On a self-supported ride, the hardest part of resupply is not finding a shop. It is knowing whether it is open by the time you get there. Opening hours in Europe vary wildly by country, day and type of shop. Here is what a rider needs to know.
Across most of continental Europe, regular supermarkets and shops are closed on Sundays, and often on public holidays too. If your route crosses a Sunday, you cannot lean on supermarkets. You lean on the exceptions below.
Fuel stations. Petrol station shops are the backbone of night and Sunday resupply. Many on main roads are open long hours or 24/7, with drinks, snacks and sometimes hot food. Treat a confirmed 24/7 station as your safety net.
Bakeries. In many countries bakeries open early, even on Sundays, but often only in the morning. A boulangerie at 07:00 on a Sunday in France is a lifeline; the same shop is shut by early afternoon.
Station and city-centre shops. Shops inside train stations and airports are often exempt from Sunday closing rules. Handy if your route clips a town with a station.
Water taps. Independent of any opening hours: public fountains, cemetery taps and springs. Never opening-time dependent, which is why they matter most at 3am.
Germany. Strict Sunday closing for supermarkets and most shops. Bakeries limited Sunday mornings. Fuel stations and station shops are your Sunday and night options.
France. Small shops and bakeries often open Sunday morning, many close midday and Mondays. Supermarkets vary; larger ones may open Sunday morning only.
Netherlands and Belgium. More flexible; many supermarkets open Sundays in towns (koopzondag), but not everywhere and not always all day. Night shops in cities.
Italy. Watch the afternoon closure (riposo) of smaller shops, plus Sunday closures. Bars and cafes fill the gaps.
Switzerland and Austria. Among the strictest Sunday closures in Europe. Plan Sundays around fuel and station shops, and carry more.
These are patterns, not guarantees. Local rules, tourist zones and individual shops differ, so always leave a margin.
Rekker bakes these rules into your roadbook. It knows the typical opening hours per chain and per day, applies the local Sunday logic, and shows each stop as open or closed for the time you will actually arrive, not the clock right now. Shops that will be shut simply dim out, so you plan around a stop that is actually there for you.
Build your roadbook, freeDrop in your GPX and see what is open along your line, with water always free.