Holiday Advantage
Place PTO around a public holiday to get 9 days off with only 4 PTO days.
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Bridge Days 2026 & 2027 – How the Vacation Planner Works
Plan your 2026 and 2027 vacation around public holidays and bridge days – for maximum consecutive days off.
Why Smart Vacation Planning Pays Off in 2026
With clever vacation planning, you can turn a few PTO days into significantly more time off. Especially around public holidays, so-called bridge days emerge – working days between a holiday and a weekend.
In 2026 and 2027, several holidays fall on weekdays. This offers the opportunity to plan long consecutive breaks with just a few PTO days. Those who plan strategically can enjoy significantly more consecutive days off – without using additional vacation days.
What Are Bridge Days?
Bridge days are regular working days that fall between a public holiday and a weekend.
Example:
If a holiday falls on a Thursday, you can enjoy a long four-day weekend with just one PTO day on Friday.
Bridge days are particularly valuable for vacation planning because they significantly improve the ratio between PTO days used and free days gained.
How Does the Vacation Planner Work?
Our vacation planner automatically analyzes:
- Public holidays in your region
- Weekends
- Your available PTO days
- Your desired planning period (2026, 2027 or 12 months)
Then the system calculates the optimal placement of your vacation days to:
- Create as many consecutive days off as possible
- Strategically use bridge days
- Maximize long recovery periods
You don't have to calculate manually or compare calendars – the optimal combination is calculated automatically.
Example: How 4 PTO Days Become 9 Days Off
When a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, you can combine by cleverly placing 4 PTO days:
- 1 public holiday
- 4 weekend days
- 4 PTO days
into a total of 9 consecutive days off.
This pattern repeats multiple times with bridge days 2026 and bridge days 2027 – depending on the position of holidays.
Typical Strategies for More Time Off
Holiday Extension
Place PTO days directly before or after a public holiday to create a longer break.
Long Weekend
Take 1-2 PTO days around a weekend to get a 4 or 5-day weekend.
Bundle PTO Days
Instead of taking several individual days off, the planner bundles PTO days to create larger consecutive recovery periods.
Use Year-End Strategically
Holidays around Christmas and New Year offer particularly high potential for long periods off with relatively little PTO usage.
Who Is the Vacation Planner For?
The planner is suitable for:
- Employees with a fixed PTO allowance
- Families with school-age children
- Professionals with limited vacation time
- Remote workers
- Anyone who wants to maximize their time off
Whether you have 20, 25 or 30 PTO days – strategic planning can significantly increase your potential.
Why Not Just Plan Manually?
Of course you can plan your vacation manually in a calendar. However:
- Public holidays differ by region
- Bridge days change every year
- Optimal combinations are often not immediately visible
- Manual calculation is time-consuming
The vacation planner handles this analysis automatically and shows you the best options immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vacation Planning 2026 & 2027
How many bridge days are there in 2026?
The number of bridge days in 2026 depends on your region, as public holidays vary. Several holidays fall on weekdays, enabling extended weekends. With strategic vacation planning, you can combine these into many consecutive days off.
How many bridge days are there in 2027?
In 2027, several holidays also fall on weekdays. This creates attractive opportunities for long weekends. The exact number of usable bridge days varies by region and individual vacation situation.
What are bridge days?
Bridge days are workdays between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking vacation on this day creates an extended weekend with several consecutive days off. This strategy is especially worthwhile for holidays on Thursdays or Tuesdays.
How can I make the most of bridge days?
Bridge days can be optimally used by strategically placing vacation days before or after a holiday. This creates longer consecutive breaks with minimal use of vacation days. A vacation planner automatically calculates the best combination.
How many vacation days am I legally entitled to?
In Germany, the legal minimum vacation is 20 days for a 5-day work week. However, many employers grant 25 to 30 vacation days. The potential for bridge days increases significantly depending on the number of available days.
Is vacation planning around holidays really worth it?
Yes. Through strategic planning around holidays in 2026 and 2027, significantly more days off can be achieved without using additional vacation days. Long recovery periods are possible, especially when holidays fall favorably.
Does the vacation planner work for every state?
Yes. Public holidays differ between states. The vacation planner automatically considers your state and calculates the optimal combination for your region.
Can I also plan a custom time period?
In addition to the calendar year 2026 or 2027, a rolling 12-month period can also be planned. This allows vacation planning to be flexibly adapted to your personal situation.
Get the Most Out of Your Vacation
Many people miss out on valuable bridge days every year because they don't strategically use public holidays 2026 and 2027.
The vacation planner calculates the best combinations for 2026 and 2027 in seconds.
Maximize my days off now
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