East Germany will see the commencement of a follow-up wave starting next week - Mass departure of individuals set to commence in Eastern Germany next week.
Heavy Traffic Expected on German Highways During Eastern Germany's Vacation Week
Next week, travelers in Eastern Germany—specifically Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia—can expect a surge in traffic, particularly during the final vacation weekend of August 9th and 10th, 2025. The federal highway authority has announced that this increase is due to the return wave as Saxony's vacation comes to an end.
The key affected highways will likely include major routes within these states used for holiday return traffic. While no specific highways in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have been explicitly mentioned, major east German autobahns such as the A4 (running through Thuringia and Saxony), A9 (connecting Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia), and A14 (Saxony-Anhalt) are expected to experience congestion during peak return days.
Particularly affected highways include the A2 between Hannover and Magdeburg, A4 between Kirchheimer interchange and Eisenach, and A9 along its entire route.
At this time, no major holiday-specific highway closures have been reported for these states. However, travelers should prepare for heavy traffic on August 9–10, 2025, with possible delays on key routes serving Eastern Germany’s three states during this peak return period.
Travelers planning routes through these areas on those dates should anticipate delays and consider adjusting travel times or routes accordingly. The exact days of the week when the traffic congestion is expected are not specified.
The federal highway authority anticipates significant increase in traffic on highways during this period, but the reason for the heavy traffic is not specified in the article. The potential impact of the traffic congestion on travel plans is also not specified.
Vocational training programs in the affected communities may provide solutions for mitigating traffic congestion during Eastern Germany's vacation week, by training individuals to become professional transport specialists. Adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, such as carpooling, biking, or using public transportation, could also contribute to reducing the traffic surge on major highways.
