Worldwide Public Holidays & Bank Holidays
Search national public holidays across 246 countries and territories. Choose a country and year to see holiday dates, weekdays, observed substitute days, estimated lunar dates, working-day totals and useful long-weekend information directly on HolidayIn4U.
Check public holidays for your destination
Select a country and year. HolidayIn4U will display the available national holiday calendar, including observed substitute dates and estimated dates where the source marks them as provisional.
Why public holidays matter when planning a holiday
A public holiday can be a brilliant time to experience local celebrations, but it can also affect opening hours, transport, banks, attractions and shopping. Checking important dates before departure can help you avoid surprises and plan your itinerary more confidently.
Shops & Supermarkets
Opening rules vary enormously by destination. Some countries allow normal trading while others close most large shops on major public holidays.
- Check local opening times before travelling.
- Buy essentials in advance of major holidays.
- Expect reduced hours in some destinations.
Banks & Financial Services
Banking services may be limited on official holidays even when tourist businesses remain open.
- ATMs may still operate but branches may close.
- International transfers can take longer.
- Keep a backup payment method available.
Public Transport
Buses, trains, ferries and local services may follow Sunday or special holiday timetables.
- Check the operator's holiday timetable.
- Allow extra time for busy routes.
- Pre-book important journeys where possible.
Attractions & Activities
Museums and attractions may close, operate reduced hours or become much busier on national days off.
- Reserve popular attractions in advance.
- Confirm opening hours directly.
- Have an alternative activity planned.
Restaurants & Resorts
Tourist areas often continue operating, although family-run businesses and local restaurants may change their hours.
- Book special-occasion meals early.
- Expect busy resort areas on long weekends.
- Ask your hotel about local celebrations.
Roads, Airports & Travel Days
Major holidays can trigger large domestic travel movements, creating busier roads, airports and transport terminals.
- Allow extra airport-transfer time.
- Check road closures around celebrations.
- Book intercity transport early.
Public holiday, bank holiday or observance?
The terms are not identical worldwide. A public holiday is generally a nationally recognised day when many workers receive time off. "Bank holiday" is commonly used in places such as the UK and Ireland, while other countries use different legal terms. An observance may be culturally important without being a nationwide day off.
What the HolidayIn4U holiday tool shows you
The results are designed to be useful for travellers, not just a plain list of dates. Where available, the source also provides working-day totals, weekend rules, long weekends and bridge-day opportunities.
Holiday Dates & Weekdays
Each result shows the date, weekday and English holiday name supplied by the OpenWorkdays dataset.
Observed Substitute Days
When the source marks an entry as observed, the tool identifies it as a substitute day associated with an official holiday.
Estimated Dates
Some lunar or astronomical holidays may be provisional. These are clearly labelled so you know to verify the date closer to travel.
Working-Day Total
The tool can show the source's calculated working-day total after weekends and weekday public holidays are taken into account.
Long Weekends
Where available, the data identifies breaks of three or more consecutive days off involving a public holiday.
Bridge Days
A bridge day is a working day which, if taken as leave, can connect a holiday with a weekend and create a longer break.
Travelling during a national public holiday
Public holidays are not automatically a bad day to travel. They can be some of the most memorable days of a trip, especially when they include festivals, ceremonies, markets or family traditions. The key is knowing what may change.
Before You Leave
Check your destination calendar, book important transport, confirm hotel arrangements and note any major holiday that falls during your stay.
During Your Holiday
Ask hotel staff about local events, transport changes and closures. Local knowledge is often the quickest way to understand what a national holiday means in practice.
For Families
Family attractions can become particularly busy when local schools and workplaces are closed. Booking timed tickets in advance can help avoid disappointment.
Useful HolidayIn4U travel tools
A public-holiday calendar is only one part of planning your trip. Use these related HolidayIn4U guides to check essential information before you travel.
Worldwide public holiday & bank holiday FAQs
How many countries and territories does the holiday search cover?
The OpenWorkdays dataset currently publishes public-holiday calendars for 246 countries and territories. Coverage is available for 2024 through 2030.
Does this tool show bank holidays as well as public holidays?
The underlying dataset is a national public-holiday calendar. In some destinations, especially the United Kingdom, the everyday term "bank holiday" is used for official days off. Terminology and legal status differ by country, so HolidayIn4U does not assume that every public holiday worldwide is legally a bank holiday.
Are regional holidays included?
The standard country search displays the national calendar. OpenWorkdays also provides regional calendars for some countries, but regional coverage is not universal. State, provincial, cantonal, national or local holidays may therefore differ from the national results shown here.
What does "Observed" mean beside a holiday?
OpenWorkdays uses the observed marker when a substitute day off is granted because a holiday falls on a weekend. The observed date may therefore be different from the original holiday date.
Why is a holiday marked "Estimated"?
Some holidays depend on lunar or astronomical observation. OpenWorkdays marks a date as estimated when it has not yet been confirmed by the relevant authorities and may move, commonly by one day.
What are long weekends and bridge days?
A long weekend is a break of three or more consecutive days off involving a holiday. A bridge day is a single working day between days off which can potentially be taken as annual leave to create a longer break.
Will shops and attractions definitely close on a public holiday?
No. Opening rules vary by country, region and business type. Tourist attractions, restaurants and supermarkets may open normally, reduce their hours or close entirely. Always check directly with the business or official local source when opening hours matter to your plans.
Are public transport services affected?
They can be. Some operators use Sunday or special holiday timetables, while others operate normally. Check the local transport operator before travelling, especially if you have an airport transfer, train or ferry connection.
How accurate are future holiday dates?
OpenWorkdays generates its calendars from a rules-based open-source holiday dataset. Fixed and rule-based dates can be calculated in advance, while lunar or authority-dependent dates may remain provisional. Always verify important travel dates with an official government or local authority source.
Where does the holiday information come from?
HolidayIn4U retrieves the calendar from OpenWorkdays. OpenWorkdays states that its holiday dates come from the open-source holidays library, while country display names are based on ISO 3166. The data is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Do the results stay on HolidayIn4U?
Yes. The tool retrieves machine-readable JSON data and renders the results directly inside this HolidayIn4U page. The OpenWorkdays attribution link is retained because the data licence requires attribution.
