There is lots of traffic on Europe’s roads over the Easter holidays and traffic jams are the order of the day. Easter vacations, family visits or day trips mean a considerable increase in the number of cars on local and national routes. Some countries prohibit trucks from driving on weekends and public holidays anyway, while others impose special Easter driving bans. Our table shows you which regulations apply where in Europe.
Trucks at Easter: the Supply Chain Remains Intact
Nobody wants to see empty supermarket shelves after Easter or have to wait longer for much-needed deliveries. It is only with the help of road freight that the supply of essential goods and life-enhancing amenities can be maintained. So let us first thank the many truck drivers who will be on the road for us over the Easter holidays.
However, especially at peak travel times such as Easter, trucks are perceived by many as a nuisance – and when car and truck traffic build up into a traffic jam, neither holidaymakers nor transported goods can reach their destination. Easter driving bans are intended to prevent this.
Overview of the 2025 Easter Truck Driving Bans
In the year 2025, Easter will fall on the following dates: Maundy Thursday: 4/17, Good Friday: 4/18, Holy Saturday: 4/19, Easter Sunday: 4/20, Easter Monday: 4/21. By the way: these dates apply to both Catholic or Protestant and Orthodox countries. Only very rarely do the Western and Orthodox Easter holidays fall on the same calendar date. This is the case in 2025, and in Bulgaria, Greece, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Cyprus, Easter Sunday also falls on April 20.
Before we come to the Easter restrictions, let’s take a look at all the countries where there are no general driving bans, either at Easter or at any other time of the year.
European Countries without general truck driving bans:
- Albania
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Serbia
- Sweden
- UK
However, “general” also means that there are exceptions. There may be country-specific restrictions for special transports with excess width or length (e.g. in Belgium), as well as for dangerous goods transports (e.g. in Estonia, but here only on working days). There may also be regional restrictions.
Countries with regionally limited restrictions include the Netherlands, which has low emission zones in metropolitan areas that are closed to trucks. In the UK, there are truck bans on individual roads in the London area. In both cases, however, this has nothing to do with Easter and applies all year round.
The respective regulations on regional or transport-specific restrictions are sometimes very detailed. Therefore, if you are planning to transport special or dangerous goods, or drive in metropolitan areas, it is recommended to obtain information in advance.
Countries without general driving bans that require special attention at Easter:
- Bulgaria: Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 12 tons or more are particularly affected. There are occasional driving bans for them on certain routes on public holidays (this also applies on the day before a public holiday such as Maundy Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on the first day after a public holiday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
- In Greece, there are holiday driving bans for trucks over 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight on certain roads, which also apply on Easter holidays.
- In Portugal, the transport of dangerous goods (over 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight) is prohibited on selected routes on public holidays and the eve of public holidays, including Easter (as well as Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Additional limited restrictions apply to Lisbon and Porto.
- Romania: The Romanian weekend and public holiday driving bans are not nationwide, but they are very detailed. Certain routes are also prohibited on Easter holidays.
- Spain: You can always drive freely here in the winter months. Only from the end of June to mid-September are there regional driving bans for vehicles over 7.5 tons gross vehicle weight.
Overview of European Countries with Easter Truck Driving Bans
Note: In 2024, Easter will be celebrated on the following dates: Holy Thursday: March 28, Good Friday: March 29, Holy Saturday: March 30, Easter Sunday: March 31, Easter Monday: April 1.
| Country | Gross vehicle weight | When? |
| Austria | from 7.5 t (semi-trailers from 3.5 t) | Good Friday 0 a.m. to 10 p.m.; from Holy Saturday, 3 p.m. to Easter Sunday, 10 p.m.; Easter Monday 0 a.m. to 10 p.m.; night driving ban from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Croatia | from 7.5 t | Good Friday/Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Easter Sunday/Monday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Czech Republic | from 7.5 t | Good Friday, Easter Sunday/Monday from 1 to 10 p.m. |
| France | from 7.5 t | from 10 p.m. on Holy Saturday to 10 p.m. on Easter Monday |
| Germany | from 7.5 t | Good Friday, Easter Sunday/Monday from 0 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Hungary | from 7.5 t | from Maundy Thursday, 10 p.m. to Good Friday, 10 p.m.; from Holy Saturday, 8 a.m. to Easter Monday, 10 p.m. |
| Italy | from 7.5 t | Good Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Holy Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Easter Sunday/Monday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; April 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Liechtenstein | from 3.5 t (semi-trailers from 5 t) | Good Friday, Easter Sunday/Monday 0 a.m. to midnight; night driving ban from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Luxembourg | from 7.5 t | Transit in the direction of Germany: from Maundy Thursday, 11.30 p.m. to Good Friday, 9.45 p.m.; from Easter Saturday, 11.30 p.m. to Easter Monday, 9.45 p.m. Transit in the direction of France: from Maundy Thursday, 9.30 p.m. to Good Friday, 9.45 p.m.; from Easter Saturday, 9.30 p.m. to Easter Monday, 9.45 p.m. |
| Poland | from 12 t | Holy Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m.; Easter Sunday/Monday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Switzerland | Vehicles from 3.5 t (semi-trailers from 5 t, trailers from 3.5 t) | from Maundy Thursday, 10 p.m. to Holy Saturday, 5 a.m. (except Ticino and Valais); from Holy Saturday,10 p.m. to April 22, 5 a.m. (Valais: only until Easter Monday, 5 a.m.); general night driving ban from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Slovakia | from 7,5 t (trailers from 3,5 t) | Good Friday, Easter Sunday/Monday from 0 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Slovenia | from 7.5 t | Good Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Easter Sunday/Monday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
Conclusion: Being Well Informed Will Help You Reach Your Destination at Easter
We hope our overview will help you keep track of what applies to truck drivers on Europe’s roads during Easter, so you can make better plans to get to the right rest area in time. In some countries, the risk of heavy fines can make violating Easter driving bans expensive. Wherever you are and whatever roads you travel over Easter: We at DHL Freight wish you a safe trip and/or a relaxing Easter.
