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School Holidays in Germany: A Practical Guide for Families

A practical guide for newcomer families: finding the right dates, planning care and avoiding problems with school attendance.

Why school holidays differ in Germany

Germany has 16 federal states (Bundesländer). Education is organised by the states, so school holiday dates are not the same across the country. A family in Hessen can be on holiday while children in Bavaria or Berlin are still in school.

This affects school routines, childcare, travel and appointments. Do not use another family’s dates as a guide for your own child’s school.

Know which dates apply to your family

Start with your child’s school and your federal state. Schools normally share important dates through a parent app, email, letter or website. The official holiday calendar from the Kultusministerkonferenz is useful for comparing states, but your school’s own information is the best source for practical arrangements.

  • Check the official dates for your Bundesland.
  • Read school messages before booking travel or childcare.
  • Look for extra bewegliche Ferientage or school-specific days.
  • Check whether the last day before a holiday has different lessons or pickup times.

Planning childcare and activities

School holidays do not automatically mean that parents have time off work. Plan early if you need care. Depending on your town, options may include holiday programmes (Ferienprogramm), holiday care through the school or local authority, sports clubs, youth centres and family support networks.

Places can fill quickly, especially during summer and autumn holidays. Check the organiser’s age range, times, cost, food arrangements, pickup rules and cancellation conditions before registering.

Travel and everyday planning

During school holidays, popular trains, roads and family destinations can be busier. If you travel, book early where possible and allow extra time. For a child who will miss school outside the official holiday period, do not assume that a family trip is automatically allowed.

In Germany, school attendance is compulsory. Ask the school in writing before making plans that would take your child out of lessons. The school or the responsible authority decides whether an exception is possible.

What to avoid

  • Do not rely on holiday dates from a different federal state.
  • Do not book non-refundable travel before checking your school calendar.
  • Do not assume a child may leave school early because a journey is cheaper or more convenient.
  • Do not wait until the last minute to look for holiday care.

When to contact the school or local authority

Contact the school early if you are unsure about the first or last holiday day, a school-specific closure, holiday care, or an absence outside the published holidays. Contact your local Jugendamt, municipality or school office if you need to find local childcare support.

Useful German words

  • die Schulferien — school holidays
  • das Bundesland — federal state
  • der Ferientag — school-holiday day
  • die Ferienbetreuung — holiday childcare
  • der Ausflug — outing / trip
  • die Schulpflicht — compulsory school attendance

Official information

Rules and dates can change. For current information, use: