School holidays

Children's Education

School holidays in Spain: 2024 and 2025

Here is a list of school holidays in Spain so you can plan ahead for activities and childcare (because parents also need a break sometimes).

School holidays Spain
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Updated 3-9-2024

School holidays in Spain

Spanish school holidays are set by the regional autonomous communities. Not every region will have its holidays at exactly the same time, although differences for the main holidays are usually small and will take place within a set time period.

Father and child look at map while sitting on deckchair at La Molina ski resort
La Molina (Photo: Sergi Reboredo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Spanish primary schools and their secondary counterparts all have breaks for the following occasions:

  • Christmas (around two weeks off)
  • Easter (one to two weeks off)
  • Summer holidays (around 11–12 weeks)
  • Spanish public holidays
  • Regional celebratory days

Some schools may also have a break for carnival, although this differs by region.

International schools in Spain may differ in their schedules from the state-run schools. If your child attends an international school, check the school holiday calendar rather than relying on the information given by your autonomous community.

Spanish families typically spend school holiday time getting together to celebrate festivities such as Christmas, taking family vacations or going on a trip, or planning activities for kids.

Spanish school holiday dates 2024–2025

The following are the 2024–25 school holidays across Spain’s north, central, south, and island regions.

Be sure to check with your child’s school and/or local autonomous community for more information on exact dates.

North Spain school holidays 2024–2025

RegionFirst day of school*Christmas holidaysCarnival holidaysEaster holidaysLast day of school
Aragon9 September 202420 December 2024 – 7 January 2025No carnival holidays14–21 April 202520 June 2025
Asturias10 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 202528 February – 4 March 202514–20 April 202520 June 2025
Basque Country2 September 202424 December 2024 – 6 January 2025No carnival holidays17–21 April 202520 June 2025
Cantabria9 September 2024 (primary schools)
10 September 2024 (secondary schools)
23 December – 7 January 202524–28 February 202517–25 April 202523 June 2025 (primary schools)
24 June 2025 (secondary schools)
Castile and León6 September 2024 (primary schools)
12 September 2024 (secondary schools)
21 December 2024 – 7 January 20253–4 March 202512–23 April 202513 July 2025 (secondary schools)
23 July 2025 (primary schools)
Catalonia9 September 202421 December 2024 – 7 January 2025No carnival holidays12–21 April 202520 June 2025
Galicia11 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 20253–5 March 202514–21 April 202520 June 2025
La Rioja9 September 202423 December 2024 – 6 January 2025No carnival holidays14–21 April 202523 June 2025
Navarre5 September 202421 December 2024 – 7 January 2025No carnival holidays17–27 April 202518 June 2025
*The first and last days of school vary according to the type of education – here, the dates are given for primary and secondary schools.
† Cantabria also has a holiday for All Saints: 28 October – 1 November 2024.

Central Spain school holidays 2024–2025

RegionFirst day of school*Christmas holidaysCarnival holidaysEaster holidaysLast day of school
Castille La Mancha10 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 20253–4 March 202514–21 April 202518 June 2025
Extremadura11 September 202422 December 2024 – 5 January 20253–4 March 202514–21 April 202520 June 2025
Madrid9 September 2024 (primary schools)
10 September 2024 (secondary schools)
23 December 2024 – 7 January 2025No carnival holidays11–21 April 202520 June 2025
Valencia9 September 202423 December 2024 – 6 January 2025No carnival holidays17–28 April 202518 June 2025
*The first and last days of school vary according to the type of education – here, the dates are given for primary and secondary schools.

South Spain school holidays 2024–2025

RegionFirst day of school*Christmas holidaysEaster holidaysLast day of school
Andalusia10 September 2024 (primary schools)
16 September 2024 (secondary schools)
23 December 2024 – 7 January 202514–20 April 202523 June 2025 (primary schools)
24 June 2025 (secondary schools)
Ceuta9 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 202514–21 April 202523 June 2025
Melila9 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 202514–21 April 202523 June 2025
Murcia9 September 2024 (primary schools)
10 September 2024 (secondary schools)
24 December 2024 – 6 January 202514–21 April 202515 July 2025
*The first and last days of school vary according to the type of education – here, the dates are given for primary and secondary schools.

Spanish island regions school holidays 2024–2025

RegionFirst day of schoolChristmas holidaysEaster holidaysLast day of school
Balearic Islands11 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 202517–27 April 202520 June 2025
Canary Islands9 September 202423 December 2024 – 7 January 202514–18 April 202520 June 2025
*The first and last days of school vary according to the type of education – here, the dates are given for primary and secondary schools.

All dates subject to change.

Additional holidays and days off

The following dates are national holiday days that are also school holidays in Spain. Should these dates fall on a weekend, most communities will make the following Monday a public holiday:

DatePublic holiday
12 OctoberSpanish National Day
1 NovemberAll Saints’ Day
6 DecemberSpanish Constitution Day
1 MayLabor Day
15 AugustAssumption of Mary (always falls within the summer break)

There are also regional holidays that apply to one or more regions. Some holidays such as Three Kings (6 January) and Immaculate Conception (8 December) apply to several of the regions. Check with your autonomous community or local school for details.

Individual schools may also have their own internal days off for things such as teacher training or pupil book days. For full details, check with your local school or visit the school’s website. Schools usually publish calendar dates on their websites.

Childcare during school holidays in Spain

If you work during the Spanish school holidays, you may need to arrange childcare for your kids. In Spain, public childcare is more limited than in many northern European countries, and there tends to be more reliance on family members and informal networks for care.

Grandchild and grandmother play Connect Four indoors
Photo: Roberto Jimenez Mejias/Getty Images

Summer is usually the biggest issue for families in Spain, as the break is longer than average. However, there is some provision in certain regions for primary school children.

Here are some options for childcare during school holidays:

  • Holiday centers: In Madrid, these centers provide recreational and educational activities in English for children aged 3–12. Breakfast and lunch are included but places are limited, and there is a charge. Check the Madrid City Council website for what programs are on offer.
  • Language summer camp: These camps are privately run and have a mix of Spanish and international children. They provide an opportunity for kids to mix, learn Spanish and English, and take part in fun and learning activities. Popular providers include Enforex who run camps for kids aged 5–18 in several regions (including Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga), and Don Quijote who run eight camps across the country.
  • Professional childminders, nannies, au pairs, or babysitters: You can always hire a childminder to take care of your child from the comfort of your home. Websites like Sitly.es have plenty of babysitters and nannies to choose from all across Spain.
Author

Gary Buswell

About the author

Based in London, Gary has been freelancing for Expatica since 2016. An expert writer with experience in social research and community development, he focuses on topics such as politics and current affairs, healthcare, recruitment, human rights and migration.

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