Do you want to get more out of your holiday without using more vacation days than necessary? Then it is smart to plan for public holidays in 2026. By combining holidays, weekends and a few days off, you can get longer uninterrupted time off – perfect for a weekend break, a city break or a trip to the sun over Christmas.
The FOREX guide to public holidays 2026 will help you maximize your time off and give tips on destinations that are particularly suitable in connection with the holidays. It also provides an overview of the currency and payments at the destinations.
Here are the most important holidays to plan around to maximize the time off:
Spring
Winter
Common half-days/weekend evenings:
This is the part many people miss – but which makes the biggest difference.
You can maximize your time off by finding a period of public holidays close to a weekend or intervening days. Then you get a longer continuous trip without using an unnecessary number of days.
Public holidays:
Maximize the holiday at Easter
Extend the four-day Easter weekend – which in itself is perfect for a weekend getaway – with four days of vacation the following week and you'll have 10 days of continuous leave. Easter is perfect for a city weekend. Far away, easy to plan and often a good selection of flights.
| Destinations | Reason | Currency | Cash use |
| An affordable favorite with beautiful architecture and cozy neighborhoods. | Czech koruna (CZK) | 30% | |
| Classic weekend with culture, cafés and shopping. | Euro (EUR) | 40% | |
| Close, convenient and perfect for a spontaneous trip. | Danish krone (DKK) | 12% | |
| City pulse, musicals, restaurants and shopping. | British pound (GBP) | 12% |
May is one of the smartest months of the year to travel – often with pleasant weather and good opportunities to combine holidays with holidays.
Three days off without vacation days
Four days off with one day off
| Destinations | Reason | Currency | Cash use |
| Spa, good food and beautiful views – perfect for a long weekend. | Hungarian forint (HUF) | 55% | |
| Spring feeling, canals and weekend pace. | Euro (EUR) | 20% | |
| History, gelato and evening walks. | Euro (EUR) | 62% | |
| Affordable city break in charming old town. | Polish zloty (PLN) | 45% | |
| Sun, tapas and big city life in a perfect mix. | Euro (EUR) | 57% |
There are no public holidays in July and August, but since this is when most Swedes take their holidays, it is worth being out in good time. Especially if you want to travel to classic summer favorites.
| Destinations | Reason | Currency | Cash use |
| Island life with beaches, blue sea, sun | Euro (EUR) | 55% | |
| Pasta, sun and wine tastings make for a perfect summer | Euro (EUR) | 62% | |
| Architecture and views mixed with sun and swimming | Euro (EUR) | 50% | |
| A classic that never fails during the summer | Euro (EUR) | 57% |
Christmas and New Year are one of the most popular travel periods of the year. Many people want to combine time off with warmth, the beach or a complete change of scenery.
Commonly used half-days/days off
With all the public holidays falling during the Christmas period, you can go on a long trip without using too many vacation days. Take eight days off (or six if you're one of the lucky ones to have a day off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) and be off for 19 days, from Saturday 19 December through Wednesday 6 January 2027. Perfect for going to the sun in other parts of the world.
| Destinations | Reason | Currency | Cash use |
| Tropical classic that always delivers | Thai Baht (THB) | 46% | |
| A Swedish classic for sun and swimming. | Euro (EUR) | 57% | |
| New favorite among Swedish travelers for warmth. | Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) Euro (EUR) |
60% | |
| Bali is a favorite that is often combined with a trip to Thailand | Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) | 70% |
When planning your trip, it's smart to keep track of: