Public Holidays and Days Off in Germany in 2025
Moving to a different country, it’s important to get familiarized with a new schedule of public holidays and days off. In this article, we’ll go over which holidays are celebrated nationwide across all federal states in Germany, as well as mention several regional holidays. We’ll also briefly touch on the working calendar and official days off in Germany.
We’ve previously written about the cost of living in Germany and how to send money from Germany to Turkey.
How Many Public and Non-Working Days Are There in Germany in 2025?
According to the official work calendar, there are 23 nationwide days off in 2025. Workers in certain regions will get an additional 3 to 5 local holidays, depending on regional traditions.
By strategically using their annual paid leave alongside national holidays, German contract workers can extend their time off to up to 55 days per year.
Nationwide Public Holidays in Germany
Depending on where you live, the total number of public holidays may vary. However, there are 9 nationwide holidays, officially recognized in all 16 German federal states:
- Neujahr — New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Karfreitag — Good Friday (April 18)
- Ostermontag — Easter Monday (April 21)
- Tag der Arbeit — Labour Day (May 1)
- Christi Himmelfahrt — Ascension Day (May 29)
- Pfingstmontag — Whit Monday (June 9)
- Tag der Deutschen Einheit — German Unity Day (October 3)
- Weihnachten — Christmas Day (December 25)
- Zweiter Weihnachtstag — Boxing Day (December 26)
Despite popular belief, Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) and New Year’s Eve (Silvester) are not legally recognized public holidays. However, some companies may grant additional time off as a goodwill gesture.
In 2025, all public holidays fall on weekdays, which is great news for contracted employees. With smart planning, employees may significantly reduce their number of working days.
Regional Holidays in Germany
In addition to nationwide public holidays, several German federal states have their own official holidays, often tied to religious events.
For example, Protestants and Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, marking the changes introduced by Martin Luther. Among young people, Halloween parties are commonly held on October 31, even though it is not a day off in all regions. On November 1, Catholics observe All Saints’ Day, a religious holiday marked by quiet reflection.
In the city of Augsburg, the Peace Festival (Friedensfest) is held every year on August 8 to commemorate the end of Protestant persecution. It includes a special church service and a children’s drawing contest on the theme of peace.
| Holiday | Date | Where It’s a Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day) | January 6 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt |
| International Women’s Day | March 8 | Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| Corpus Christi | June 19 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Augsburg Peace Festival | August 8 | Only in Augsburg (Bavaria) |
| Assumption of Mary | August 15 | Bavaria (in predominantly Catholic communities), Saarland |
| World Children’s Day | September 20 | Thuringia |
| Reformation Day | October 31 | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia |
| All Saints’ Day | November 1 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Day of Repentance and Prayer | November 19 | Saxony; Bavaria (only for school children) |
In 2025, Berlin has also declared May 8 a public holiday — Day of Liberation from National Socialism, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
When Are School Holidays in Germany?
Schoolchildren have holidays 6 times a year, with a total break period of at least 75 days.
Holiday dates in Germany vary — each year, the government sets them anew. By law, children under 9 years old cannot be left home alone during school breaks, so parents usually hire a nanny, take vacation, or switch to evening shifts during this time.
Christmas Holidays
Since Christmas is celebrated at roughly the same time across Germany, holidays in all federal states generally occur during the same period. States with a predominantly Catholic population may allow more time off than Protestant ones.
Typically, Christmas holidays start between December 20–23 and end between January 3–11.
Winter Holidays
Held from late January to a flexible date in February. Due to the extended Christmas break, the winter holidays in Germany are quite short, ranging from just one day (e.g., in Hamburg) to a full week. In some regions, schoolchildren won’t get a winter break at all in 2025.
Easter Holidays
In most states, children were off for two weeks from April 14 to April 25, though some began their break earlier — in March (Hamburg), or starting April 7 (Bremen and Thuringia).
Summer Holidays
In June, Pentecost (June 10–20) brings 1 to 10 days off depending on the region. However, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Saxony do not allocate time off for this period.
Most students begin their summer break at the end of July and return in September. If holidays start a week later, they also end a week later. In 2025, the summer break in most of Germany will run from July 24 to September 6.
Autumn Holidays
These usually happen at the end of October and last for 2 weeks. Most students will start their break on October 13. Some states begin earlier — from October 6, while others will start later — around October 20.
Conclusion
In 2025, employees with a five-day workweek will be able to rest for up to 55 days if they strategically use vacation days alongside public holidays. And to share the festive spirit with loved ones abroad, the Korona app makes it easy to send instant money transfers to over 50 countries under favorable conditions — bringing joy to those far away.
We cover many aspects of life, study, and work in Europe on our blog. If you’re interested in these topics, check out the article catalog to learn more.