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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 2026

    Take Leave Leave Days Free Time Total Days Off Description / Notes
    02.01 & 05.01 2 01.01 – 06.01 6 New Year + Epiphany (only BW, BY, ST)
    30.03 – 02.04 4 28.03 – 06.04 10 Easter break (Good Friday 03.04, Easter Monday 06.04)
    30.03 – 10.04 8 28.03 – 12.04 16 Extended Easter holiday – excellent value
    27.04 – 30.04 4 25.04 – 03.05 9 Labour Day on Friday (01.05)
    04.05 – 15.05 9 01.05 – 17.05 17 Labour Day + Ascension Day (14.05)
    18.05 – 22.05 5 16.05 – 25.05 10 Whit Monday (25.05) – classic late-spring bridge
    05.06 1 04.06 – 07.06 4 Corpus Christi (04.06 – BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL)
    21.12 – 24.12 4 19.12 – 27.12 9 Christmas short break
    21.12 – 31.12 9 19.12 – 03.01.2027 16 Christmas + New Year (realistic version)

    School holidays 2026

    Federal State Winter Holidays Easter Holidays Pentecost Holidays Summer Holidays Autumn Holidays Christmas Holidays
    Baden-Württemberg – 30 Mar – 11 Apr 26 May – 05 Jun 30 Jul – 12 Sep 26–30 Oct + 31 Oct 23 Dec – 09 Jan
    Bavaria 16–20 Feb 30 Mar – 10 Apr 26 May – 05 Jun 03 Aug – 14 Sep 02–06 Nov + 18 Nov 24 Dec – 08 Jan
    Berlin 02–07 Feb 30 Mar – 10 Apr + 15 May 26 May 09 Jul – 22 Aug 19–31 Oct 23 Dec – 02 Jan
    Brandenburg 02–07 Feb 30 Mar – 10 Apr + 15 May 26 May 09 Jul – 22 Aug 19–30 Oct 23 Dec – 02 Jan
    Bremen 02–03 Feb 23 Mar – 07 Apr 15 May + 26 May 02 Jul – 12 Aug 12–24 Oct 23 Dec – 09 Jan
    Hamburg 30 Jan 02–13 Mar 11–15 May 09 Jul – 19 Aug 19–30 Oct 21 Dec – 01 Jan
    Hesse – 30 Mar – 10 Apr – 29 Jun – 07 Aug 05–17 Oct 23 Dec – 12 Jan
    Lower Saxony 02–03 Feb 23 Mar – 07 Apr 15 May + 26 May 02 Jul – 12 Aug 12–24 Oct 23 Dec – 09 Jan
    North Rhine-Westphalia – 30 Mar – 11 Apr 26 May 20 Jul – 01 Sep 17–31 Oct 23 Dec – 06 Jan
    Rhineland-Palatinate – 30 Mar – 10 Apr – 29 Jun – 07 Aug 05–16 Oct 23 Dec – 08 Jan
    Saarland 16–20 Feb 07–17 Apr – 29 Jun – 07 Aug 05–16 Oct 21–31 Dec
    Saxony 09–21 Feb 03–10 Apr + 15 May – 04 Jul – 14 Aug 12–24 Oct 23 Dec – 02 Jan
    Saxony-Anhalt 31 Jan – 06 Feb 30 Mar – 04 Apr 26–29 May 04 Jul – 14 Aug 19–30 Oct 21 Dec – 02 Jan
    Schleswig-Holstein 02–03 Feb 26 Mar – 10 Apr 15 May 04 Jul – 15 Aug 12–24 Oct 21 Dec – 06 Jan
    Thuringia 16–21 Feb 07–17 Apr 15 May 04 Jul – 14 Aug 12–24 Oct 23 Dec – 02 Jan

    Public holidays

    Public Holiday 2026 2027
    New Year’s Day 01.01 – Thursday 01.01 – Friday
    Epiphany (BW, BY, ST) 06.01 – Tuesday 06.01 – Wednesday
    International Women’s Day (BE, MV) 08.03 – Sunday 08.03 – Monday
    Good Friday 03.04 – Friday 26.03 – Friday
    Easter Monday 06.04 – Monday 29.03 – Monday
    Labour Day 01.05 – Friday 01.05 – Saturday
    Ascension Day 14.05 – Thursday 06.05 – Thursday
    Whit Monday (Pentecost) 25.05 – Monday 17.05 – Monday
    Corpus Christi (BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL, SN, TH) 04.06 – Thursday 27.05 – Thursday
    Assumption Day (BY, SL) 15.08 – Saturday 15.08 – Sunday
    German Unity Day 03.10 – Saturday 03.10 – Sunday
    Reformation Day (BB, MV, SN, ST, TH, SH, HB, HH, NI) 31.10 – Saturday 31.10 – Sunday
    All Saints’ Day (BW, BY, NW, RP, SL) 01.11 – Sunday 01.11 – Monday
    Day of Repentance and Prayer (SN) 18.11 – Wednesday 17.11 – Wednesday
    Christmas Day 25.12 – Friday 25.12 – Saturday
    St Stephen’s Day 26.12 – Saturday 26.12 – Sunday

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