closures you never knew to look for.

Every destination handles holidays differently. Some are incredible experiences: Tết in Vietnam, Songkran in Thailand, and the New Year in Singapore. Others are low-key but still bring several days of closures, like Italy’s August holiday season, when many shops and restaurants shut for a week or two around Ferragosto. All can be memorable when you know what you’re walking into.

My goal is simple: help you enjoy the energy of a holiday without the unexpected shutdowns, delays, or itinerary changes that catch travelers off guard. Whether you want to participate in the celebrations or keep your trip running smoothly, planning ahead is the key.

The biggest travel disruptions rarely come from big festivals; they come from quiet holidays no traveler expects. Let’s make sure you know about them before you book.

Why These Holidays Catch Travelers Off Guard

Most travelers check the official public-holiday list and assume everything else will run normally. The surprise comes from the days around the holiday when cities slow down, shops close early, transit adjusts, and families travel all at once.

Because patterns vary by country, region, and even neighborhood, it’s easy to arrive during a quieter stretch without realizing it.

How to Check What Will Actually Be Open Before You Travel

Most travelers rely on the official holiday list and assume everything else will run normally. The surprise often comes from the days before and after the holiday, the time frames that never appear on national calendars. These more minor observances, local festivals, extended closures, and neighborhood-specific patterns are what actually affect food, transport, and attractions.

This system has saved me many times. I use every one of these steps when I travel, and over time, I’ve learned which sources give the clearest picture of when a city truly slows down or venues fill up with local traffic.

Here’s how to check what is open during holidays anywhere:

Check the Public School Calendar

My most reliable travel hack

Schools publish their calendars early so parents can plan ahead. These dates often line up with when cities slow down or when local travel spikes, making the public school calendar a simple, accurate way to predict holiday closures.

School calendars reveal what most travel sites miss:

• extended breaks
• long weekends
• cultural or religious days off
• staggered reopening dates
• when venues fill with local families

How to Search:

Enter the city you’re visiting (or the closest major city if you’re in a rural area)

type: public school calendar + year.

Scroll to the bottom of the search results, and the official school calendar PDF is usually there.

Example: Ostuni public school calendar 2026.

City or Municipal Website

City websites publish fundamental, updated changes, such as:

• reduced hours
• street closures
• adjusted reopening dates
• local festival schedules

These details rarely show up on national lists.

How to Search:

Enter the city name, official government calendar + year.

The official city or municipal PDF is usually available.

You can also cross-check the embassy website.

Avoid relying on older blogs or aggregator sites, as they may be outdated.

Example: Ho Chi Minh official government calendar 2026.

Check Transport Authority

Public transport is usually the first system to adjust its schedule.

Includes:

• metro or MRT changes
• reduced bus or tram service
• holiday rail timetables
• ferry and boat schedule adjustments

If transport slows or surges, the city will too.

Personal Note:

I was in Queensland, Australia, during New Year’s Eve and discovered the metro had shifted to a holiday schedule, but in the best way. All the trains were free from the afternoon through the night. Not every holiday adjustment is a disruption; sometimes it makes getting around easier.

Ask Your Hotel or Serviced Apartment

(Be specific with your questions)

Hotels deal with these patterns every year. Their local staff know how the city honestly operates during holiday weeks and local closures.

Ask:

• Are there any local holidays during my travel dates?
• Are transport schedules normal during this holiday?
• Do cafés nearby close the day before and open the day after?
• How many days total will the shops and restaurants be closed? (This accounts for bridge days).
• Are there on-site food services during the holiday?

Specific questions get clear information.

This method works everywhere. A few quick checks prevent the biggest surprises.

Significant Holiday Periods That Affect Travelers the Most

Chinese New Year — Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand

Late January or February — dates change yearly

Chinese New Year brings 2–3 days of closures, depending on the country. Singapore remains largely open, with malls and public transport operating, but family-run restaurants, hawker stalls, and neighborhood shops often close on peak holiday days.

My first CNY in Singapore caught me off guard because I didn’t account for the time difference after a long-haul flight. I landed in the evening as the two-day holiday began, and by the time I checked in and went back out, most places were closed. By my second CNY, I planned ahead, and the entire experience was smooth.

Decorations fill the streets, and fireworks and firecrackers continue late into the night. Dining scenes shift: places that remain open fill quickly, and small family-run spots close first.

Travel Note:

Expect heavy travel 7–10 days before the holiday and again afterward. 

Tết — Vietnam’s Lunar New Year

Late January or February (dates change yearly)

Tết is Vietnam’s most significant holiday. Closures can last 5–7 days or longer, depending on the region.

Expect:

• markets and local restaurants to close
• family-run shops to shut completely
• transit to run reduced schedules
• cafés and groceries with limited hours

My first Tết was spent in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, and being in a tourist area helped. Streets and storefronts are beautifully decorated, and strolling the neighborhoods still feels festive. Hotels and visitor-focused venues often host teas or small buffets to bring holiday traditions to guests. In the days leading up to the holiday, the streets and markets will be crowded with families preparing for the holiday.

Songkran — Thailand’s New Year

April 13–15 every year

Songkran is joyful, lively, and unforgettable, and it brings 3–5 days of closures. Banks, markets, and many neighborhood restaurants close; some tourist sites reduce hours.

If you’re in Thailand for Songkran, expect daytime water celebrations. You will get wet, there’s no escaping it! Being splashed is considered a blessing in Thai culture.

Day celebrations are friendly and upbeat, with music and food stalls. Evenings shift toward nightlife, loud music, and drinking. If late-night crowds aren’t your style, enjoy the daytime fun and step out of the water-zone streets by evening. I often enjoy a rooftop bar or hotel pool at night, still celebratory, but more relaxed.

Travel Note:

Expect heavy travel 7–10 days before and again after the holiday. Book accommodations early. If you are crowd-sensitive, adjust which venues you attend, as many attract thousands of locals and visitors.

Ferragosto — Italy

August 15 every year

Ferragosto is one of Italy’s busiest holiday periods. In southern Italy and Sicily, closures often stretch across 2–3 weeks. Families take their annual holidays, and many small shops and restaurants close during this stretch.

However, the region stays lively. Beaches fill early with locals and visitors. Public beaches fill up fast, parking is difficult, and paid beach clubs (lidos) are common, typically €10–15 for a chair and umbrella.

Bars, cafés, and larger stores remain open. If you want a sunset aperitivo or a dinner reservation, book early; evenings are busy.

Personal Note:

I enjoy southern Italy in late August. Smaller seaside spots feel more relaxed than the busy tourist beaches, though parking is still difficult; plan on walking. One of my favorite moments is stopping by a local bodega for a simple picnic, enjoying a gelato while watching the sunset, then heading to dinner.

For an easy way to avoid unexpected closures while traveling, I’ve put together a one-page Holiday Closures Travel Checklist you can save to your phone before your trip. It covers the key questions to ask your hotel, how to research unfamiliar holidays and local closure patterns, and what to do if restaurants or shops are closed. These simple steps keep your trip running smoothly, no matter when you arrive.

Final Thoughts

Holiday seasons can be among the most memorable travel moments, full of culture, color, and joy-filled experiences, when you know what to expect. With a bit of planning, you can decide whether to join the celebrations or avoid the closures entirely. 

If you want to explore more practical travel guidance, you may enjoy:

Eating Alone While Traveling: Why It’s the Best Table in Town

Driving in Italy for the First Time: Essential Tips for Tourists

Food Safety Abroad: Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling

Want more real-world travel tips?

Safe holiday travels,

Shelly

Solo Her Way