How Long Is Summer Break In Germany

Whether you are teaching summer school or just curious, finding out how long is Summer break in Germany can help you track your progress and get a good idea of where your students are coming from.

The German school year is a bit different from the American school year. In Germany, the school year starts on August 31. This means the summer break in Germany is not as long as it is in America. It also means that vacation days are not complete without travel outside of the country. How long is summer break in Germany?

It’s that time of year again: teachers and students across the country are taking their summer breaks. But just how long is the summer break in Germany? Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany, is a German-majority country in central Europe. One of the most populated states in Europe with over 80 million people in its borders, it’s also one of the largest countries by area and boasts one of the busiest roadways in all of Europe. It’s a huge tourist destination and boasts one of the largest economies in Europe.

How Long Is Summer Break In Germany

As the school year draws to a close, many German students are anxiously wondering around the universities they attend. Are they looking a little pale and worn out? Then it may be because they’ve only slept an average of 3 hours per day for 2 months. I know, right? It’s rough. The German summer vacation might be one of the longest in the world — but it is definitely worth the learning and growing that takes place during those nine weeks of freedom.

Wondering how the school holiday system in Germany works, or just when your next holiday is?

Term dates in Germany

In Germany, schoolchildren receive 75 days of holiday per year (including 12 Saturdays). These 75 days are divided into six school holiday periods that break up the separate school terms. While the autumn, Christmas and Easter holidays are usually fixed breaks of around two weeks, the winter and Whitsun holidays may be lengthened, shortened or even scrapped in a particular year, depending on how early or late the summer holiday starts in that federal state.

Types of school holidays in Germany

The six types of school breaks in Germany are: 

• Autumn holiday (Herbstferien) – two weeks
• Christmas holiday (Weihnachtsferien) – usually two weeks
• Winter holiday (Winterferien) – between a few days and two weeks
• Easter holiday (Osterferien) – two to three weeks
• Whitsun holiday (Pfingstferien) – between a few days and two weeks
• Summer holiday (Sommerferien) – six to seven weeks

Summer holidays in Germany

Just like the school system, school holidays in Germany vary according to federal state. For the summer holidays in particular, the 16 federal states work on a staggered schedule in order to avoid overburdening travel infrastructure. The earliest summer holidays begin in the middle of June, and the latest ones end in the middle of September.

Moveable holiday days

In all states (except Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Bavaria), German schools and international schools are given the power to set several days of extra holiday per year, as they see fit.

Depending on your location, these extra holiday days might be added around public holidays (so-called “bridge days”, Brückentage, e.g., if a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, the Friday or Monday is given off to allow for a long weekend away). They might also be given on unofficial holidays such as St Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaus) or carnival (Karneval). It is important to always check exact dates with your child’s school.

Can I take my child on vacation outside of the school holiday periods?

As school attendance is compulsory, as a rule, the German government does not permit parents to take children on holiday during term-time. Parents who do so can be issued with fines of up to 1.000 euros for enabling truancy. You can, however, apply to the headteacher at your child’s school for an exemption in order to legally take your children out of school before the start of the holidays.

Holiday childcare in Germany

Most parents will have to work at some point during their children’s school holidays. There is a range of childcare options to choose from, including summer camps, holiday programmes and regular daycare facilities.

Other education institutions and holidays

While school holidays are set by the education authorities in each federal state, German higher education institutions are free to set their own holiday dates. If you are studying in Germany, make sure to check your term dates with your university.

Other German holidays

In addition to the regular school holiday periods, children in Germany can also enjoy national public holidays.

School holidays in Germany 2021-2022 & 2022-2023

See below for the official school holiday dates for primary and secondary schools in Germany, according to federal state:

Baden-Württemberg school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 31 – November 6, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2021 – January 8, 2022
• Winter holiday: —
• Easter holiday: April 14 – April 23, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 7 – June 18, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 28 – September 10, 2022
• Moveable holidays: 4

Baden-Württemberg school holidays 2022-2023

• Bridge day: October 31, 2022
• Autumn holiday: November 2 – November 4, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 21, 2022 – January 7, 2023
• Winter holiday: —
• Bridge day: April 6, 2023
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 15, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 30 – June 9, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 27 – September 9, 2023
• Moveable holidays: 5

Bavaria school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: November 2 – November 5, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2021 – January 8, 2022
• Winter holiday: February 28 – March 3, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 23, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 7 – June 18, 2022
• Summer holiday: August 1 – September 12, 2022

Bavaria school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 31 – November 4, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2022 – January 7, 2023
• Winter holiday: —
• Bridge days: February 20 – February 24, 2023
• Easter holiday: April 3 – April 15, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 30 – June 9, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 31 – September 11, 2023

Berlin school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 11 – October 23, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2021 – December 31, 2021
• Winter holiday: January 29 – February 5, 2022
• Bridge day: March 7, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 23, 2022
• Bridge day: May 27, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 7, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 7 – August 19, 2022

Berlin school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 24 – November 5, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 22, 2022 – January 2, 2023
• Winter holiday: January 30 – February 4, 2023
• Easter holiday: April 3  – April 14, 2023
• Bridge day: May 19, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 30, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 13 – August 25, 2023

Brandenburg school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 11 – October 23, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23 – December 31, 2021
• Winter holiday: January 31 – February 5, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 23, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: —
• Summer holiday: July 7 – August 20, 2022
• Moveable holidays: 1

Brandenburg school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 24 – November 5, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 22, 2022 – January 3, 2023
• Winter holiday: January 30 – February 3, 2023
• Easter holiday: April 3 – April 14, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: —
• Summer holiday: July 13 – August 26, 2023
• Moveable holidays: 1

Bremen school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 18 – October 30, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2021 – January 8, 2022
• Winter holiday: January 31 – February 1, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 4 – April 19, 2022
• Bridge day: May 27, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 7, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 14 – August 24, 2022

Bremen school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 17 – October 29, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2022 – January 6, 2023
• Winter holiday: January 30 – January 31, 2023
• Easter holiday: March 27 – April 11, 2023
• Bridge day: May 19, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 30, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 6 – August 16, 2023

Hamburg school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 4 – October 15, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2021 – January 4, 2022
• Winter holiday: January 28, 2022
• Easter holiday: March 7 – March 18, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: May 23 – May 27, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 7 – August 17, 2022

Hamburg school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 10 – October 21, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2022 – January 6, 2023
• Winter holiday: January 27, 2023
• Easter holiday: March 6 – March 17, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 15 – May 19, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 13 – August 23, 2023

Hesse school holidays – 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 11 – October 23, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2021 – January 8, 2022
• Winter holiday: —
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 23, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: —
• Summer holiday: July 25 – September 2, 2022
• Moveable holidays: 5

Hesse school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 24 – October 29, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 22, 2022 – January 7, 2023
• Winter holiday: —
• Easter holiday: April 3 – April 22, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: —
• Summer holiday: July 24 – September 1, 2023
• Moveable holidays: 4

Lower Saxony school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 18 – October 29, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2021 – January 7, 2022
• Winter holiday: January 31 – February 1, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 4 – April 19, 2022
• Bridge day: May 27, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 7, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 14 – August 24, 2022

Lower Saxony school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 17 – October 28, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 23, 2022 – January 6, 2023
• Winter holiday: January 30 – January 31, 2023
• Easter holiday: March 27 – April 11, 2023
• Bridge day: May 19, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 30, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 6 – August 16, 2023

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 2 – October 9, 2021
• Bridge days: November 1 – November 2, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 22 – December 31, 2021
• Winter holiday: February 5 – February 17, 2022
• Bridge day: February 18, 2022
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 20, 2022
• Bridge day: May 27, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: June 3 – June 7, 2022
• Summer holiday: July 4 – August 13, 2022

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern school holidays 2022-2023

• Autumn holiday: October 10 – October 14, 2022
• Bridge days: November 1 – November 2, 2022
• Christmas holiday: December 22, 2022 – January 2, 2023
• Winter holiday: February 6 – February 18, 2023
• Easter holiday: April 3 – April 12, 2023
• Bridge day: May 19, 2023
• Whitsun holiday: May 26 – May 30, 2023
• Summer holiday: July 17 – August 26, 2023

North Rhine-Westphalia school holidays 2021-2022

• Autumn holiday: October 11 – October 23, 2021
• Christmas holiday: December 24, 2021 – January 8, 2022
• Winter holiday: —
• Easter holiday: April 11 – April 23, 2022
• Whitsun holiday: —
• Summer holiday: June 27 – August 9, 2022
• Moveable holidays: 3