May 1st, a non-working day… but not for everyone. If most public establishments and other places will be closed this Wednesday, May 1, 2024, for Labor Day, some will remain open. Without being able to make an exhaustive list, Le Parisien draws up a list of what will or will not be open on this public holiday.
In the transports
It depends on the region. In Île-de-France, the transport network will a priori operate like a Sunday. So count on the Transilien, RER, metros and buses to get around, even if there will be fewer than on other Wednesdays. Traffic will also be disrupted by demonstrations on the occasion of Labor Day. The Parisian procession, linking Place de la République to Place de la Nation, will cause difficulties on the surface with buses diverted or even suspended, but also underground with closed metro stations. The details of these closures are still unknown.
Outside of Île-de-France, it will be complicated to travel by public transport. Or simply impossible. In Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), the bus, metro and tram network will be at a standstill, indicates RTM. Same thing in Lyon (Rhône), the TCL network (metro, tram and bus) will be completely inoperable. Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), Lille (North), Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) and Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) will be in the same boat. Some networks will be able to operate elsewhere in France, but with service reduced to a minimum.
At the national level, no real disruptions are expected this Wednesday, May 1 in transport. Trains whose tickets have been sold will run well, like planes and buses such as BlaBlaCar and Flixbus. On both short and long distances, car use may even be made easier with traffic less dense than on other days of the week.
In shops
There are no common rules for businesses. According to the Labor Code, May 1st is the only compulsory non-working day… except for employees who, by “the nature of their activity”, “cannot interrupt work”. In this case they must be paid double. This is why most shopping centers and other businesses will be closed on May 1, 2024.
The shopping centers of La Part-Dieu in Lyon (Rhône), Les Quatre Temps in La Défense (Hauts-de-Seine), Belle Épine in Thiais (Val-de-Marne), Créteil Soleil in Créteil (Val-de-Marne ), Cap 3 000 in Saint-Laurent-du-Var (Alpes-Maritimes) or Parly 2 in Chesnay-Rocquencourt (Yvelines) will be closed, among the most important shopping centers in France. In Paris, the Forum des Halles and Italy 2 will also be closed, as will the department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, BHV Le Marais, la Samaritaine).
As for stores and other supermarkets, it will be haphazard. Some Monoprix stores – but not all – will be opened in the capital and its surrounding areas. However, there will be no deliveries, indicates the brand. Smaller businesses, requiring few staff, will also be able to open throughout France: this is particularly the case for certain Carrefour City, Carrefour Express and Franprix stores. It is generally indicated online, on the brand’s website, whether the business is open or not.
Independent “small businesses”, such as bakeries, butchers, cheese shops and fishmongers will open at the discretion of their manager.
While DIY stores and garden centers are generally open on Sundays, this is less the case on May 1st. These establishments will mostly be closed this Wednesday. Florists, however, may tend to open to sell the famous lily of the valley.
What about restaurants?
Same thing for restaurants: no general rule. Most will not make their employees work. For large restaurant chains, it’s a different story: it will be possible to find McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and other restaurants open this May 1.
Cinemas, museums and other places of culture
There is an opportunity for places of culture to seize: to attract those who do not work on this public holiday. This is why, for many of them, staff will work to keep the doors open. This will be the case for cinemas. The opportunity is all the better this year as May 1st being a Wednesday, this year it coincides with the day of theatrical releases.
As for museums, it depends. In Paris, municipal museums will be closed for example, as will be the case with the Catacombs and the Cité de l’industrie. But the Eiffel Tower, the Atelier des Lumières and the Grévin Museum will be open, to name just a few in the capital. In Île-de-France as everywhere in France, it is therefore important to check the infrastructure site to see if it is open or not.
Libraries will also be closed in the capital, as in most of the country.
Gyms and swimming pools
Most gyms will be closed this Wednesday, May 1st. At Basic Fit, the doors to “all rooms” will remain closed. For other networks, it will be more on a case-by-case basis. However, some swimming pools could be open, like a few in Paris. Again, it’s important to look online or call to see if it’s open or closed.