School holiday destinations
How UK school breaks compare with school calendars across Europe and the USA — which weeks clash, which are clear, and the quietest windows for UK families.
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Europe
Austria4-day Oct break overlaps UK half-term exactly. Ski resorts peak in February.
Belgium3 communities, 3 calendars. French community spring break is late April, not Easter.
BulgariaGrades 1–3 finish 30 May — earliest in Europe. No October break; UK half-term is in Bulgarian term time.
CroatiaNo Oct half-term since 2025. Dalmatia is quieter and cheaper in late October.
Czech RepublicAutumn break is just 2 days. UK October half-term arrives after Czech schools have already returned.
CyprusSummer runs to early September. UK Oct half-term falls in full Cypriot term time.
DenmarkWeek 42 autumn break ends just before UK half-term - narrow quiet window.
DubaiWinter-sun peak is UK Christmas, February half-term and Easter. Local schools break in the Jul–Aug heat, when residents leave and prices ease.
EgyptRed Sea and Nile peak from UK October half-term through Easter. A German, Polish and Czech summer wave fills Hurghada and Sharm in July–August.
FinlandSchools finish late May — 8-week quiet window before UK summer. Syysloma clashes directly with UK October half-term.
France3 zones. Zone B (Paris) breaks last - key if you're planning Disneyland Paris.
Germany16 states, own calendars. Bavaria's autumn break falls in November, not October.
GreeceOrthodox Easter can be 5 weeks after Western Easter. Oct half-term is a clear window.
IcelandSchools finish 10 June — six weeks before UK. Late June to mid-July is the best-value quiet window.
IrelandSingle national calendar. Aligns closely with England; summer starts a week earlier.
Italy5 regional zones. Summer ends mid-September - early Sep still has Italian families away.
MaltaNo Oct half-term. Early July is quiet before the Maltese school summer begins.
MoroccoNo Christmas break. Schools close 4 July — 17 days before England. UK half-term arrives as Morocco returns to school.
Netherlands3 regions stagger breaks. Dutch summer starts 18 July 2026 - before UK schools finish.
NorwayAutumn break in early Oct, 3 weeks before UK half-term. Summer starts late June.
PolandNo Oct half-term. UK October half-term is the quietest week in Kraków and Warsaw.
PortugalAlgarve peak tracks Portuguese school summer (late June to mid-September).
SloveniaSchools finish late June — 4-week window before English schools break. Oct half-term clashes with Slovenia's own autumn break.
Spain19 regions, own calendars. Most share a Semana Santa break at Easter.
SwedenHöstlov falls in the same week as UK October half-term. Sportlov stagger means Stockholm is quiet during UK February half-term.
Switzerland26 cantons, 3 zones. Herbstferien ends before UK October half-term. February Sportferien is ski resort peak.
TurkeyNo Christmas break - schools run through late December. Oct half-term is quiet.
North America US overview →
CaliforniaDisneyland, Universal Hollywood. LAUSD summer starts mid-June, two weeks later than Florida.
FloridaDisney World, Universal Orlando. Schools out from late May - quieter early June window before UK summer.
New YorkNYC schools finish late June — 3.5-week quiet window before UK summer. February half-term falls on exactly the same dates as NYC mid-winter recess.
Also planning a UK trip? See the UK attractions guide for theme park and family destination demand by week.