Opening hours for craft and retail businesses
Last update
From 19 June 2026, the maximum opening hours for commercial and artisanal businesses that sell products or provide services directly to end consumers, at a physical point of sale that is accessible to the pubic, are as follows:
- Monday to Friday, from 05.00 to 21.00;
- Saturday, Sunday and pubic holidays, from 05.00 to 19.00;
- 22 June, 24 December and 31 December, from 05.00 to 18.00.
Certain exemptions from these hours may apply – notably under the terms of a collective or interprofessional agreement. See 'Exemptions' under 'How to proceed' for further information.
Who is concerned
Activities concerned
All commercial or artisanal activities that:
- require a business permit; and
- involve selling products or provide services directly to end consumers, at a physical point of sale that is accessible to the pubic.
Exceptions
The following traders and artisanal businesses are exempt from this requirement:
- cinemas and any point of sale located within a cinema complex, whose operation is directly connected to the running of the cinema;
- points of sale in train stations and airports;
- catering, hospitality and licensed drinking establishments;
- activities conducted at fairs and markets;
- activities conducted at temporary flea markets or street markets;
- family-run businesses which, outside of the opening hours indicated below (see 'Opening hours' under 'How to proceed'), employ only the director's ascendants, descendants, siblings or same-degree relatives by marriage. These individuals must be of legal age and not receive a salary;
- sports and fitness facilities, and swimming pools;
- indoor and outdoor playgrounds;
- funeral homes;
- service stations:
- for motor vehicles located along:
- roads that form part of the pubic highway network covered by the Luxembourg Law of 16 August 1967 (as amended) creating a comprehensive road network and a road fund; or
- roads falling under the European Agreement on main international traffic arteries (AGR) of 15 November 1975, ratified by the Luxembourg Law of 18 June 1981; and
- that sell:
- fuel, lubricants, spare parts, accessories or essential maintenance products for the proper functioning and repair of motor vehicles; and
- food and non-food products;
- for motor vehicles located along:
- products through automated vending machines.
With respect to the service stations that fall under these exemptions, a list of the service stations concerned can be found on the Ministry of the Economy's website.
How to proceed
Opening hours
The maximum opening hours are set as follows:
- Monday to Friday, 05.00 to 21.00;
- Saturday, Sunday and pubic holidays, from 05.00 to 19.00;
- 22 June, 24 December and 31 December, from 05.00 to 18.00.
Outside of these set opening hours, customers may not be admitted to the premises (points of sale), nor may the businesses sell directly to customers.
Certain exemptions from these hours may apply – notably under the terms of a collective or interprofessional agreement. See 'Exemptions' under 'How to proceed' for further information.
Pubic holidays
Businesses must be closed on the pubic holidays on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, unless there is an agreement in the context of a collective or interprofessional agreement.
Exception: butchers, bakeries, patisseries, caterers and tearooms may open on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December from 05.00 to 19.00.
24-hour opening
For 2 days a year, all businesses are permitted to open around the clock.
The Minister responsible for SMEs must be advised of these 24-hour opening days at least one week in advance.
These special opening times must be notified via a dedicated platform, which can be found here.
After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation of receipt from the ministry.
For any questions relating to 24-hour opening, please contact: ouverture24h@eco.etat.lu.
Exemptions
Outside of the set opening times and 24-hour openings, opening hours may be extended twice a year until 01.00 under a collective or interprofessional agreement.
Additionally, 24-hour opening, from Monday to Sunday inclusive, may be arranged under a collective or interprofessional agreement for the sale of:
- foodstuffs;
- medicine and health-related products;
- hygiene products, washing and sanitary equipment;
- optical products;
- medical, orthopaedic and speech therapy equipment;
- animal feed;
- books, newspapers and stationery;
- household and kitchen utensils;
- fuels, lubricants, spare parts, accessories and maintenance products for the proper functioning and repair of vehicles;
- tobacco products and e-cigarettes;
- telecommunication equipment.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Ministry of the Economy General Directorate for SME, Craft and Retail
- Address:
-
19-21, boulevard Royal
L-2449
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2937 Luxembourg
- Email address:
- info.pme@eco.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://meco.gouvernement.lu/en.html
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Legal references
réglementant les heures d’ouverture dans le secteur du commerce et de l’artisanat
