School holidays in Switzerland: 2023 and 2024

Mark your calendar with the Swiss school holidays in 2023 and 2024 so that you can sort out your plans or arrange any necessary childcare.

If you’re a parent who lives in Switzerland, then it’s important to find out the dates of Swiss school holidays. That way, you can make plans with your little ones or book any childcare for their days off. School holidays cross over with public holidays in Switzerland, plus there are other breaks, such as the summer holiday.

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Swiss holiday schedules

School holidays in Switzerland are set by the individual cantons. Swiss schools typically have five standard holidays each year:

• Autumn holiday: 1–3 weeks off
• Christmas: Between 1.5–2.5 weeks off
• February/March holiday: 1–2 weeks off. This is generally referred to as a sport holiday, a carnival holiday, or a February holiday
• Spring holiday: Two weeks off around Easter
• Summer holiday: 4–8 weeks off

International schools in Switzerland generally follow the same holiday dates as other institutions within their canton. However, they may have longer summer and Christmas breaks, as well as additional or different days off. Check with your child’s school for full details.

Swiss families tend to spend holiday periods getting together to celebrate festivities such as Christmas or Easter. Additionally, many families go away on holidays or day trips to take advantage of the free time.

The Swiss National Day, which is celebrated within individual communities, falls within school summer break. There may also be regional holidays which occur during school holidays in Switzerland.

School holidays in Switzerland by canton

Sorted by canton, here are the school holidays for the 2023–2024 scholastic year.

Aargau

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Basel-Landschaft

Basel Stadt

Bern

Fribourg

Geneva

Glarus

Graubünden

Jura

Luzern

Neuchâtel

Nidwalden

Obwalden

Schaffhausen

Schwyz

Solothurn

St Gallen

Thurgau

Ticino

Uri

Valais

Vaud

Zug

Zürich

Additional holidays and days off

There are other days to look out for on the Swiss school holiday calendar. The following days are given as holidays each year in many of the cantons:

• Labor Day: 1 May 2024
• Ascension Day: 9 May 2024
• Whit Monday/Pentecost: 20 May 2024
• Corpus Christi: 30 May 2024
• All Saints Day: 1 November 2024

Each Swiss school might also have additional days off teacher training, service days, or pupil book days. Check with your child’s school for a full list of days off throughout the year. You can also check your school’s website as many will publish a calendar detailing all days off.

Childcare during school holidays in Switzerland

Working parents may need to make daycare arrangements for their children during holiday time. There is no nationwide daycare provision during school holidays in Switzerland. Facilities and activities are organized at local level through either the cantons or individual schools. That said, there are plenty of childcare options available, such as childminders and children’s centers.

There are also lots of exciting activities for children during the holidays:

• Holiday programs: Check with your regional canton or school for information. Some provide a holiday program (Ferienprogramme in German) of activities. For example, Pro Juventute offers a series of holiday programs for children aged 6 to 16 in various Swiss regions. Profawo provides varied holiday daycare to children in the Basel, Bern, Geneva, and Zurich cantons.
• Sports camps: If your child is into football, they might enjoy InterSoccer. This sports-camp runs summer and Easter courses across the country
• International summer camps: During vacation periods, a popular option for expat families is international summer camps. If your child attends an international school in Switzerland, the school may offer provision or be able to recommend a good camp to attend.

Prices and availability for activities vary, so it’s worth making inquiries as soon as possible.