Imagine standing in front of a closed office in Berlin because you forgot that today is a public holiday in Germany. Or you plan an important business trip and suddenly it turns out that the trains are full, the stores are closed, and the streets are full of families enjoying a long weekend. In Germany, statutory public holidays are significant not only for residents but also for people working abroad, collaborating with German companies, or planning a vacation there. In this post, you will find specific dates of public holidays in Germany for 2025, learn why the holiday calendar varies depending on the state, and how these differences can affect your daily life and vacation planning – join us!
How many public holidays do Germans have – numbers that really make a difference
You might be surprised at how important the holiday calendar is in Germany if you live, work, or plan to travel there. In 2025, Germans have a total of 21 statutory public holidays, but not all are valid nationwide. How many actual days off you will have depends on the state you live or work in. Residents of Hamburg or Bremen have the fewest, namely 10, while those from Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg can even count on 14 days off a year. For people working in Germany, these differences have real significance in vacation planning or organizing everyday life.
Public holidays in Germany are not only times for rest but also moments when stores, offices, and banks are closed. It’s worth noting these dates in your calendar to avoid planning important shopping or trips on a day when everything will be closed. Knowing the German calendar of free days allows you to plan better, save time, and avoid unnecessary stress, especially if you have scheduled work or administrative errands.
What determines when Germans have days off – the calendar depends on where you live
Statutory public holidays in Germany are set both at the national and state level, so they are not the same everywhere. Nine holidays apply in all 16 states, and the rest are local holidays due to the religious or historical traditions of the respective region. If you live in Bavaria, you can expect more days off, like Corpus Christi or the Assumption of Mary, which are not days off in northern Germany. It’s worth knowing these differences, especially if you work with companies from various parts of Germany or plan official business on a specific date.
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List of holidays in Germany 2025 – note them before planning a vacation
Below you will find the complete list of statutory public holidays in Germany for 2025, enabling you to plan the year in advance:
01.01 – New Year (New Year’s Day),
18.04 – Good Friday (Good Friday),
21.04 – Easter Monday (Easter Monday),
01.05 – Labor Day (Labor Day),
29.05 – Ascension Day (Ascension Day),
09.06 – Whit Monday (Whit Monday),
03.10 – Day of German Unity (Day of German Unity),
25.12 – Christmas Day (1st Christmas Day),
26.12 – Boxing Day (2nd Christmas Day),
Additionally, depending on the state, regional holidays may apply, such as:
06.01 – Epiphany (Epiphany) – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt,
08.03 – International Women’s Day (International Women’s Day) – Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
08.05 – Anniversary of Liberation (Anniversary of Liberation) – Berlin (only 2025),
19.06 – Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi) – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland,
08.08 – Augsburg Peace Festival (Augsburg Peace Festival) – only in the city of Augsburg (Bavaria),
15.08 – Assumption of Mary (Assumption of Mary) – Saarland; also in selected communities in Bavaria (Catholic areas),
20.09 – World Children’s Day (World Children’s Day) – Saxony,
31.10 – Reformation Day (Reformation Day) – Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia,
01.11 – All Saints’ Day (All Saints’ Day) – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland,
19.11 – Day of Repentance and Prayer (Day of Repentance and Prayer, Saxony) – Saxony (statutory holiday); only a school-free day in Bavaria.
Days off in Germany and work planning – what should you know?
Many people forget that statutory public holidays in Germany have an impact on the functioning of the whole country, including transportation, the operation of offices, shops, and businesses. It is important to remember that most stores are closed on holidays and transportation operates on a limited schedule. If you plan a trip, business trip, or shopping, knowing these dates allows you to avoid situations where you cannot complete important matters or get stuck in traffic related to tourist travel.
Public holidays are also an opportunity to plan long weekends, a practice Germans often use by combining them with vacations. It is worth remembering this, especially if you work with German business partners – on these days, replies to your emails may be delayed and decision-making processes may slow down. Knowing the holiday calendar in Germany gives you an organizational advantage and enables you to plan activities in advance, which is especially important when working abroad.
Maciej Szewczyk
He gained experience as a consultant on IT projects for many international companies. In 2017, he founded the startup taxando GmbH, where he developed the innovative tax app Taxando, which simplifies the filing of annual tax returns.
Maciej Szewczyk combines technological expertise with in-depth knowledge of tax regulations, making him an expert in his field. In his private life, he is a happy husband and father and lives with his family in Berlin.
