Summer school holidays in Germany 2026: dates for Berlin, Bavaria, Hamburg and other federal states

In Germany, summer vacation starts at different times depending on the federal state. This system helps prevent traffic gridlock and overcrowding at resorts during peak season. Learn more about the exact dates of summer vacation in Germany in 2026 and the periods of highest tourist traffic

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Summer vacation in Germany traditionally affects not only schoolchildren and parents, but also the tourist season throughout Europe. It is during this period that the strain on airports, highways, hotels, and popular resorts increases significantly, and prices for airline tickets and accommodations can rise sharply.

To avoid traffic chaos and overcrowding at tourist destinations, the country has had a system of different vacation dates for each federal state in place for many years. In 2026, the schedule will again vary by region: in some places, students will start their vacation as early as the end of June, while in others, not until the beginning of August.

Here’s when summer vacation starts in different German states and which periods will be the busiest for travel.

When do summer vacations start in Germany in 2026?

In Germany, there is no single start date for school vacations across the entire country. Each federal state independently sets its own school year calendar, which is why students go on vacation at different times during the summer. This approach has been used for many years to evenly distribute traffic, tourist flows, and avoid overcrowding at popular resorts.

On average, German students have about 75 days of vacation per year, and summer vacation remains the longest—lasting approximately 6–7 weeks. At the same time, in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the schedule traditionally remains almost unchanged, while in other states the dates may vary from year to year.

In 2026, summer vacation will start earliest in Hesse, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate—as early as June 29. Schoolchildren in Bavaria will go on vacation the latest—as late as August 3. July and August are traditionally considered the busiest period for airports, highways, and tourist destinations across Europe.

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Summer vacation dates in Germany in 2026 by federal state

In most federal states, summer vacation will last six to seven weeks. The heaviest tourist traffic is expected in July and August, when millions of schoolchildren and families across the country will be on vacation at the same time.

- Baden-Württemberg — July 30 – September 11

- Bavaria — August 3 – September 14

- Berlin — July 9 – August 21

- Brandenburg — July 9 – August 21

- Bremen — July 2 – August 12

- Hamburg — July 9 – August 19

- Hesse — June 29 – August 7

- Lower Saxony — July 2 – August 12

- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania — July 13 – August 21

- North Rhine-Westphalia — July 20 – September 1

- Rhineland-Palatinate — June 29 – August 7

- Saarland — June 29 – August 7

- Saxony — July 6 – August 14

- Saxony-Anhalt — July 6 – August 14

- Schleswig-Holstein — July 6 – August 14

- Thuringia — July 6 – August 14

For the islands of Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Helgoland, and Halligen, a separate vacation schedule will apply: from July 6 to August 7. This is due to high tourist traffic during the summer season and the specific nature of transportation links to the islands.

Why should tourists take Germany’s school vacation dates into account?

The summer vacation period in Germany traditionally affects prices and the availability of travel services not only within the country but also in many popular European destinations. It is during this time that demand for airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and family tours increases significantly.

The heaviest traffic usually occurs in the second half of July and August, when residents of several large federal states are on vacation at the same time. Because of this, popular resorts in Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, and Croatia can be overcrowded, and accommodation costs can be significantly higher.

Experts advise booking trips in advance, especially when planning a family vacation during the German summer break. Tickets for popular flights, seaside hotels, and accommodations in Germany’s tourist regions tend to sell out the fastest.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on traffic conditions. During the start and end of the holidays, multi-kilometer traffic jams regularly form on German highways, especially on routes heading toward Austria, Italy, and the Baltic Sea coast.

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