Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Christmas Day closes the most: 14 of the 19 sights here, Edinburgh Castle and Washington's National Gallery of Art among them. Stonehenge and the Cliffs of Moher close 24–26 December, Himeji Castle 29–30 December, and the Mucem, Fontainebleau and the Musée Matisse on 1 May.
Christmas Day is the day most of the sights below close. In Britain and Ireland several also close on 24 and 26 December, a few close over New Year instead, and several French museums close on 1 May as well. Religious holidays close others. Each one links to its own site, where its closed days were read.
Last checked 14 Oct 2026 · 19 places, each from its official site.
Closed on Christmas Eve (24 December)
24–26 December
Stonehenge — Salisbury, United Kingdom
Admission to Stonehenge is by timed ticket, and booking in advance is strongly recommended to get your preferred time; walk-up tickets on the day are limited. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm with last entry at 3 pm, and is closed from 24 to 26 December.
24–26 December
Cliffs of Moher — Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher Experience is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December, and hours run shorter in winter (9 am to 5 pm from November to February). Booking online is advised to be sure of entry; parking is included. O'Brien's Tower can close for weather.
24 and 31 December
Hallstatt salt mine — Hallstatt, Austria
The salt mine reopened on 29 August 2026 after renovation, with a new funicular. From 2 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 it opens 9:30 am to 3 pm, and it is closed on 24 and 31 December.
no tours on these days
Teatro Colón — Buenos Aires, Argentina
The theatre is seen by guided tour, daily every 15 minutes from 10 am to 4:45 pm, in groups of up to 40. Tours in English run at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 3 pm. There are no tours on 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December, or 1 January.
24 December to 7 January
Apartheid Museum — Johannesburg, South Africa
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on Mondays. Over the holidays it closes on 24 December and reopens on 7 January.
Closed on Christmas Day (25 December)
24–26 December
Stonehenge — Salisbury, United Kingdom
Admission to Stonehenge is by timed ticket, and booking in advance is strongly recommended to get your preferred time; walk-up tickets on the day are limited. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm with last entry at 3 pm, and is closed from 24 to 26 December.
24–26 December
Cliffs of Moher — Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher Experience is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December, and hours run shorter in winter (9 am to 5 pm from November to February). Booking online is advised to be sure of entry; parking is included. O'Brien's Tower can close for weather.
no tours on these days
Teatro Colón — Buenos Aires, Argentina
The theatre is seen by guided tour, daily every 15 minutes from 10 am to 4:45 pm, in groups of up to 40. Tours in English run at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 3 pm. There are no tours on 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December, or 1 January.
24 December to 7 January
Apartheid Museum — Johannesburg, South Africa
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on Mondays. Over the holidays it closes on 24 December and reopens on 7 January.
25 and 26 December
Edinburgh Castle — Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Castle sells timed tickets online, and once they are sold out no further tickets are available at the castle. They often sell out far in advance, especially in summer. The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December.
National Air and Space Museum — Washington, DC, USA
The museum on the National Mall requires free timed-entry passes for all visitors, whatever their age. It is open 10 am to 5:30 pm and closed on 25 December.
National Gallery of Art — Washington, DC, USA
The National Gallery of Art is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is free, but closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Port Arthur Historic Site — Tasmania, Australia
The site is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and closes only on Christmas Day. The evening Ghost Tour runs Wednesday to Sunday and does not include daytime entry.
Château de Fontainebleau — Fontainebleau, France
The château is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm from October to March (last entry 4:15 pm) and to 6 pm from April to September (last entry 5:15 pm).
Musée Matisse — Nice, France
The Musée Matisse is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. It is also closed from 29 September to 20 October 2026 while an exhibition is installed.
Mucem — Marseille, France
The Mucem is closed every Tuesday, and on 1 May and 25 December.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm, and is closed on Mondays except listed ones, including the Mondays from mid-June to early September. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Kigali Genocide Memorial — Kigali, Rwanda
The memorial opens daily 9 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm). On the last Saturday of each month it opens only from 1 pm to 5 pm, for Umuganda community work. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January and normally on the morning of 7 April.
8, 25 and 26 December; 1 and 6 January; 1 May
Vatican Museums — Rome, Italy
The museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00 (last entry 12:30), unless it falls on Easter Sunday or 29 June. They also close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 6 April, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November and 8, 25 and 26 December.
Closed on 26 December
24–26 December
Stonehenge — Salisbury, United Kingdom
Admission to Stonehenge is by timed ticket, and booking in advance is strongly recommended to get your preferred time; walk-up tickets on the day are limited. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm with last entry at 3 pm, and is closed from 24 to 26 December.
24–26 December
Cliffs of Moher — Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher Experience is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December, and hours run shorter in winter (9 am to 5 pm from November to February). Booking online is advised to be sure of entry; parking is included. O'Brien's Tower can close for weather.
25 and 26 December
Edinburgh Castle — Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Castle sells timed tickets online, and once they are sold out no further tickets are available at the castle. They often sell out far in advance, especially in summer. The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December.
8, 25 and 26 December; 1 and 6 January; 1 May
Vatican Museums — Rome, Italy
The museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00 (last entry 12:30), unless it falls on Easter Sunday or 29 June. They also close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 6 April, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November and 8, 25 and 26 December.
Closed around New Year
24 and 31 December
Hallstatt salt mine — Hallstatt, Austria
The salt mine reopened on 29 August 2026 after renovation, with a new funicular. From 2 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 it opens 9:30 am to 3 pm, and it is closed on 24 and 31 December.
no tours on these days
Teatro Colón — Buenos Aires, Argentina
The theatre is seen by guided tour, daily every 15 minutes from 10 am to 4:45 pm, in groups of up to 40. Tours in English run at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 3 pm. There are no tours on 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December, or 1 January.
24 December to 7 January
Apartheid Museum — Johannesburg, South Africa
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on Mondays. Over the holidays it closes on 24 December and reopens on 7 January.
National Gallery of Art — Washington, DC, USA
The National Gallery of Art is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is free, but closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Château de Fontainebleau — Fontainebleau, France
The château is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm from October to March (last entry 4:15 pm) and to 6 pm from April to September (last entry 5:15 pm).
Musée Matisse — Nice, France
The Musée Matisse is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. It is also closed from 29 September to 20 October 2026 while an exhibition is installed.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao — Bilbao, Spain
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm, and is closed on Mondays except listed ones, including the Mondays from mid-June to early September. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Kigali Genocide Memorial — Kigali, Rwanda
The memorial opens daily 9 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm). On the last Saturday of each month it opens only from 1 pm to 5 pm, for Umuganda community work. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January and normally on the morning of 7 April.
8, 25 and 26 December; 1 and 6 January; 1 May
Vatican Museums — Rome, Italy
The museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00 (last entry 12:30), unless it falls on Easter Sunday or 29 June. They also close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 6 April, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November and 8, 25 and 26 December.
29 and 30 December
Himeji Castle — Himeji, Japan
Himeji Castle opens 9 am to 5 pm with last admission at 4 pm, and is closed on 29 and 30 December.
Closed on 1 May
no tours on these days
Teatro Colón — Buenos Aires, Argentina
The theatre is seen by guided tour, daily every 15 minutes from 10 am to 4:45 pm, in groups of up to 40. Tours in English run at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 3 pm. There are no tours on 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December, or 1 January.
Château de Fontainebleau — Fontainebleau, France
The château is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It opens 9:30 am to 5 pm from October to March (last entry 4:15 pm) and to 6 pm from April to September (last entry 5:15 pm).
Musée Matisse — Nice, France
The Musée Matisse is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. It is also closed from 29 September to 20 October 2026 while an exhibition is installed.
Mucem — Marseille, France
The Mucem is closed every Tuesday, and on 1 May and 25 December.
8, 25 and 26 December; 1 and 6 January; 1 May
Vatican Museums — Rome, Italy
The museums close on Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00 (last entry 12:30), unless it falls on Easter Sunday or 29 June. They also close on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 6 April, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November and 8, 25 and 26 December.
Closed at Lunar New Year
first two days
Hong Kong Palace Museum — Hong Kong
The museum is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of the Lunar New Year. It opens 10 am to 6 pm, to 8 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, and ticket sales stop an hour before closing.
Closed on Easter Sunday
Musée Matisse — Nice, France
The Musée Matisse is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. It is also closed from 29 September to 20 October 2026 while an exhibition is installed.
Closed on Jewish holidays
Jewish Museum in Prague — Prague, Czechia
The museum's synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery are closed every Saturday and on Jewish holidays (Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah). The Old-New Synagogue is run by the Jewish Community and usually closes an hour before the start of Shabbat.
Yad Vashem — Jerusalem, Israel
Entry is free but visitors must register online in advance. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, and hours vary by day: Sunday and Wednesday 9 am–4 pm, Tuesday 9 am–2 pm, Monday and Thursday 9 am–7 pm, Friday and holiday eves 9 am–1 pm.
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