How to Cleverly Use Bridge Days in 2025
A short vacation is the perfect way to take a break from the daily work routine, it's cheaper than a full week off, and can still bring just as much variety. No wonder long weekends are particularly popular for short vacations.
By planning your vacation wisely, you can take full advantage of the public holidays in 2025 for some serious relaxation. The public holidays fall very favorably in 2025, allowing you to enjoy long vacation periods with only a few vacation days taken.
New Year's Day – Time to start planning
- When is New Year's Day 2025? Wednesday, January 1, 2025
- Where is New Year's Day a public holiday? All federal states
Here, you can start the first week of January by relaxing with a couple of extra days off. Just two vacation days will give you a calm start into the new year with an extended break.
Epiphany – 17 days of Christmas vacation
- When is Epiphany 2025? Monday, January 6, 2025
- Where is Epiphany a public holiday? Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt
With two vacation days, you can get seven days off from December 31, 2024, to January 6, 2025.
Or, you can enjoy a long Christmas vacation from December 20, 2024, to January 6, 2025. That's 17 days off for only five vacation days used.
International Women's Day – Unfortunately, it falls on a weekend this year
- When is International Women's Day 2025? Saturday, March 8, 2025
- Where is International Women's Day a public holiday? Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Easter – Get 16 days off with just eight vacation days
- When is Easter 2025? Friday, April 18, to Monday, April 21, 2025
- Where is Easter a public holiday? All federal states
Easter brings three public holidays. With four vacation days, you can have 10 days off from April 11 to April 21, 2025. With eight vacation days, you can stretch this to 16 days off, from April 11 to April 27, 2025.
Labor Day – At least a long weekend
- When is Labor Day 2025? Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Where is Labor Day a public holiday? All federal states
May 1, 2025, falls on a Thursday—perfect for a long weekend. With one additional vacation day, you can enjoy a break from May 1 to May 4. By using three more vacation days, you can extend your break to nine days, from April 25 to May 5, 2025.
Ascension Day – Four Days of Early Summer Vacation
- When is Ascension Day 2025? Thursday, May 29, 2025
- Where is Ascension Day a public holiday? All federal states
Ascension Day is one of the most popular bridge days because the religious holiday always falls on a Thursday. With just one vacation day, you can enjoy a four-day long weekend from May 29 to June 1. By using three additional vacation days, you can take nine days off in a row, from May 24 to June 1. With five more vacation days, you can extend it to a 17-day break.
Pentecost – Up to 12 Consecutive Days Off
- When is Pentecost 2025? Sunday, June 8, and Monday, June 9, 2025
- Where is Pentecost a public holiday? All federal states
Pentecost occurs 49 days after Easter Sunday. This year, it’s also worth investing in four vacation days. With four vacation days, you can enjoy a nine-day break from June 7 to June 15. When combined with Ascension Day (May 29, 2025), you can even get 18 days off, from May 29 to June 15, by using just ten vacation days.
Corpus Christi – Four-Day Extended Weekend
- When is Corpus Christi 2025? Thursday, June 19, 2025
- Where is Corpus Christi a public holiday? North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, parts of Saxony and Thuringia
Corpus Christi gives some federal states an extra public holiday. With just one vacation day, you can enjoy a four-day vacation from June 19 to June 22. In these states, you can also extend your Pentecost vacation: with eight vacation days, you can have 16 days off, from June 7 to June 22.
Assumption Day – Long Weekend or a Week Off in Bavaria and Saarland
- When is Assumption Day 2025? Friday, August 15, 2025
- Where is Assumption Day a public holiday? Bavaria (not in all communities), Saarland
Assumption Day falls on a Friday in 2025. You can either enjoy a relaxing long weekend or take four vacation days for a full week off from August 9 to August 17.
World Children's Day – So Far Only in Thuringia
- When is World Children's Day 2025? Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Where is World Children's Day a public holiday? Thuringia
World Children's Day has been celebrated since 1954, but it is only a public holiday in Thuringia—and has been since 2019.
German Unity Day – Unfortunately Also on a Friday
- When is German Unity Day 2025? Friday, October 3, 2025
- Where is German Unity Day a public holiday? All federal states
Reformation Day – Long Weekend Ahead
- When is Reformation Day 2025? Friday, October 31, 2025
- Where is Reformation Day a public holiday? Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia
Reformation Day has been a public holiday in the five eastern German states since 1990 and, since 2018, also applies to the northern German states. Unfortunately, this holiday also falls on a Friday, limiting its potential for an extended break. However, if you need another pause, you can take four vacation days to get a full week off from October 25 to November 2, 2025.
All Saints' Day – Makes a Saturday a Holiday in 2025
- When is All Saints' Day 2025? Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Where is All Saints' Day a public holiday? Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
Day of Repentance and Prayer – Enjoy Five to Nine Days Off in a Row
- When is Day of Repentance and Prayer 2025? Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Where is Day of Repentance and Prayer a public holiday? Saxony
With four vacation days, you can enjoy nine days off from November 15 to November 23. Alternatively, you can use two vacation days to enjoy an extended weekend either before or after the Day of Repentance and Prayer.
Christmas – Four Vacation Days for Twelve Days Off
- When is Christmas 2025? Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025
- Where is Christmas a public holiday? All federal states
During Advent, Hamburg is particularly worth a visit as the city shines with festive decorations and a more vibrant atmosphere. This year, the holidays fall conveniently, giving you time to finish your shopping on December 24 and enjoy two days off after Christmas Eve. With just five vacation days, you can get 13 days off from December 20, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
New Year's Day – Celebrate New Year's Eve Without Guilt
- When is New Year's Day 2025? Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Where is New Year's Day a public holiday? All federal states
New Year's Day gives you an additional day off during your Christmas break, or it can be part of a long weekend, letting you enjoy a New Year's Eve celebration without the worry of heading to work on January 1.
