While many families in Switzerland have to book trips for when schools are closed, many others will be trying to avoid the high prices and huge queues associated with the school holidays. With this in mind, here are the best times to go on holiday in 2025:

How to avoid travelling during the school holidays in Switzerland

With all 26 Swiss cantons spacing their school holidays apart, it can be tricky to find a time when the lakes, ski resorts and historical sites of the alpine nation are quiet. However, travelling when the schools are open not only makes holidays in Switzerland more relaxing, but trips abroad booked during school time are almost always cheaper.

To make sure you avoid the queues and get the cheapest deal on your next vacation, here are the best dates to book in 2025:

Swiss school holidays in January and February to bear in mind

For the beginning of 2025, January is relatively clear. If you fancy a post-New Year getaway, then January 7-24 is completely free of school holidays. However, be sure to avoid January 1 to 4, when almost all classes are broken up for the winter break. Approximately 20 percent of cantonal schools will also be off from January 25 to 31.

Travellers’ luck runs out in February, as while there are no days when a majority of cantons have school holidays, there is not a single day when at least some schools aren’t closed. This is mainly due to the sports holiday in February, which varies wildly by canton.

Springtime brings major school holidays to Switzerland in April

Things get busier from March 1 to 7, when just under half of Swiss schools will have holidays. This reduces to around 20 percent between March 8 and 17, after which the rest of the month is completely clear for travellers to visit some of Switzerland's top spring destinations.

Sadly, April brings nothing but showers for holidaymakers, with only April 1-4 offering no school holidays. The first spring and Easter holidays in Swiss schools will begin on April 7, reaching peak intensity from April 12 to 27 and continuing until May.

May itself sees the number of school holidays reduce to manageable levels, with May 17 to 28 being completely school holiday-free. June is similar, with all schools being in session from the 10th to the 18th.

July brings a dearth of options for holidaymakers without children

However, those hoping to get a cheap holiday in July are out of luck, as only July 1-4 are relatively school holiday-free. The number of schools on break ramps up in the second week of the month, and by July 21 almost all students in Switzerland are kicking back and relaxing in the summer sun. 

The tail end of this busy period of holidays concludes on August 11. From then most, but not all, primary and secondary schools are back for the beginning of the 2025 / 26 school year. Another great month for cheap deals is September, with September 1 to 19 having no school holidays in 2025.

November is the most school holiday free in Switzerland

October remains tricky, as most autumn holidays fall in the first three weeks of the month, leaving just October 27 to 31 completely free. November is perhaps the best time of the year for school-children-free travel, as all days apart from the 3rd to the 9th are during term time.

Finally, in the lead-up to Christmas 2025, all schools will be in session from the beginning of the month till December 19, after which the festive travel rush gets fully underway.

When is the cheapest time to book holidays from Switzerland?

In all, here are the periods of 2025 when no schools in Switzerland will be on holiday:

• January 7 - 24
• March 18 - 31
• April 1 - 4
• May 17 - 28
• June 10 - 18
• September 1 - 19
• October 27 - 31
• November 1 - 2, 10 - 30
• December 1 - 19

Want to make the most out of your paid leave? Check out our guide to bridging days in Switzerland for 2025.