Like many French people, you are undoubtedly preparing to enjoy a day of rest this Friday, November 1, because it marks All Saints' Day. Like every non-working day, however, many businesses and administrations will be closed and certain services limited. To help you find your way, Le Parisien has drawn up a non-exhaustive list of what will or will not be accessible on this public holiday.
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In transport
In Île-de-France, public transport will operate like a Sunday. So count on the Transilien, RER, metros and Ile-de-France buses to get you around, even if there will be fewer than on other Fridays. It will be the same in most other large cities in France, where certain bus services, such as in Lyon (Rhône), Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) or Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), will even be reinforced to ensure transport. access to different shopping centers.
At the national level, few disruptions are expected. Trains whose tickets have been sold will run well, like planes and buses such as BlaBlaCar and FlixBus. By car, however, expect some difficulties, as many French people are preparing to leave for a long weekend. The forecaster Bison futé predicts heavy traffic from this Thursday evening. It will be the same on Sunday, weekend returns coinciding with the end of the school holidays.
In administration
Do not count on November 1st to resolve your administrative problems or send your children to the daycare center. Prefectures, town halls, schools, leisure centers… All will be closed this Friday.
In shops
Businesses choose on a case-by-case basis whether they make November 1 a non-working day or not. In France, only May 1 – or Labor Day – is completely non-working (with the exception of certain “essential” professions which require a minimum service). It is for this reason that the majority of shopping centers and other businesses will remain open throughout France. If in doubt, do not hesitate to call your merchant to make sure their store is open.
The same will probably be true for most supermarkets and large stores. But be careful, it is possible that some of them stick to Sunday hours, opening only in the morning, for example. Once again, be sure to check the website of your favorite mass market brand.
What about restaurants?
Most restaurants and food chains should be open on November 1st. For restaurateurs, public holidays are, like Saturdays and Sundays, busy days. There is therefore a good chance that you will be able to go to lunch or dinner with friends or family without any further difficulty. However, you should not be able to take advantage of weekday packages.
Cinemas, museums and other places of culture
Once again, cultural outings should not be a problem this Friday, with most cinemas, museums and other places of culture remaining mostly open, with the exception of libraries. In Paris, only the Museum of Hunting and Nature and the Monnaie de Paris will close their doors. Parks, zoos and gardens will welcome their visitors.
And sports?
In Paris, all municipal sports centers will remain open this Friday, so you can enjoy the swimming pools and other tennis, football or basketball courts without worries. The same will apply to most gyms, even if some of them, like Basic Fit, should adapt their hours (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). It is therefore recommended to check the opening or closing of private structures on a case-by-case basis.
