Public Holidays

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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SWITZERLAND

Here’s a list of all of Switzerland’s public holidays you need to know in 2021, as well as other important dates to make a note of on your calendar.

Whether you’re living in Switzerland or just visiting, it’s important to note the dates of Switzerland’s public holidays and important dates. This is because on some of these dates, businesses and public institutions will close or have reduced hours.

To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, our guide puts together a list of Switzerland’s public holidays as well as the most important dates for your calendar.

Introduction to Switzerland’s public holidays

While there are some Swiss holidays observed across the nation, certain religious holidays and local holidays are only marked in specific cantons and regions around Switzerland. However, this means that not all cantons across Switzerland have the same Swiss public holidays (holiday is un jour férié in French, feiertag in German).

Many Swiss holidays are religious and thus usually observed only in the cantons where Catholicism is the main religion. National holidays in Switzerland (or Swiss bank holidays) are taken very seriously, in fact, with almost all shops and public institutions closed.

The most important of all holidays in Switzerland is the Swiss National Day, which falls on 1 August every year and is technically the only official federal holiday. You can also read which public holidays coincide with Switzerland’s festivals, which are a great way to travel around the country and experience traditional Swiss culture and regional Swiss food. One of the most colorful Swiss holidays is carnival, when the Swiss let their hair down and celebrate.

If a Swiss national holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, workers may take either the Monday or Friday off to create a long weekend. Bank holidays in Switzerland are generally observed on their calendar date, however, some cantons and organizations may allocate a weekday off it the Swiss public holiday falls on a weekend.