🐣 Easter Sunday in Norway: what's open, flag day and traditions påskefjellet 🚩
Easter Sunday is an official public holiday and flag day. Flag-raising is mandatory for government institutions and recommended for private individuals. On Easter Sunday, public transport operates on a holiday schedule; most shops and Vinmonopolet stores are closed; some restaurants and museums are open with reduced hours.
FLAG DAY · The flag is usually raised at 8 a.m. and lowered at sunset, but no later than 9 p.m. (March–October).
| Category | Mode on Easter Sunday | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 🛒 Supermarkets | Mostly closed | Exceptions are rare in tourist areas |
| 🍷 Vinmonopolet | Closed | All shops closed on public holidays and Easter/Pentecost |
| ☕ Restaurants/cafés | Limited, reduced hours | Popular brunches/sets; reservations welcome |
| 🏛 Museums/culture | Limited | Not all open; check museum websites |
| 🚍 Public transport | Holiday/Sunday service | In large urban areas — Sunday schedules |
Flag Day: what to consider (short reminder)
● Status: Første påskedag — Norway's official flag day.
● Time: March–October — raise at 08:00, lower at sunset, no later than 21:00. (November–February — different rules, but these do not usually apply to Easter.)
● Who is required to fly the flag: government agencies; private individuals are encouraged to follow the same temporary rules.
● For details on the protocol and joint flagging, see our hub: /hub/flag-days-norway.
Transport and "reverse flows"
● Public transport: operates according to Sunday/holiday schedules; check the nearest departures.
● Trains (Vy): During Easter, there may be scheduled maintenance and bus replacements on some routes — check Vy/Bane NOR notifications.
● Roads: According to Statens vegvesen, one of the days most likely to experience traffic congestion is Easter Sunday (return traffic). Plan your departure, monitor the traffic map and the status of mountain passes.
Påskefjellet: traditions and safety
● Easter in Norway is all about mountains, skiing, oranges and Kvikk Lunsj; the "quiet day" is often spent in the cabin or in the sun on the slopes.
● Before setting off, check the avalanche warnings (Varsom publishes daily reports from 1 December to 31 May). Follow the fjellvettreglene (rules for safe behaviour in the mountains).
Quiet city routes (if you're not leaving)
● Oslo: Aker Brygge/Tjuvholmen waterfront → suburban parks (Frognerparken) → coffee break.
● Bergen: Fløibanen early in the morning → a tour of Vågen and Bryggen → a hot drink in the city centre.
● Trondheim: along the Nidelva → Gamle Bybro → Bakklandet neighbourhood.
● Tromsø: Polaria/waterfront → Prestvannet (if the trails are clear).
● Stavanger: Mosvatnet lake or the waterfront in the centre + Old Stavanger.
(Check the actual opening hours of museums and cafés on that day.)
FAQ
Most supermarkets are closed; rare exceptions may occur in tourist areas. Vinmonopolet is closed. Check the opening hours of specific locations.
Cities operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule; trains may run with changes due to Easter infrastructure work. Check the nearest departures in the Ruter/Vy apps.
Some cafes/restaurants are open with reduced hours and a limited menu. Look for places near hotels, tourist clusters and food halls; arrive when they open.
The likelihood increases during the day/evening of the first day of Easter, when the return traffic begins. Keep an eye on vegvesen.no/trafikk and the status of mountain passes.
Some museums and spas are open, but with limited hours. Check the venues' websites and book slots (if required).
In March–October, raise the flag at 8 a.m. and lower it at sunset, but no later than 9 p.m. For private homes, this is a recommendation, not a requirement.
Check the avalanche level on Varsom and follow fjellvettreglene (route plan, communication, layered clothing, food/water supplies).
The quiet hours from 4 p.m. apply to Påskeaften (Saturday), not Sunday. But Første påskedag itself is a full public holiday.
