Petrol stations
One of the most reliable options for basic drinks, snacks and travel essentials.
Poland · Shopping
Are Shops Open on Sunday in Poland?
Not always. On most Sundays, large supermarkets, shopping centres and many ordinary shops are closed. But there are several trading Sundays each year — and some useful exceptions.
2026 rules checked 14 August 2026
SHORT ANSWER
Assume big shops are closed unless it is a trading Sunday.
You can still usually find essentials at petrol stations, some convenience stores, pharmacies on duty and other businesses covered by legal exceptions.
Poland's Sunday-trading law restricts retail work on most Sundays and public holidays. The law contains both designated trading Sundays and a list of exceptions. The State Labour Inspectorate publishes the 2026 calendar and the main categories that may trade despite the restriction.
2026 CALENDAR
Trading Sundays in Poland in 2026
JAN25Trading Sunday
MAR29Before Easter
APR26Trading Sunday
JUN28Trading Sunday
AUG30Trading Sunday
DEC6Before Christmas
DEC13Before Christmas
DEC20Before Christmas
TOURIST TIP
If you arrive on Saturday evening, do your big supermarket shop that day.
On a non-trading Sunday you will probably still find food and drinks somewhere, but your choice may be much smaller and prices at convenience locations can be higher than at a supermarket.
WHAT MAY STILL BE OPEN?
A closed-shopping Sunday does not mean Poland shuts down.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies and pharmacy points are statutory exceptions, although individual opening hours vary.
Hotel shops
Retail locations operating in hotels are among the exceptions listed by the Labour Inspectorate.
Some bakeries & cafés
Businesses whose predominant activity falls under permitted bakery, confectionery, ice-cream or food-service exceptions may trade.
Owner-operated shops
A natural-person entrepreneur may personally conduct sales in their own shop under the statutory owner exception.
Online shopping
Online retail and sales platforms are not subject to the same physical-store Sunday restriction.
Important: “allowed to open” does not mean “definitely open”. Google Maps and the business's own store locator are useful, but holiday and Sunday hours can still differ.
A POLISH INSTITUTION
What is Żabka?
ŻABKA
literally: “little frog” 🐸
Żabka is Poland's dominant convenience-store chain — the kind of small shop you see on residential streets, next to offices, around stations and in city centres. As of 30 June 2026, Żabka Group reported 12,823 Żabka stores in Poland and 18 million consumers living within 500 metres of a store.
For a visitor, the easiest comparison is a cross between a neighbourhood mini-market, a convenience store and a quick-service snack stop. It is designed for small, fast purchases, not for doing a week's cheapest grocery shopping.
Water, soft drinks, sweets, crisps, basic groceries and things you forgot to buy earlier.
Hot dogs, sandwiches, ready-to-eat products and other fast food options vary by store.
Żabka Café is a very common quick-coffee option when you are walking around a Polish city.
Depending on the location, Żabka also offers services such as parcel handling, phone top-ups and other convenience services.
Why do tourists notice Żabka so quickly?
Because it is everywhere. In dense neighbourhoods it is common to see several stores within a short walk. Many branches also have long opening hours, so for a tourist Żabka often becomes the place for “I need water / toothpaste / breakfast / a snack right now”.
What about non-trading Sundays?
Many Żabka locations may still open, but do not assume every Żabka will be open. Individual franchise stores can have different Sunday hours and must operate within the legal exceptions. One relevant exception allows the owner/entrepreneur to personally conduct sales. Check the exact location before walking across town.
POLISH RETAIL CURIOSITY
Żabka Nano: a shop with no cashier
24/7
Walk in. Take what you want. Walk out.
Żabka Nano is Żabka's autonomous-store format. There is no traditional checkout and normally no cashier scanning your products. The store uses cameras and computer-vision technology to identify what you take, and payment is handled automatically.
1
Enter using the supported access/payment method
Depending on the location and setup, Nano can use the Żappka app or a payment card for access/payment.
2
Pick up the products you want
You do not scan each item at a checkout.
3
Leave the store
The autonomous system recognises the selected products and completes the payment automatically.
Żabka Group says the format is designed for quick shopping in places where a traditional convenience store may be difficult to operate — including office buildings, hospitals, university campuses, train-station environments and other non-standard locations. The company describes Nano as a 24/7 format, and the dedicated Nano site says most locations are open around the clock, including Sundays and holidays, with some location-specific exceptions.
👀
Fun fact
Żabka says a Nano store can use more than 40 AI-enabled cameras to recognise selected products. So if a tourist wonders why nobody is standing at the till — there simply is no conventional till.
USEFUL PHRASE
Need to ask whether a shop is open?
Czy sklep jest dziś otwarty?
chi sklep yest jish ot-VAR-ty?
Is the shop open today?
FAQ
Sunday shopping in Poland: quick answers
Are shopping malls open on non-trading Sundays?
The mall building may partly operate, but ordinary retail stores are generally closed. Restaurants, cinemas and other businesses can have different rules and hours.
Are supermarkets open?
Large supermarkets are generally closed on non-trading Sundays.
Is Żabka open?
Many locations may be open, but opening hours depend on the individual store and legal operating conditions. Check the exact branch.
Are petrol stations open?
Yes, petrol stations are one of the statutory exceptions to the Sunday trading restriction, though individual hours still vary.
Is Żabka Nano open on Sunday?
Żabka describes Nano as a 24/7 autonomous format. Its Nano site states that most Nano locations are open on Sundays and holidays as well, with some individual exceptions.