Sales periods in Europe
Would you like to take advantage of the sales in a neighbouring country? The European Consumer Centre France offers you an overview of the sales dates, shop opening times, VAT rates and national currency in each European Union country as well as in the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland. You can also follow our practical advice if you buy a defective item on sale or if you want to withdraw from the contract.
"Les soldes": France’s main sales periods
There are 2 main sales periods of a maximum duration of 4 weeks in winter and summer. The dates are decided by each French department by order of the Prefect. Beginning and ending dates are fixed and compulsory for all sellers.
French winter sales
Winter sales usually start the 2nd Wednesday of January at 8am (or on the 1st Wednesday if the second Wednesday after the 12th of January).
French summer sales
Summer sales usually start the last Wednesday of June at 8am (or the Wednesday before, if the last Wednesday is after the 28th of June).
In 2025: the summer sales start Wednesday, June 25, and last for 4 weeks, (i.e until Tuesday, July 22). Some departments, overseas and Corsica have other sales periods and a derogation for other dates.
Online sales in France
The sales periods in e-commerce are the same as the national dates for shops. Therefore, even a seller situated in another country has to respect the official dates if they target French consumers.
If the seller is situated in a French department with different dates, the website must respect the national dates, not the ones of its department.
Outside these periods, sellers can advertise price reductions but without using the word sale, as long as they do not sell below cost (see below “other sales” and also eur-lex.europa.eu).
Good to know: For online sales you may benefit from a right to withdraw from your purchase. More information in our article on cooling off.
Good to know: As of 2014, there are four different VAT rates in France.
The standard rate of 20%
In 2014, the standard rate rose from 19.6% to 20%.
The standard rate applies to all taxable transactions for which no other rate is expected.
The reduced rate of 10%
Prior to 2014, certain products and services subjected were subject to a 7% VAT. This rate has since increased to 10%.
This is the case for food service, accommodation services, some cultural services like books and television, and transport services (air, sea, rail and road). Only some activities are sold with the reduced VAT of 5.5 % (eg. entries to cinemas and performing arts like circuses, theatres and concerts). The special Corsican rate rose from 8% to 10%.
The reduced rate of 5.5%
Various products and services are concerned, such as water and soft drinks; products intended for human consumption; special equipment for disabled persons as well as services provided to them; medical equipment; and recurring household expenses, such as the supply of electricity with a maximum power exceeding 36 kilovolt-amperes, heat energy, natural gas fuel, and heat supply.
The specific rate (“super reduced”) of 2.1%
Among the sectors subjected to this rate you can find pharmaceutical products (especially drugs reimbursed by social security), newspapers and periodicals, TV licences… The VAT rate for online press is the same as for written paper press at 2.1%. On some products, such as certain medicines, the rate is as low as 0%.
Legal guarantees during "sales"
Limiting the legal guarantee of conformity on items sold during “sales” is subject to very strict conditions. Shopkeepers still have to respect specific legal rules during sales periods. The customer has the same rights as usual concerning manufacturing defects and after-sales service. This implies that the shopkeeper is obliged to exchange or to reimburse an item that has a hidden defect (a defect you could not see when you bought the product) or which does not conform to the order (see our article on guarantees in France).
An indication that “Goods can neither be returned nor exchanged” can only refer to items which have been specifically indicated as faulty, or to those which are normally exchanged only as a goodwill gesture. If you buy faulty goods without being alerted, your rights to after-sales service still apply. In any case, always be careful when buying goods on sale and inspect them thoroughly!
Price indications during sales in France
In the shop, the distinction between reduced and non-reduced items must be made clearly visible to the consumer, otherwise this practice could be considered as misleading advertising. However, a general indication is enough if the discount or the new price is the same for all the goods, for instance, a 10% discount on all the items in a certain shelf.
The following pricing details should appear clearly on the label:
- The previous price has to be crossed out (this price has to be the lowest one that was indicated within the last 30 days before the sales)
- The new price
- The total amount of the discount
The basis price has to be available also for factory outlets and sales via internet. They may indicate the basis price using two methods:
- Either the dealer chooses to set the basis price to the lowest value the item has experienced within the last 30 days preceding the sale (it may also refer to a similar item), or he maintains the recommended retail price given by the manufacturer or importer.
- In case there is neither a recommended retail price nor a similar item available, the dealer might refer to a price that has been suggested beforehand and which can actually date up to three years.
Nevertheless, the customer has to be made aware of where the basis price has its origins and the store as well as the website has to be able to prove that the basis price is a realistic one.
Other sales in France
Shops can offer discounts and organise clearance sales at any time as long as they respect certain obligations for clear information of their customers.
Clear information
- about store cards: In France, whenever a shop advertises a discount, there has to be an advertisement inside the point of sale to inform customers about the terms and conditions. Store cards are included since very often only card owners can benefit from the discounts which are being offered. The exact conditions concerning those special discounts must be available: for example, there might be discounts exclusively available to a certain age group. So before signing up for a store card, ask for the main characteristics and check if this card is useful for you.
- In case of a clearance sale along with the catchword “everything MUST go”, the advertising has to be stopped as soon as the concerned stocks have run out.
Seasonal sales in Europe
In order to get an overview of the sales periods, currency, VAT and opening hours in each Member state, see below.
Winter sales: January 3rd until January 31st.
If January 3rd is a Sunday, the winter sales start on Saturday, January 2nd.
Summer sales: July 1st until July 31st.
If July 1st is a Sunday, the summer sales start on Saturday, June 30th.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 21 %
Reduced VAT rate of 12% (e.g. restaurant services, excluding drinks) and 6% (e.g. medicine, books, basic food items and cultural/social services).
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9:30/10am - 6/6:30pm; Shopping centres: 10am - 8pm
- Saturday: 9:30/10am - 6/6:30pm; Shopping centres: 10am - 8pm
- Sunday: closed, except for some tourist areas
Tourist information: visitbelgium.com
Winter sales: No set period. Usually from January until February.
Summer sales: No set period. Usually from July until August.
Currency: Bulgarian lev (BGN)
VAT: 20%
A reduced VAT rate of 9% is applied to hotel accommodations.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Saturday: 10am - 9/10pm
- Sunday: closed, except shopping centres: 10am - 9/10pm
Tourist information: bulgariatravel.org
Winter sales: Begin December 27th (can last maximum 60 days).
Summer sales: Begin July 1st (can last maximum 60 days).
Currency: Euro
VAT: 25%
There are two reduced VAT rates of 13% (e.g. cafes, restaurants, certain food, concerts etc) and 5% (e.g. bread and milk products, books, medicine, cinema tickets).
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday - Friday: 9am – 7pm
- Saturday: 9am - 3pm
- Sunday: closed; stores and shopping centres may be open 16 or more Sundays per year. They can choose which Sundays.
Tourist information: croatia.hr
Winter sales: No set period. Usually during January.
Summer sales: No set period. Usually during July.
Retail shops are permitted to carry out their sale periods at any point throughout the year at their discretion.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 19% on goods and services. On some products and services VAT varies between 5% and 9%.
Shops' opening hours:
Retail store hours vary depending on the type of store and the area. In general, stores are open at the following times:
- Monday to Saturday: 7am - 9pm
- Sunday: opening at 11am – closing between 2pm to 10pm;
Some stores remain closed at lunchtime on Wednesdays and Saturdays and completely closed on Sundays, although in most tourist areas of Cyprus stores and supermarkets remain open late into the night and on Sundays.
Tourist information: visitcyprus.org.cy
Winter sales: No set period. Usually around Christmastime.
Summer sales: No set period.
Currency: Czech crown (CZK)
VAT: 21%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: generally 9am - 5pm; in Prague city centre shops close later
- Saturday: 8am - 11:00; in Prague city centre shops can be open all day
- Sunday: closed, except for Prague city centre
Generally, shopping malls and chain stores are open 24/7.
Tourist information: czechtourism.com
Winter sales: From the 27th of December or beginning of January until the end of February.
Summer sales: From the beginning of June until the end of August.
Currency: Danish crown (DKR)
VAT: 25%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9/10am - 5:30/6pm; Friday 7/8pm
- Saturday: 9/10am - 1/2pm; major cities 9/10am - 5pm
- Sunday: closed, except for larger stores and department stores
Tourist information:visitdenmark.com
Winter sales: No set period. Usually after Christmas until February.
Summer sales: No set period. Usually from the end of June until the end of August.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 22%
The VAT will increase to 24% beginning July 1st, 2025. The reduced VAT will increase from 9% to 13%.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10am - 7pm; shopping centres 10am - 9pm
- Saturday: 10am - 5pm; shopping centres 10am - 7pm
- Sunday: closed; shopping centres 10am - 7pm
Tourist information: visitestonia.com
Winter sales: No set period for sales. Usually January to early February.
Summer sales: No set period for sales. Usually from mid-June to mid-July.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 24 %
The VAT will increase to 25.5% beginning in 2025. There is also a 14% subsidized VAT rate for some products including books, restaurant and catering services, etc.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9am - 9pm
- Saturday: 9am - 6pm
- Sunday: Shopping centres are usually open from 12pm - 6pm
Grocery stores and supermarkets are open seven days a week and may open as early as 7am and may stay open until 9pm - 11pm. There are also some large 24-hour convenience stores and grocery stores.
Tourist information: visitfinland.com
See above
Winter sales: No set period for sales. Usually begins at the end of January/beginning of February.
Summer sales: No set period for sales. Usually begins at the end of July/beginning of August.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 19%
A reduced VAT of 7% applies to items such as food, books, and admission to cultural events.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Saturday: Normally 9am -7pm. In individual federal states, other times are legally permitted: e.g. 12am - 12pm (Baden-Wuerttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin); 6am - 8pm (Bavaria); 6am - 10pm (Saxony) etc.
- Sunday: closed
In some states shops can be open a certain number of Sundays. In most federal states, four Sundays a year are permitted.
Tourist information: Germany-Travel.de
Winter sales: From the second Monday of January until the end of February.
Spring sales: May 1st-10th.
Summer sales: From the second Monday of July until the end of August.
Autumn sales: November 1st-10th.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 24%
Reduced VAT of 13% for select food items, some non-alcoholic beverages, restaurant and catering services, etc.
A further reduced rate of 6% for books, theatre and concert tickets, etc.
Shops' opening hours
- Monday-Friday: 9am - 9pm
- Saturday: 9am - 3pm
- Sunday: closed, except for seven Sundays a year from 11am - 8pm:
The first Sunday of each of the above 4 sale periods
The two Sundays before Christmas
- One Sunday before Easter
Tourist information:
Winter sales: No set period for sales. Usually start in January.
Summer sales: No set period for sales.
Currency: Forint (HUF)
VAT: 27%
Reduced rate of 18% for some food items and open-air music events.
There is also a further reduced rate of 5%, which applies to certain basic food items, pharmaceuticals, books, hotel accommodations, restaurants, etc.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10am - 6pm; shopping centres until 9pm
- Saturday: 9/10am - 1/2pm; shopping centres 10am - 9pm
- Sunday: mostly closed; shopping centres 10am - 6pm
Tourist information: visithungary.com
Winter sales: No set periods for sales. Usually begin in January
Summer sales: No set periods for sales. Usually begin in July.
Currency: Icelandic Crown (ISK)
VAT: 24% on most products. Reduced VAT of 11% for newspapers, hotel accommodation, etc.
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9/10am - 6/7pm; shopping centres: 10/11am – 6/8pm
- Saturday: 10am - 4/5pm
- Sunday: shopping centres 12pm-5/6pm. Downtown: most stores closed
Tourist information: iceland.is
Winter sales: No set period for sales. Usually after Christmas until the end of January.
Summer sales: No set period for sales. Usually from June to August.
Shops are free to hold sales at any time of year.
Currency: Euro
VAT:
- 23% is standard rate.
- 13.5% special reduced rate for tourist related activities including restaurants and hotels.
- 0% rate for books, children's clothes and shoes.
Shops' opening hours:
This can vary as shops may open whenever they want. The typical opening hours are:
- Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday: 8/10am - 5/7pm; shopping centres 9am - 7/8pm
- Thursday: 8/10am - 8/10pm; shopping centres 9am - 9/10pm
- Sunday: 10/11am - 5/7pm; shopping centres 10am - 7pm
Tourist information:
Winter sales: Regulated regionally, usually from the beginning of January until the end of February or the beginning of March.
Summer sales: Regulated regionally, usually from the first week of July until mid/end of August. In Puglia and Sicily, summer sales end on September 15.
Currency: Euro
VAT: 22%
Reduced rate of 10% (e.g. hotel accommodation, drinks in bars and cafes) and 4% (e.g. some books, some food).
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Saturday: 9am - 8pm (shops in Italy usually close around lunch time; 1pm - 3pm)
- Sunday: closed; open in tourist areas from 10am to 8pm and shopping centres from 10am to 10pm
Tourist information: enit.it
Usually in the middle or at the end of the season.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 21%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10:00-21:00
- Saturday: 10:00-21:00
- Sunday:10:00-20:00
Tourist information: www.latvia.travel/lv
No set periods for sales.
Winter sales: January 1-31, but allowed to prolong until the end of winter
Summer sales: July 1-31, but limits are not strict, can be prolonged until end of summer, mid-season sales also allowed.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 21%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10:00-19:00, Shopping centres & Malls 10:00-22:00
- Saturday: 10:00-18:00 Shopping centres & Malls 10:00-22:00
- Sunday: Shopping centres 10:00-18:00; Malls 10:00-22:00
Tourist information : www.tourism.lt
The law foresees two sales periods per year which are annually fixed. One period cannot be longer than one month. Winter sales are usually organized at the beginning of January. Summer sales are usually organized in the middle or the end of July (24 June to 22 July in 2023).
Currency: Euro
VAT: 17 %
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 09:00-18:00 ; Shopping malls usually from 08:00-20:00
- Saturday: 09:00-18:00 ; Shopping malls usually from 08:00-18:00
- Sunday: closed. It becomes more and more common that shops are, for instance during sales periods, but not only, open on Sundays (“ouvertures dominicales”, exact dates can be found on the internet).
Tourist information: www.lcto.lu
No set periods for sales.
Seasonal reductions can be found throughout the year.
Summer sales: usually start mid-July till the end of August/September. Winter sales: usually after Christmas till February.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 18%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday : 09:00-13:00/16:00-19:00 ; Certain shops and larger shopping centres remain open during the afternoon from 10:00 to 19:00/22:00
- Saturday : 09:00-13:00/16:00-19:00 ; Certain shops and larger shopping centres remain open during the afternoon from 10:00 to 19:00/22:00
- Sunday: closed except in tourist areas during Summer and Christmas period/ public holidays
Tourist information: www.visitmalta.com
No set periods for sales. Usually, summer sales are organized in July & August.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 21 %
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 09:00-18:00 ; largest cities until 21:00 on Thursdays or Fridays
- Saturday: 9:00-17:00
- Sunday: 12:00 - 17:00 in largest cities. Some city centres are open on just one Sunday per month
Tourist information: www.holland.com
No set periods for sales.
Winter sales start usually December 27th or in January.
Summer sales start late June and are over at the end of July.
Currency: Norwegian Crown (NOK)
VAT: 25 %
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9:00/10:00 - 17:00 ; Shopping centres: 10:00-21:00/22:00
- Saturday: 09:00 - 15:00/17:00 ; Shopping centres: 10:00 - 18:00
- Sunday: Closed except Shopping Centres in Christmas time.
Tourist information: www.visitnorway.com
Winter sales: 2nd of January till 13th of February
Summer sales: usually starts in the end of June (the hottest time for buying remains July and August, then you can buy things even 70-90% cheaper).
Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN)
VAT : 23%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 11:00-19:00 ; Shopping centres: 10:00-22:00
- Saturday: 10:00-15:00; Shopping centres: 10:00-22:00
- Sunday: 10:00-20:00 (Shopping centres only)
Tourist information: www.poland.travel/en
No set periods for sales. Actually the law only sets a maximum of four months of duration per year. Sales usually take place after summer and winter seasons.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 23%
Shops' opening hours:
Shops have free opening hours. Though, municipalities can reduce the opening hours for different reasons. Traditionally, shops are open:
- Monday-Friday: 9:00/10:00-19:00
- Saturday from Jan. to Nov.: 13:00. In City centres, some are opened in the afternoon.
Shops tend to stay open on Saturday afternoons and sometimes on Sundays (before Christmas).
Tourist information: www.visitportugal.com
Winter sales: 15th January - 15th April
Summer sales: 1st August- 15th October
Currency: RON
VAT : 19%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 09:00-22:00
- Saturday: 09:00-22:00
- Sunday: 09:00-22:00
Tourist information : www.anat.ro
No set periods for sales.
Winter sales: Usually after Christmas
Summer sales: Usually after summer season
Currency: Euro
VAT : 20% (10% for selected food products, e.g. milk, butter, meat, bread)
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 08:00-18:00 ; Shopping centres: 09:00-21:00 ; Some centres open at 10:00.
- Saturday: 06:00-12:00 ; Shopping centres : 9:00-21:00 ; Some centres open at 10:00.
- Sunday: closed. Supermarkets: 8:00-20:00 ; Shopping centres: 09:00-21:00 ; Some centres open at 10:00.
Tourist information: http://slovakia.travel/
Winter sales: 2nd working Monday in July, commercial decision of the trader but not more than 60 days.
Summer sales: 1st working Monday in January, commercial decision of the trader but not more than 60 days.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 22%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday : 08:00-20:00
- Saturday : 8:00 - 17:00, shopping centres usually 8:00 - 21:00
- Sunday: if opened than usually 8:00 - 12:00, shopping centres 9:00- 15:00
Tourist information : www.slovenia.info
Summer sales are regulated at regional level. But, in almost 100% of regions, summer sales are organized from 1 July to 31 August.
Currency: Euro
VAT : 21%
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday : 09:30-13:30/17:00-20:30
- Saturday : 09:30-13:30/17:00-20:30
- Sunday: 10:00-20:00 (Shopping centres only and depending on autonomous community)
The Spanish legislation establishes that businesses may develop their activity: - At least 90 hours during the working days of the week and a minimum of 16 Sundays and holidays per year.
Tourist information: www.tourspain.es
No set periods for sales. There are sales throughout the year, just not promoted as "summersales" or "wintersales" (usually just after Christmas, starts on 25th of December (Mellandagsrea)). In summer, there are facultative and no fixed dates: depends mostly on the economic sector and the geographical region, but usually the week before Midsummer (round the 10th June) until the first half of July.
“REA” indicates a sale; “Extrapris”, used along with red price labels, indicates discounts of at least 10%; and “Fynd” indicates special offers.
Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK)
VAT: 25 %
Shops' opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 09:30 - 18:00
- Saturday: 09:30 -14:00/16:00
- Sunday: closed. In larger towns, department stores remain open until 19:00 or longer. Some are also open on Sundays between 12:00 - 16:00.
Tourist information: www.visit-sweden.com
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.