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School breaks are the perfect time to have fun and quality time with your children. For parents, knowing these dates is crucial for planning holidays, family visits, and exciting activities. It’s also important to arrange any childcare in advance if you’ll be working on these days.
Planning ahead also means preparing financially for these holiday periods. Whether you’re organizing a family trip abroad, arranging childcare, or enrolling your children in vacation camps, managing your finances efficiently is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel between countries or maintain ties to their home country, services like Wise can help manage multiple currencies and international payments without the hidden fees that banks can often charge.
Here’s what you need to know:
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An overview of Swiss school holidays
Each of the 26 Swiss cantons sets its own school calendar each year, leading to variations in holiday dates across the country. Communal authorities may change these schedules slightly to take into account local holidays or requirements; however, the main holidays usually stay the same across the canton.
Schools typically have four main holidays throughout the year, including during Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. There are also a few other days off, typically around Christian holidays.
International schools in Switzerland generally follow the same holiday dates as other schools in the canton, though they may have longer summer and Christmas breaks, as well as additional or different days off. Be sure to check with your child’s school for full details.
When are the Swiss school holidays in 2024–2025?
2024–2025 school holidays in Northern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Aargau | Basel-Landschaft | Basel-Stadt |
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 September – 13 October 2024 | 28 September – 13 October 2024 | 28 September – 13 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | 25 January – 9 February 2025 | 1–16 March 2025 | 1–16 March 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 5–21 April 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 19 July – 10 August 2025 | 28 June – 10 August 2025 | 28 June – 10 August 2025 |
| Solothurn | Zürich | ||
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | |
| Autumn holidays | 28 September – 20 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 | |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 1–16 February 2025 | Varies by school | |
| Spring holidays | 5–21 April 2025 | 18 April – 4 May 2025 | |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 12 July – 17 August 2025 |
Wise account
Are you an expat or thinking of moving to Switzerland? Managing your money across borders shouldn’t be complicated. With a Wise account, you can hold over 40 currencies and pay with a Wise debit card in more than 150 countries. Whether you need to spend abroad, receive or send money home, Wise can help make international money management simpler.
2024–2025 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | Appenzell Innerrhoden | AI Oberegg District | Glarus |
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 5–20 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 | 28 September – 20 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | Varies by school | 28 February – 9 March 2025 | 25 January – 2 February 2025 | 25 January – 2 February 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 5–21 April 2025 | 5–21 April 2025 | 5–21 April 2025 | 3–21 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 28 June – 10 August 2025 |
| Grisons (Graubünden) | Schaffhausen | St. Gallen | Thurgau | |
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 | 12 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 5–20 October 2024 | 28 September – 20 October 2024 | 28 September – 20 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 24 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | 22 February – 2 March 2025 | 25 January – 9 February 2025 | Varies by school | 25 January – 2 February 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 19 April – 4 May 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 | 5–21 April 2025 | 5–21 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 28 June – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 10 August 2025 |
2024–2025 school holidays in Southern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Bern (German) | Bern (French) | Ticino |
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | 2 September 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 21 September – 13 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 | 26 October – 3 November 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December – 5 January 2025 | 21 December – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 6 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | Varies by school | Varies by school | 1–9 March 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 5–21 April 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 | 18–27 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 19 June – 31 August 2025 |
| Valais (German) | Valais (French) | ||
| First day of school | 19 August 2024 | 22 August 2024 | |
| Autumn holidays | 12–27 October 2024 | 17–27 October 2024 | |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 22 February – 9 March 2025 | 1–9 March 2025 | |
| Spring holidays | 10–18 May 2025 | 18–27 April | |
| Summer holidays | 28 June – 17 August 2025 | 19 June – 20 August 2025 |
2024–2025 school holidays in Western Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Fribourg | Geneva | Jura |
| First day of school | 22 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 12–27 October 2024 | 19–27 October 2024 | 12–27 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | 1–9 March 2025 | 22 February – 2 March 2025 | 22 February – 2 March 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 18 April – 4 May 2025 | 18 April – 4 May 2025 | 18 April – 4 May 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 28 June/5 July – 27 August 2025 | 28 June – 17 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 |
| Neuchâtel | Vaud | ||
| First day of school | 19 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | |
| Autumn holidays | 5–20 October | 12–27 October 2024 | |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 22 February – 2 March 2025 | 15–23 February 2025 | |
| Spring holidays | 12–27 April 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 | |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 28 June – 17 August 2025 |
2024–2025 school holidays in Central Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Lucerne | Nidwalden | Obwalden |
| First day of school | 19 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 September – 13 October 2024 | 28 September – 13 October 2024 | 28 September – 13 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | 22 February – 9 March 2025 | 22 February – 9 March 2025 | 22 February – 9 March 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 18 April – 4 May 2025 | 18 April – 4 May 2025 | 18 April – 4 May 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 |
| Schwyz | Uri | Zug | |
| First day of school | 12 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 | 19 August 2024 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 September – 13 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 | 5–20 October 2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 6 January 2025 | 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025 |
| Carnival/sport break | 22 February – 2 March 2025 | 22 February – 9 March 2025 | 1–16 February 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 26 April – 11 May 2025 | 26 April – 11 May 2025 | 12–27 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 5 July – 10 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 | 5 July – 17 August 2025 |
When are the Swiss school holidays in 2025–2026?
2025–2026 school holidays in Northern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Aargau | Basel-Landschaft | Basel-Stadt |
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 27 September – 12 October 2025 | 27 September – 13 October 2025 | 27 September – 11 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 5 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 3 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | 24 January – 8 February 2026 | 14 February – 2 March 2026 | 1–15 March 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 4–19 April 2026 | 28 March – 13 April 2026 | 12–26 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 27 June – 10 August 2026 | 28 June – 9 August 2026 |
| Solothurn | Zürich | ||
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | |
| Autumn holidays | 27 September – 19 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 | |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 31 January – 15 February 2026 | Varies by school | |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2026 | 18 April – 3 May 2026 | |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 11 July – 16 August 2026 |
2025–2026 school holidays in Eastern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | Appenzell Innerrhoden | AI Oberegg District | Glarus |
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 4–19 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 | 27 September – 19 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | Varies by school | 13–22 February 2026 | 24 January – 1 February 2026 | 24 January – 1 February 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 27 June – 9 August 2026 |
| Grisons (Graubünden) | Schaffhausen | St. Gallen | Thurgau | |
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 11 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 4–19 October 2025 | 27 September – 19 October 2025 | 27 September – 19 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 24 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | 21 February – 1 March 2026 | 24 January – 8 February 2026 | Varies by school | 24 January – 1 February 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 18 April – 3 May 2025 | 11–26 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 27 June – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 4 July – 9 August 2026 |
2025–2026 school holidays in Southern Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Bern (German) | Bern (French) | Ticino |
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | 1 September 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 20 September – 12 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 | 1–9 November 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 24 December 2025 – 6 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | Varies by school | Varies by school | 14–22 February 2025 |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–12 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 18 June – 30 August 2025 |
| Valais (German) | Valais (French) | ||
| First day of school | 18 August 2025 | 21 August 2025 | |
| Autumn holidays | 11–26 October 2025 | 16–26 October 2025 | |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 21 February – 8 March 2025 | 14–22 February 2025 | |
| Spring holidays | 9–17 May 2026 | 3–12 April 2026 | |
| Summer holidays | 1 July – 16 August 2026 | 27 June – 16 August 2026 |
2025–2026 school holidays in Western Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Fribourg | Geneva | Jura |
| First day of school | 28 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 11–26 October 2025 | 18–26 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | 14–22 February 2026 | 21 February – 1 March 2026 | 14–22 February 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 4/11 July – 26 August 2026 | 27 June – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 |
| Neuchâtel | Vaud | ||
| First day of school | 18 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | |
| Autumn holidays | 4–19 October 2025 | 10–26 October 2025 | |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | |
| Carnival/sport break | 21 February – 1 March 2025 | 14–22 February 2026 | |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2026 | 3–19 April 2026 | |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 27 June – 16 August 2026 |
2025–2026 school holidays in Central Switzerland
Dates may vary per municipality – check your school’s academic calendar
| Holiday | Lucerne | Nidwalden | Obwalden |
| First day of school | 18 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 27 September – 12 October 2025 | 27 September – 12 October 2025 | 27 September – 12 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | 24 December 2025 – 6 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | 7–22 February 2026 | 7–22 February 2026 | 7–22 February 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 3–19 April 2025 | 3–19 April 2025 | 3–19 April 2025 |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 |
| Schwyz | Uri | Zug | |
| First day of school | 11 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 | 18 August 2025 |
| Autumn holidays | 27 September – 12 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 | 4–19 October 2025 |
| Christmas holidays | 25 December 2025 – 6 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 6 January 2026 | 20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
| Carnival/sport break | 21 February – 1 March 2026 | 1–8 March 2026 | 31 January – 15 February 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 25 April – 10 May 2026 | 2–17 May 2026 | 11–26 April 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 4 July – 9 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 | 4 July – 16 August 2026 |
When are Switzerland’s public holidays?
Some national and local holidays and celebrations can fall on school days, such as Ascension Day and Good Friday. You can learn more about these holidays (and dates) by reading our article on public holidays in Switzerland.
Tips for expat parents in Switzerland
Financial planning for school holidays
School holidays often mean additional expenses for families – from travel and accommodation to childcare and activities. For expat parents who may be traveling internationally or paying for services in different currencies, managing these expenses efficiently becomes even more important.
When planning trips abroad during school breaks:
- Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations
- Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad
- Plan ahead for international payments for activities or accommodations
Using the Wise account can help you manage your holiday finances. With Wise, you can hold and convert money in multiple currencies, spend abroad with the Wise card, and enjoy lower fees when compared to banks. For example, when transferring 5,000 USD to EUR, you could save 86 EUR for using Wise compared to using a bank transfer*, helping your holiday budget go further.
*The calculation is from the comparison tool from the Wise website on the 9th of Sept of 2025 that compares USD transfers to EUR via Wise, multiple international money transfer providers and banks in the US.
Childcare during Swiss school holidays
Your children’s school holidays may clash with your work schedule. Fortunately, you can access a range of childcare options in Switzerland, including:
- Daycare centers
- Kindergartens
- Au pairs/nannies
- Childminders
- Babysitters
10 fun summer camps in Switzerland
There are many fun and educational summer camps for children to learn and play, including:
Conclusion
Understanding the Swiss school holiday calendar is essential for expat families to plan effectively throughout the academic year. With differences between the language communities and a variety of holiday periods spread across the year, advance planning is key to balancing work commitments with childcare needs and family activities.
Whether you’re arranging local childcare, sending your children to vacation camps, or planning family trips abroad during these breaks, having the right financial tools in place can make the process smoother. For expat families in Switzerland, Wise provides a solution for managing expenses across different currencies without the hidden fees that can be charged by banks.
