Traffic restrictions across Europe: 25–27 April 2026 weekend driving bans

A long weekend in several European countries — with public holidays in Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Slovenia falling between Saturday 25 April and Monday 27 April — means an unusually dense concentration of truck driving bans across the continent. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are affected in most countries, with Austria and Switzerland applying restrictions from 3.5 tonnes. Fleet managers dispatching loads through France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, or the Balkans this weekend need to plan around three consecutive days of overlapping restrictions.

Saturday 25 April 2026

Austria runs a split restriction. From 11:00 to 15:00, a sectoral ban applies on the A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner motorways for traffic heading toward Italy — timed around the Italian Liberation Day holiday. From 15:00 until midnight, the standard Saturday evening ban applies across all of Austria for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

Italy observes Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) as a national public holiday. The full public holiday truck ban applies from 09:00 to 22:00 for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes nationwide.

France applies a night restriction from 22:00 to 24:00.

Hungary applies a restriction from 22:00 to 24:00.

Switzerland applies restrictions from 00:00 to 05:00 and again from 22:00 to 24:00. Note that Swiss restrictions apply from 3.5 tonnes.

Luxembourg applies a restriction from 21:30 to 24:00.

Portugal also observes a public holiday on 25 April (Freedom Day). Carriers with Portuguese destinations should verify current Portuguese restriction schedules for that date.

Sunday 26 April 2026

Sunday carries the widest restriction window of the weekend, with nine countries imposing simultaneous bans.

Germany: standard Sunday ban 00:00–22:00, all roads, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and all truck-trailer combinations.

Austria: 00:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

France: 00:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

Hungary: 00:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

Italy: 09:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

Slovakia: 00:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on motorways and category I roads.

Slovenia: 08:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

Czech Republic: 13:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on motorways and category I roads.

Switzerland: 00:00–24:00 full day, from 3.5 tonnes.

Luxembourg: 00:00–21:45.

Monday 27 April 2026

Most countries revert to normal operations, but two maintain restrictions into the week.

Slovenia: 08:00–22:00, vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. Monday 27 April is a public holiday in Slovenia (Independence and Unity Day).

Switzerland: restrictions return from 00:00 to 05:00 and from 22:00 to 24:00, from 3.5 tonnes.

Netherlands: Monday 27 April is Koningsdag (King’s Day), a national public holiday. Carriers should check current Dutch restriction schedules, as significant road closures and event diversions apply in urban areas.

Hungary: additional routing restriction

Trucks over 7.5 tonnes travelling from Hungary toward Romania are prohibited from using National Road 42. Traffic must use the M4 motorway instead. Additionally, from 1 January 2026, foreign trucks weighing more than 20 tonnes transiting through Hungary are required to use exclusively motorways and express roads — no alternative routing via secondary roads is permitted.

Romania: standing restrictions on DN1 and DN7

Romania maintains year-round restrictions on DN1 (Bucharest–Brașov corridor) that are independent of the weekend ban schedule. On the section from km 17+900 (Otopeni city limit) to the DN1–DN1A junction near Ploiești: Monday to Thursday 06:00–22:00, Friday through Sunday 00:00–24:00. On the section from km 67+400 near Ploiești to Brașov (DN1–DN1A junction): Monday to Thursday 06:00–22:00; Friday and Saturday 00:00–01:00 and 05:00–24:00; Sunday 00:00–24:00.

A seasonal restriction on DN7 (Olt Valley, between Râmnicu Vâlcea and Veștem) applies from 16 March to 15 June 2026. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass are prohibited Monday to Saturday between 08:00 and 17:30. Traffic is redirected via alternative routes.

Practical planning guidance

The concentration of restrictions across three days — including two national holidays on Saturday (Italy, Portugal) and two more on Monday (Netherlands, Slovenia) — compresses viable transit windows significantly. The only clean transit window on Saturday for east–west flows through central Europe is approximately 15:00 to 21:30 before Luxembourg and Swiss evening restrictions start, and only on routes that avoid the A12/A13 Brenner corridor before 15:00. Sunday is effectively blocked across the main Germany–Austria–Italy–France axis from early morning. Monday opens up for most countries but remains blocked in Slovenia and Switzerland bookends.

Loads heading to or from Italy via the Brenner should be planned to arrive or depart either before 09:00 on Saturday or hold until Tuesday. Loads using the French corridor should clear France before 22:00 Saturday and not restart until after 22:00 Sunday. Germany-bound or Germany-transiting loads cannot move on Sunday at all under any circumstances except exempted cargo categories.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries have truck bans on Saturday 25 April 2026?

Austria (11:00–15:00 on A12/A13 toward Italy, then 15:00–24:00 nationwide), Italy (09:00–22:00, public holiday), France (22:00–24:00), Hungary (22:00–24:00), Switzerland (00:00–05:00 and 22:00–24:00, from 3.5t), Luxembourg (21:30–24:00). Portugal also has a national public holiday on 25 April.

Is Germany affected on 25–27 April 2026?

Germany’s standard Sunday ban applies on 26 April from 00:00 to 22:00. There is no ban on Saturday 25 April or Monday 27 April unless a specific state-level holiday applies on those dates. 25 April is not a federal public holiday in Germany.

Why does Switzerland apply restrictions from 3.5 tonnes?

Switzerland applies its transit restrictions to all goods vehicles from 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, a lower threshold than most EU member states which start at 7.5 tonnes. This affects a broader range of vehicles including light commercial vans used for freight.

What is the Hungary truck restriction on National Road 42?

Trucks over 7.5 tonnes heading from Hungary toward Romania are prohibited from using National Road 42. They must divert to the M4 motorway instead. Foreign trucks over 20 tonnes transiting Hungary are also required to use exclusively motorways and express roads from 1 January 2026.

Are the Romanian DN1 restrictions different from the weekend bans?

Yes. The Romanian DN1 restrictions are permanent year-round rules, not weekend bans. They apply on specific sections of the Bucharest–Brașov corridor based on the day of the week, including stricter 24-hour restrictions on weekends. The DN7 Olt Valley seasonal restriction (08:00–17:30, Monday–Saturday) applies from 16 March to 15 June 2026 only.