The school system in Switzerland traditionally has five school holidays throughout the year. These holidays are determined by where you live and can vary by weeks.
Swiss holiday structure
The school holidays are a fundamental part of education for your children, with holidays being offered from primary schools to secondary and higher education. The holidays’ structure that Switzerland uses is:
- October break (early October, one week)
- Christmas holidays (mid-December to early January, two to three weeks)
- Ski week (early February, two weeks)
- Easter holidays (Easter time, one week)
- Summer holidays (June to August, 6-8 weeks)
These are in addition to Swiss national & regional holidays.
School holidays by canton in Switzerland
The responsibility of planning for school holidays is given to the county (canton). Traditionally, holiday dates were determined by the timings of the harvest so that young people could help with work and support the family. Now, each canton staggers its holidays so that not all school children are on holiday at once, to ease crowding and ease the pressure on public transport.
Can I take my child out of school outside of holiday time?
Taking your child out of school, or truancy, is not recommended in Switzerland. This is in order to ensure that your child does not fall behind with their education. If you would like to take your child out of school, you must contact your school beforehand, specifying the circumstances behind taking your child out of school and why it is essential.
Leeway is typically given for half days and for significant family events or emergencies. Taking your child out of school has harsh penalties if absences are unexplained, with most cantons administering a fine of 300 to 2.000 Swiss francs for each day the child misses.
Cantonal school holidays in Switzerland
The details of each cantonal school holiday are below, extending to the 2022-23 school term.
Aargau school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 16 - August 7
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Aargau school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 22 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 25 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Appenzell Innerrhoden school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 17 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Appenzell Ausserrhoden school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: September 24 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Canton Bern (German) school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 23 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Canton Bern (French) school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: N/A
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Basel Land school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 13
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Basel Land school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - March 5
- Spring holiday: April 1 - April 16
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Basel Stadt school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 13
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Basel Stadt school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - March 5
- Spring holiday: April 1 - April 16
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Liechtenstein school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 14 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 16
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Liechtenstein school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 6 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 24 (Primary) July 2 - August 24 (Secondary)
- Autumn holiday: October 15 - October 30
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Fribourg / Freiburg school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 28 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 23 (Primary) July 1 - August 23 (Secondary)
- Autumn holiday: October 14 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Geneva school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 12 - February 20
- Spring holiday: April 14 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 22 - October 30
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Geneva school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 21 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Glarus school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: January 29 - February 6
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Glarus school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: January 28 - February 5
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Graubünden / Grisons school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 23 - May 8
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Graubünden / Grisons school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 27 - March 3
- Spring holiday: April 17 - April 28
- Summer holiday: July 3 - August 11
- Autumn holiday: October 9 - October 20
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Jura school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - February 27
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Jura school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Luzern school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Luzern school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 11 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Neuchatel school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Neuchatel school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 25 - March 5
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Nidwalden school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 28 (Middle school) - August 21 (Primary school)
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Nidwalden school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 11 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 27 (Middle school) - August 20 (Primary school)
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Obwalden school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Obwalden school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 16 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
St. Gallen school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: Dependent on school
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
St. Gallen school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: Dependent on school
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Schaffhausen school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: January 29 - February 13
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 2, 2023
Schaffhausen school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: January 28 - February 12
- Spring holiday: April 15 - April 30
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Solothurn school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 5 - February 20
- Spring holiday: April 9 - April 24
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Solothurn school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 4 - February 19
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Schwyz school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 30 - May 15
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Schwyz school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 25 - March 5
- Spring holiday: April 14 - April 29
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: September 30 - October 15
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Thurgau school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: January 29 - February 6
- Spring holiday: April 2 - April 18
- Summer holiday: June 9 - August 14
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - November 23
- Christmas holiday, December 24 - January 8, 2023
Thurgau school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: January 28 - February 5
- Spring holiday: March 25 - April 10
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 13
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Ticino school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - April 24
- Summer holiday: June 16 - August 28
- Autumn holiday: October 29 - November 6
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Ticino school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 16
- Summer holiday: June 17 - TBA
- Autumn holiday: TBA
- Christmas holiday: TBA
Uri school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 30 - May 15
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: October 1 - October 16
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Uri school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: March 4 - March 12
- Spring holiday: April 22 - May 7
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Vaud school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 19 - February 27
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 2 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 15 - October 30
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Vaud school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 11 - February 19
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 23
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 14 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Valais (German) school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 13
- Spring holiday: May 7 - May 15
- Summer holiday: June 30 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Valais (German) school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 25 - March 12
- Spring holiday: May 13 - May 21
- Summer holiday: July 1 - August 15
- Autumn holiday: October 14 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Valais (French) school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 26 - March 6
- Spring holiday: April 15 - April 24
- Summer holiday: June 25 - August 17
- Autumn holiday: October 13 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Valais (French) school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 18 - February 26
- Spring holiday: April 7 - April 16
- Summer holiday: June 24 - August 16
- Autumn holiday: October 19 - October 29
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Zug school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: February 5 - February 20
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 9 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 4, 2023
Zug school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: February 4 - February 19
- Spring holiday: April 15 - April 30
- Summer holiday: July 8 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
Zurich school holidays 2022-2023
- Sports holiday: School specific
- Spring holiday: April 15 - May 1
- Summer holiday: July 16 - August 21
- Autumn holiday: October 8 - October 23
- Christmas holiday: December 24 - January 8, 2023
Zurich school holidays 2023-2024
- Sports holiday: School specific
- Spring holiday: April 22 - May 7
- Summer holiday: July 15 - August 20
- Autumn holiday: October 7 - October 22
- Christmas holiday: December 23 - January 7, 2024
