Due to high wages and favorable working conditions, Switzerland has become a popular destination for migrant workers. If you live and work in Switzerland, you are probably wondering what the public holidays and celebrations are, and when they occur. How should you plan your vacation in 2025?
Public Holidays and Days off in Switzerland 2025
Switzerland is administratively divided into 26 cantons, and in each canton, public holidays can vary slightly. The number of public holidays is set at the canton level, and sometimes even within regions. For example, residents of Ticino and Solothurn enjoy up to several days off, while Basel only has 9 public holidays. National holidays celebrated in all cantons include New Year’s Day, Ascension, Swiss National Day, and Christmas.
Holidays in Switzerland 2025:
- New Year (Neujahr) – January 1 (Wednesday) – celebrated in all cantons
- Berchtold’s Day (Berchtoldstag) – January 2 (Thursday) – celebrated in the cantons: AG, BE, FR, GL, JU, LU, OW, SH, TG, VD
- Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day) – January 6 (Monday) – celebrated in the cantons: GR, LU, SZ, TI, UR
- Good Friday (Karfreitag) – April 18 – not a holiday in Ticino and Valais
- Easter Monday (Ostermontag) – April 21 – except in the cantons: NE, SO, VS, ZG
- Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) – May 1 (Thursday) – celebrated in the cantons: BL, BS, JU, LU, NE, SH, SO, TG, TI, ZH
- Ascension Day (Auffahrt) – May 29 (Thursday) – celebrated in all cantons
- Whitsunday (Pentecost Monday) – June 9 (Monday) – except in the cantons: NE, SO, VS, ZG
- Corpus Christi – June 19 (Thursday) – except in the cantons: AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GL, NE, SH, SG, TG, VD, ZH
- Swiss National Day (Bundesfeier) – August 1 (Friday) – celebrated in all cantons
- Assumption of Mary (Maria Himmelfahrt) – August 15 (Friday) – celebrated in the cantons: AG, AI, FR, JU, LU, NW, OW, SO, SZ, TI, UR, VS, ZG
- All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) – November 1 (Saturday) – except in the cantons: AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GR, NE, SH, TG, VD, ZH
- Immaculate Conception (Maria Empfängnis) – December 8 (Monday) – celebrated in the cantons: AG, AI, FR, GR, LU, NW, OW, SZ, TI, UR, VS, ZG
- Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag) – December 25 (Thursday) – celebrated in all cantons
- St. Stephen’s Day (Stefanstag) (Second Christmas Day) – December 26 (Friday) – except in the cantons: GE, JU, NE, SO, VS, VD, ZG
Some holidays are only celebrated in specific cantons.
| Holiday Name | Date for 2025 | Canton |
| Republic Day | March 1 | Neuchâtel |
| St. Joseph’s Day | March 19 | GR, LU, NW, SZ, TI, UR, VS |
| Näfelser Fahrt | April 3 | Glarus |
| Jura Independence Day | June 23 | Jura |
| St. Peter and Paul’s Day | June 29 | GR, TI |
| Jeune genevois | September 11 | Geneva |
| Day After Federal Fast | September 22 | Vaud |
| St. Mauritius Day | September 22 | Appenzell Innerrhoden |
| St. Niklaus von Flüe | September 25 | Obwalden |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Glarus |
| Boxing Day (Second Christmas Day) | December 26 | Neuchâtel |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Glarus |
| Restaurant Day | December 31 | Geneva |
Public Holidays and How to Plan Your Vacation in Switzerland for 2025
Due to Switzerland’s cultural diversity, holidays are celebrated differently depending on the region. Where you live or travel to in Switzerland can impact how many days off you get, or you may find you have fewer days off. Keep in mind that some cantons require work on holidays that are typically observed as public holidays in most European countries.
Work in Switzerland and Vacation Time
If you work in Switzerland and want to maximize your vacation time, here’s a suggestion on how to plan your 2025 vacation while incorporating public holidays.
Recommended Vacation Planning for 2025:
- January 1-5 (Wednesday-Sunday)
- May 18-21 (Friday-Monday)
- May 29-June 1 (Thursday-Sunday)
- June 19-22 (Thursday-Sunday)
- December 25-28 (Thursday-Sunday)
