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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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.
Photo: Massimo Ravera/Getty Images
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.
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School holidays in Switzerland by canton
Sorted by canton, here are the school holidays for the 2023–2024 scholastic year.
Aargau
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 9 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
9 January – 16 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
1 July – 9 August 2024
Basel-Landschaft
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
9 January – 16 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
1 July – 9 August 2024
Basel Stadt
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
12–23 February 2024
Spring break
25 March – 5 April 2024
Summer break
1 July – 9 August 2024
Bern
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
25 September – 12 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–9 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Fribourg
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
16 September – 27 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
12–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
1 July – 21 August 2024
Geneva
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
23–27 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
19–23 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
1 July – 19 August 2024
Glarus
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 2 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Summer break
1 July – 9 August 2024
Graubünden
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
26 February – 1 March 2024
Spring break
29 March – 1 April 2024
Summer break
24 June – 9 August 2024
Jura
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
16–27 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
19–23 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Luzern
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Neuchâtel
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
21 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 February – 1 March 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Nidwalden
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Obwalden
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Schaffhausen
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 9 February 2024
Spring break
15–26 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Schwyz
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–13 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
26 February – 1 March 2024
Spring break
29 April – 10 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Solothurn
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–16 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
St Gallen
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
2–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 2 February 2024
Spring break
8–19 April 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Thurgau
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 2 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–20 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Ticino
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
30 October – 3 November 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
12–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 5 April 2024
Summer break
17 June – 30 August 2024
Uri
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
4–8 March 2024
Spring break
29 April – 10 May 2024
Summer break
1 July – 16 August 2024
Valais
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
29 January – 2 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–20 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 9 August 2024
Vaud
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
16–27 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
12–16 February 2024
Spring break
29 March – 12 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
1 July – 16 August 2024
Zug
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
5–16 February 2024
Spring break
15–26 April 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
8 July – 16 August 2024
Zürich
Holiday
Dates
Autumn break
9–20 October 2023
Christmas break
25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Carnival/sport break
12–23 February 2024
Easter break
28 March – 1 April 2024
Spring break
22 April – 3 May 2024
Ascension break
9–10 May 2024
Summer break
15 July – 16 August 2024
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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.
Photo: AscentXmedia/Getty Images
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.
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