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South Africans in Germany

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Make the Most of Your Leave Days in Germany

Public holidays offer the perfect chance to extend your time off and plan a longer trip without using up too many leave days. With a bit of smart planning, you can maximise your time away from work. Check out our top tips for optimising your leave days!

Optimized Leave Plan 2025

Take Leave Leave Days Free Time Total Days Off Description / Region
02.10 1 02.10 – 05.10 4 German Unity Day (03.10 – Friday)
22.12 – 24.12 3 20.12 – 28.12 9 Christmas time – short break
22.12 – 02.01 7 20.12 – 04.01 16 Christmas + New Year – extended break
22.12 – 06.01 8 20.12 – 06.01 18 Christmas to Epiphany (06.01 – Monday, regional)

Optimized Leave Plan 2026

Take Leave Leave Days Free Time Total Days Off Description / Region
02.01 – 05.01 2 01.01 – 06.01 6 New Year & Drei Heilige Könige
30.03 – 02.04 4 28.03 – 06.04 10 Easter option 1
07.04 – 10.04 4 03.04 – 12.04 10 Easter option 2
30.03 – 10.04 8 27.03 – 12.04 16 Extended Easter holiday
27.04 – 30.04 4 25.04 – 03.05 9 1 May (Workers Day on Friday)
04.05 1 01.05 – 04.05 4 Workers Day
15.05 1 14.05 – 17.05 4 Ascension Day (14.05)
26.05 – 29.05 4 23.05 – 31.05 9 Whit Monday (25.05) + full week
15.05 – 23.05 6 28.05 – 31.05 12 Bridge after Ascension Day
05.06 1 04.06 – 07.06 4 Corpus Christi (BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL, SN, TH)
21.12 – 24.12 4 19.12 – 27.12 9 Christmas time – short break
21.12 – 02.01 12 19.12 – 08.01.2027 23 Christmas time – long break

Optimized Leave Plan 2027

Take Leave Leave Days Free Time Total Days Off Description / Region
04.01 – 08.01 4 01.01 – 06.01 10 New Year & Epiphany (BW, BY, ST)
22.03 – 25.03 4 28.03 – 06.04 10 Easter option 1
30.03 – 02.04 4 03.04 – 12.04 10 Easter option 2
22.03 – 10.04 8 27.03 – 12.04 16 Extended Easter holiday
07.05 1 06.05 – 09.05 4 Ascension Day (06.05.2027)
18.05 – 21.05 4 22.05 – 30.05 9 Whit Monday (17.05)
18.05 – 28.05 8 22.05 – 30.05 16 Whit Monday (17.05)
28.05 1 27.05 – 30.05 4 Corpus Christi (BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL, SN, TH)
29.11 1 29.11 – 01.11 4 Long weekend

School holidays 2025

BundeslandWinterferienOsterferienPfingstferienSommerferienHerbstferienWeihnachtsferien
Baden-Württemberg14.04 – 26.0410.06 – 20.0631.07 – 13.0927.10 – 30.10, 31.1022.12 – 05.01
Bayern03.03 – 07.0314.04 – 25.0410.06 – 20.0601.08 – 15.0903.11 – 07.11, 19.1122.12 – 05.01
Berlin05.02 – 10.0214.04 – 26.04, 02.05, 30.0510.0624.07 – 06.0920.10 – 01.1122.12 – 02.01
Brandenburg05.02 – 09.0214.04 – 26.04, 02.05, 30.0510.0624.07 – 06.0920.10 – 01.1122.12 – 02.01
Bremen01.02 – 02.0214.04 – 19.0430.04, 02.05, 30.05, 10.0603.07 – 13.0813.10 – 25.1022.12 – 05.01
Hamburg02.0210.03 – 21.0302.05, 26.05 – 30.0524.07 – 03.0920.10 – 31.1022.12 – 02.01
Hessen07.04 – 21.04–07.07 – 15.0806.10 – 18.1022.12 – 10.01
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern05.02 – 16.0214.04 – 23.04, 30.0506.06 – 10.0628.07 – 06.0902.10, 20.10 – 25.10, 03.11.22.12 – 05.01
Niedersachsen01.02 – 02.0207.04 – 19.04, 30.0402.05, 30.05, 10.0603.07 – 13.0813.10 – 25.1022.12 – 05.01
Nordrhein-Westfalen14.04 – 26.0410.0614.07 – 26.0813.10 – 25.1022.12 – 06.01
Rheinland-Pfalz14.04 – 25.04–07.07 – 15.0813.10 – 24.1022.12 – 07.01
Saarland12.02 – 16.0214.04 – 25.04–07.07 – 14.0813.10 – 24.1022.12 – 02.01
Sachsen12.02 – 23.0218.04 – 25.04, 30.05–28.06 – 08.0806.10 – 18.1022.12 – 02.01
Sachsen-Anhalt05.02 – 10.0207.04 – 19.0430.0528.06 – 08.0813.10 – 25.1022.12 – 05.01
Schleswig-Holstein11.04 – 25.0430.0528.07 – 06.0920.10 – 30.1022.12 – 06.01
Thüringen12.02 – 16.0207.04 – 19.0430.0528.06 – 08.0806.10 – 18.1022.12 – 03.01

Public holidays

Feiertag 2025 2026 2027
Neujahr01.01 – Mittwoch01.01 – Donnerstag01.01 – Freitag
Heilige Drei Könige
(BW, BY, ST)		06.01 – Montag06.01 – Dienstag06.01 – Mittwoch
Internationaler Frauentag
(BE, MV)		08.03 – Samstag08.03 – Sonntag08.03 – Montag
Karfreitag18.04 – Freitag03.04 – Freitag26.03 – Freitag
Ostermontag21.04 – Montag06.04 – Montag29.03 – Montag
Tag der Arbeit01.05 – Donnerstag01.05 – Freitag01.05 – Samstag
Christi Himmelfahrt29.05 – Donnerstag14.05 – Donnerstag06.05 – Donnerstag
Pfingstmontag09.06 – Montag25.05 – Montag17.05 – Montag
Fronleichnam
(BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL, SN, TH)		19.06 – Donnerstag04.06 – Donnerstag27.05 – Donnerstag
Mariä Himmelfahrt
(BY, SL)		15.08 – Freitag15.08 – Samstag15.08 – Sonntag
Tag der Deutschen Einheit03.10 – Freitag03.10 – Samstag03.10 – Sonntag
Reformationstag
(BB, MV, SN, ST, TH, SH, HB, HH, NI)		31.10 – Freitag31.10 – Samstag31.10 – Sonntag
Allerheiligen
(BW, BY, NW, RP, SL)		01.11 – Samstag01.11 – Sonntag01.11 – Montag
Buß- und Bettag
(SN)		19.11 – Mittwoch18.11 – Mittwoch17.11 – Mittwoch
1. Weihnachtstag25.12 – Donnerstag25.12 – Freitag25.12 – Samstag
2. Weihnachtstag26.12 – Freitag26.12 – Samstag26.12 – Sonntag

School holidays 2026

Bundesland Winterferien Osterferien Pfingstferien Sommerferien Herbstferien Weihnachtsferien
Baden‑Württemberg–30.03 – 11.0426.05 – 05.0630.07 – 12.0926.10 – 30.1023.12 – 09.01
Bayern16.02 – 20.0230.03 – 10.0426.05 – 05.0603.08 – 14.0902.11 – 06.1124.12 – 08.01
Berlin02.02 – 07.0230.03 – 10.04 (+15.05)26.0509.07 – 22.0819.10 – 31.1023.12 – 02.01
Brandenburg02.02 – 07.0230.03 – 10.04 (+15.05)26.0509.07 – 22.0819.10 – 30.1023.12 – 02.01
Bremen02.02 – 03.0223.03 – 07.0426.05 (+15.05)02.07 – 12.0812.10 – 24.1023.12 – 09.01
Hamburg30.0102.03 – 13.0311.05 – 15.0509.07 – 19.0819.10 – 30.1021.12 – 01.01
Hessen–30.03 – 10.04–29.06 – 07.0805.10 – 17.1023.12 – 12.01
Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern09.02 – 20.0230.03 – 08.0422.05 – 26.05 (+15.05)13.07 – 22.0819.10 – 24.10 (+26.–27.11)19.12 – 02.01
Niedersachsen02.02 – 03.0223.03 – 07.0426.05 (+15.05)02.07 – 12.0812.10 – 24.1023.12 – 09.01
Nordrhein‑Westfalen–30.03 – 11.0426.0520.07 – 01.0917.10 – 31.1023.12 – 06.01
Rheinland‑Pfalz–30.03 – 10.04–29.06 – 07.0805.10 – 16.1023.12 – 08.01
Saarland16.02 – 20.0207.04 – 17.04–29.06 – 07.0805.10 – 16.1021.12 – 31.12
Sachsen09.02 – 21.0203.04 – 10.04 (+15.05)–04.07 – 14.0812.10 – 24.1023.12 – 02.01
Sachsen‑Anhalt31.01 – 06.0230.03 – 04.0426.05 – 29.0504.07 – 14.0819.10 – 30.1021.12 – 02.01
Schleswig‑Holstein02.02 – 03.0226.03 – 10.0415.0504.07 – 15.0812.10 – 24.1021.12 – 06.01
Thüringen16.02 – 21.0207.04 – 17.0415.0504.07 – 14.0812.10 – 24.1023.12 – 02.01

School holidays 2027

Bundesland Winterferien Osterferien Pfingstferien Sommerferien Herbstferien Weihnachtsferien
Baden-Württemberg 25.03. – 30.03. 30.03. – 03.04. 18.05. – 29.05. 29.07. – 11.09. 02.11. – 06.11. 23.12. – 08.01.2028
Bayern 08.02. – 12.02. 22.03. – 02.04. 18.05. – 28.05. 02.08. – 13.09. 02.11. – 05.11. 24.12. – 07.01.2028
Berlin 01.02. – 06.02. 22.03. – 02.04. 07.05. & 18.05. – 19.05. 01.07. – 14.08. 11.10. – 23.10. 22.12. – 31.12.
Brandenburg 01.02. – 06.02. 22.03. – 03.04. 07.05. & 18.05. 01.07. – 14.08. 11.10. – 23.10. 23.12. – 31.12.
Bremen 01.02. – 02.02. 22.03. – 03.04. 07.05. & 18.05. 08.07. – 18.08. 18.10. – 30.10. 23.12. – 08.01.2028
Hamburg 29.01. 01.03. – 12.03. 07.05. – 15.05. 01.07. – 11.08. 11.10. – 22.10. 20.12. – 31.12.
Hessen – 22.03. – 02.04. – 28.06. – 06.08. 04.10. – 16.10. 23.12. – 11.01.2028
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 08.02. – 19.02. 22.03. – 31.03. 07.05. & 14.05. – 18.05. 05.07. – 14.08. 16.10. – 23.10. 23.12. – 04.01.2028
Niedersachsen 01.02. – 02.02. 22.03. – 03.04. 07.05. & 18.05. 08.07. – 18.08. 16.10. – 30.10. 23.12. – 08.01.2028
Nordrhein-Westfalen 22.03. – 03.04. – 18.05. 19.07. – 31.08. 23.10. – 06.11. 24.12. – 08.01.2028
Rheinland-Pfalz – 22.03. – 02.04. – 28.06. – 06.08. 04.10. – 15.10. 23.12. – 07.01.2028
Saarland 08.02. – 12.02. 30.03. – 09.04. – 28.06. – 06.08. 04.10. – 15.10. 20.12. – 31.12.
Sachsen 08.02. – 19.02. 26.03. – 02.04. 07.05. & 15.05. – 18.05. 10.07. – 20.08. 11.10. – 23.10. 23.12. – 01.01.2028
Sachsen-Anhalt 01.02. – 06.02. 22.03. – 27.03. 15.05. – 22.05. 10.07. – 20.08. 18.10. – 23.10. 20.12. – 31.12.
Schleswig-Holstein 01.02. – 02.02. 30.03. – 10.04. 07.05. 03.07. – 14.08. 11.10. – 23.10. 23.12. – 08.01.2028
Thüringen 01.02. – 06.02. 22.03. – 03.04. 07.05. 10.07. – 20.08. 09.10. – 23.10. 23.12. – 31.12.

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