TL;DR
Standard tech jobs in Germany offer 28-30 paid vacation days per year. Combined with up to 14 public holidays (depending on your state), you can get nearly 6 weeks of paid time off. By strategically using "Brückentage" (bridge days), you can double your continuous time off.
If you are moving to Germany from the US or parts of Asia, the German approach to vacation (*Urlaub*) will feel like a massive culture shock—in the best way possible.
In Germany, taking time off is not seen as a lack of dedication; it is a legally protected right and a cornerstone of the culture. Taking a 3-week consecutive vacation in the summer is completely normal and expected.
Here is how vacation and public holidays work in Germany, and how to maximize them.
1. Your Legal Vacation Entitlement
By German law (*Bundesurlaubsgesetz*), an employee working a 5-day week is entitled to a minimum of 20 paid vacation days per year.
However, in the tech, startup, and corporate sectors, the industry standard is **28 to 30 days**.
- Startups: Usually offer 25 to 28 days.
- Corporates: Almost universally offer 30 days.
*Note: Your vacation days are completely separate from sick days. If you are sick, you take a sick day. If you get sick while on vacation, you can get a doctor's note and the company must refund those vacation days back to your balance.*
2. Public Holidays (Feiertage) by State
Germany is a federal republic, which means public holidays vary significantly depending on which state (*Bundesland*) you live in.
- Bavaria (Munich): The clear winner. Due to its Catholic heritage, Bavaria enjoys up to 13 to 14 public holidays a year.
- Berlin & Hamburg: The losers. These northern/eastern states typically only have 10 public holidays a year. (Though Berlin recently added International Women's Day as a public holiday to compensate).
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, you do not get the Monday off in lieu (unlike in the UK or US). The holiday is simply "lost" for that year.
3. The Magic of "Brückentage" (Bridge Days)
To truly master the German vacation system, you must learn the art of the *Brückentag* (Bridge Day).
Many German public holidays fall on a Thursday (e.g., Ascension Day, Corpus Christi). A *Brückentag* is the Friday immediately following the holiday.
By taking just one official vacation day on that Friday, you "bridge" the gap between the Thursday holiday and the weekend, resulting in a 4-day weekend. Germans plan these months in advance. HR departments are flooded with vacation requests for bridge days in January, so submit your requests early!
4. The August Shutdown
If you try to launch a major project, schedule critical meetings, or get a response from a German B2B partner in August, you will likely fail. August is the traditional summer holiday month. Half the country is in Italy or Spain. Expect projects to stall and out-of-office autoreplies to dominate your inbox.
5. Carrying Over Vacation Days
If you don't use all your vacation days by December 31st, what happens? By law, you must use them in the calendar year. However, most companies have a policy allowing you to carry over unused days into the first quarter of the next year (typically until March 31st), provided there were urgent operational reasons you couldn't take them.
Enjoy your time off! If you're ready to secure a job that offers 30 days of vacation, browse our open tech roles in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacation days do you get in Germany?
The legal minimum is 20 days (for a 5-day workweek), but the industry standard for tech and professional roles is 28 to 30 paid vacation days per year.
Do sick days count as vacation days in Germany?
No. Sick leave is entirely separate from vacation time. If you fall ill during your approved vacation, you can obtain a doctor's note and have those vacation days refunded to your balance.
What is a Brückentag?
A Brückentag (bridge day) is a single workday that falls between a public holiday and a weekend (e.g., a Friday after a Thursday holiday). Employees take this one day off to enjoy a 4-day weekend.
Ready to make the move?
Browse hundreds of verified, strictly English-speaking roles across Germany.