More than 1 million of our countrymen work permanently in Germany. But as the proverb says – man does not live by work alone, resting is due to everyone. Therefore, we recommend checking days off and holidays in Germany in 2023.
First of all, it is worth emphasizing that the number of days off and holidays in Germany varies depending on the place of residence. Each of the 16 Bundeslands has slightly different statutory holidays. Together, i.e. throughout Germany, only 8 holidays are celebrated:
- New Year’s Day (1.01.2023)
- Good Friday (7.04.2023)
- Easter Monday (10.04.2023)
- Labor Day (1.05.2023)
- Ascension of the Lord (18.05.2023)
- Pentecostal Monday (29.05.2023)
- National Unity Day (3.10.2023)
- Christmas (25-26.12.2023)
The residents of Berlin, Hamburg and Lower Saxony have the fewest days off.
Non-working days in Germany 2023 – Bavaria and Berlin
Bavaria is the federal state with the largest number of foreigners living there. A large part is located in the capital of the country – Berlin.
Below you can check the days off in Bavaria in 2023:
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day | 1.01.2023 (Sunday) |
| Epiphany | 6.01.2023 (Friday) |
| Good Friday | 7.04.2023 |
| Easter Monday | 10.04.2023 |
| Labor Day | 1.05.2023 (Monday) |
| Ascension of the Lord | 18.05.2023 (Thursday) |
| Pentecost | 28-29.05.2023 (Sunday-Monday) |
| Corpus Christi | 8.06.2023 (Thursday) |
| Peace Festival in Augsburg | 8.08.2023 (Tuesday) |
| Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 15.08.2023 (Tuesday) |
| National Unity Day | 3.10.2023 (Tuesday) |
| All Saints’ Day | 1.11.2023 (Wednesday) |
| Christmas | 25-26.12.2023 (Monday-Tuesday) |
See what are the days off entitled in Berlin in 2023:
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day | 1.01.2023 (Sunday) |
| Women’s Day | 8.03.2023 (Wednesday) |
| Good Friday | 7.04.2023 |
| Easter Monday | 10.04.2023 |
| Labor Day | 1.05.2023 (Monday) |
| Ascension of the Lord | 18.05.2023 (Thursday) |
| Pentecost | 28-29.05.2023 (Sunday-Monday) |
| National Unity Day | 3.10.2023 (Tuesday) |
| Christmas | 25-26.12.2023 (Monday-Tuesday) |
Work and days off in Germany
As a rule, working on public holidays is prohibited in Germany. The exceptions are certain professions (e.g. employees of the fire brigade, rescue services or uniformed services). All days off are stipulated in the State Holidays Act, for the individual federal states. Only National Unity Day is determined by federal law.
Non-working days and Holidays in Belgium 2023
On New Year’s Eve (31.12) and Christmas Eve (24.12) there is no work ban, although theoretically the employee can take additional time off for these 2 days.
Important! If a public holiday in Germany falls on a working day, the employee receives 100% of the salary for that day. However, if a holiday falls on a weekend, the employer does not settle this day. In the case when an employee works on a public holiday, he / she receives an additional 100% of the salary supplement.
Days off and Holidays in Germany – 2023
Below you can find a list of all public holidays and non-working days,
applicable in Germany, broken down by federal states.
| Holiday | Date | Federal state |
| New Year’s Day (Neujahr) | 1.01.2023 (Sunday) | all states |
| Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | 6.01.2023 (Friday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt |
| Women’s Day (Internationaler Frauentag) | 8.03.2023 (Wednesday) | Berlin |
| Good Friday (Karfreitag) | 7.04.2023 | all states |
| Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag) | 9.04.2023 | Brandenburg |
| Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | 10.04.2023 | all states |
| Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) | 1.05.2023 (Monday) | all states |
| Ascension of the Lord (Christi Himmelfahrt) | 18.05.2023 (Thursday) | all states |
| Pentecost (Pfingstsonntag) | 28.05.2023 (Sunday) | Brandenburg |
| Pentecostal Monday (Pfingstmontag) | 29.05.2023 | all states |
| Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | 8.06.2023 (Thursday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Heisa, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | 15.08.2023 (Tuesday) | Bavaria |
| World Children’s Day (Weltkindertag) | 20.09.2023 (Wednesday) | Thuringia |
| National Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | 3.10.2023 (Tuesday) | all states |
| Reformation Day(Reformationstag) | 31.10.2023 (Tuesday) | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia |
| All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) | 1.11.2023 (Wednesday) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Day of Repentance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag) | 22.11.2023 (Wednesday) | Saxony |
| Christmas (Weihnachtstag) | 25-26.12.2023 (Monday-Tuesday) | all states |
Employment agencies in Berlin – Check the list of proven agencies!
When to go on vacation in Germany in 2023?
As you can see, most holidays in Germany coincide with other European countries’ ones. Therefore, it is easier to plan a joint vacation with the family. Below you can see proposals for holidays in Germany in 2023:
- Easter (6.04–10.04.2023)
- May weekend (28.04–1.05.2023)
- Ascension of the Lord (18.05–21.05.2023)
- Pentecost (26.05–29.05.2023)
- Corpus Christi (8.11–11.06.2023)
- All Saints’ Day (27.10–1.11.2023)
- Christmas (22.12–26.12.2023)
Are you looking for a job in Germany? Check out new offers!
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