What are the best days to take off in Germany in 2026?

The best days are working days between a 2026 German public holiday (Feiertag) and the weekend. Germany has many midweek holidays like Christi Himmelfahrt and Pfingsten that are ideal for bridge-day strategies.

Does this include all German Feiertage?

The tool uses Germany-wide public holidays. State-specific holidays vary — for example, Bayern has additional Catholic holidays. Adjust your work week if your state has extra holidays.

How much Urlaub do I need for long weekends in Germany in 2026?

Germany is particularly good for bridge-day strategies. Brückentag (bridge days) are well-known — even 1 Urlaub day next to a Thursday or Tuesday holiday creates a four-day weekend.

Is my Urlaub planning private?

Yes. Everything runs in your browser. Your planning stays on your device and is never uploaded.

Germany 2026 Urlaub Planning

Best days to take off in Germany in 2026

Germany is famous for Brückentage — bridge days. See which Urlaub days unlock the longest weekends around German Feiertage in 2026.

CountryYear

PTO days available: 10

Strategy

Work week

Monday–Friday by default. Tick days you also work.

I work SaturdaysI work Sundays

PTO days used

Total days away

Breaks planned

Efficiency

1 : 8

PTO days : days off

Spend 3 PTO days → Get 24 days off

That's 8× leverage on your time off

Ranked PTO opportunities — Germany 2026

1
Fri, Apr 3 – Mon, Apr 6
April · Good Friday (Karfreitag), Easter Monday (Ostermontag)
Free long weekend
4
days off
In your plan
4-day weekend — no PTO needed
PTO used
0 days
Efficiency
0 PTO days needed
PTO dates
None
Good Friday (Karfreitag) already creates a long weekend — no PTO needed.
Hol3Fri
Wknd4Sat
Wknd5Sun
Hol6Mon
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
2
Thu, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 4
January · New Year's Day (Neujahrstag)
Thursday holiday bridge
4
days off
In your plan
Spend 1 PTO day → Get 4 days off
1 PTO day = 4 days off
PTO used
1 day
Efficiency
1 PTO day = 4 days off
PTO dates
Friday Jan 2
Plan: take Fri Jan 2 after New Year's Day (Neujahrstag).
Hol1Thu
PTO2Fri
Wknd3Sat
Wknd4Sun
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
3
Thu, May 14 – Sun, May 17
May · Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
Thursday holiday bridge
4
days off
In your plan
Spend 1 PTO day → Get 4 days off
1 PTO day = 4 days off
PTO used
1 day
Efficiency
1 PTO day = 4 days off
PTO dates
Friday May 15
Plan: take Fri May 15 after Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt).
Hol14Thu
PTO15Fri
Wknd16Sat
Wknd17Sun
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
4
Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3
May · Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)
Free long weekend
3
days off
In your plan
3-day weekend — no PTO needed
PTO used
0 days
Efficiency
0 PTO days needed
PTO dates
None
Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) already creates a long weekend — no PTO needed.
Hol1Fri
Wknd2Sat
Wknd3Sun
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
5
Sat, May 23 – Mon, May 25
May · Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)
Free long weekend
3
days off
In your plan
3-day weekend — no PTO needed
PTO used
0 days
Efficiency
0 PTO days needed
PTO dates
None
Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) already creates a long weekend — no PTO needed.
Wknd23Sat
Wknd24Sun
Hol25Mon
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
6
Fri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27
December · Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag), Second Christmas Day (Zweiter Weihnachtstag)
Free long weekend
3
days off
In your plan
3-day weekend — no PTO needed
PTO used
0 days
Efficiency
0 PTO days needed
PTO dates
None
Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag) already creates a long weekend — no PTO needed.
Hol25Fri
Hol26Sat
Wknd27Sun
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day
7
Sat, Oct 3 – Mon, Oct 5
October · German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)
Holiday bridge
3
days off
In your plan
Spend 1 PTO day → Get 3 days off
1 PTO day = 3 days off
PTO used
1 day
Efficiency
1 PTO day = 3 days off
PTO dates
Monday Oct 5
Plan: take Mon Oct 5 after German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit).
Hol3Sat
Wknd4Sun
PTO5Mon
Weekend Holiday PTO Work day

Your PTO planning stays in your browser and is not uploaded.

Brückentage: Germany's secret to long weekends

Germany is one of the best countries for bridge-day strategies (Brückentage). Many holidays fall on Thursdays or Tuesdays, meaning a single Urlaub day can create a four-day weekend — or even longer.

Tag der Arbeit (May 1) — often falls on a Friday or Monday for easy bridging.
Christi Himmelfahrt — always a Thursday, making Friday the perfect Brückentag.
Pfingstmontag — a Monday holiday that naturally extends the weekend.
Tag der Deutschen Einheit on October 3 — check the 2026 day-of-week for bridging.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best days to take off in Germany in 2026?: The best days are working days between a 2026 German public holiday (Feiertag) and the weekend. Germany has many midweek holidays like Christi Himmelfahrt and Pfingsten that are ideal for bridge-day strategies.
Does this include all German Feiertage?: The tool uses Germany-wide public holidays. State-specific holidays vary — for example, Bayern has additional Catholic holidays. Adjust your work week if your state has extra holidays.
How much Urlaub do I need for long weekends in Germany in 2026?: Germany is particularly good for bridge-day strategies. Brückentag (bridge days) are well-known — even 1 Urlaub day next to a Thursday or Tuesday holiday creates a four-day weekend.
Is my Urlaub planning private?: Yes. Everything runs in your browser. Your planning stays on your device and is never uploaded.

Best days to take off in Germany in 2026

Ranked PTO opportunities — Germany 2026

Fri, Apr 3 – Mon, Apr 6

Thu, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 4

Thu, May 14 – Sun, May 17

Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3

Sat, May 23 – Mon, May 25

Fri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27

Sat, Oct 3 – Mon, Oct 5

Brückentage: Germany's secret to long weekends

Frequently asked questions

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