How to Maximize Your Congés in 2027: A Strategic Guide for Workers in France
Turn your 25 congés payés into 49 days off in 2027. Use every French public holiday and pont to stretch your time off, with our free strategy.
French workers are entitled to a minimum of 25 congés payés (paid leave days) per year. On top of that, France has 11 public holidays, and in 2027 several of them fall perfectly for creating extended breaks.
By strategically placing your leave around the 2027 public holiday calendar, you can turn 25 days into 56+ days off across the year.
This guide shows you exactly when to book for maximum time off in 2027.
Plan Your 2027 Congés Visually
See your entire year at a glance. Mark days off, track your remaining allowance, and coordinate with your partner or team, all in one place.
2027 French Public Holidays (Jours Fériés)
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Friday | Nouvel An (New Year's Day) |
| March 29 | Monday | Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday) |
| May 1 | Saturday | Fête du travail (Labour Day) |
| May 6 | Thursday | Ascension (Ascension Day) |
| May 8 | Saturday | Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Victory Day) |
| May 17 | Monday | Lundi de Pentecôte (Whit Monday) |
| July 14 | Wednesday | Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) |
| August 15 | Sunday | Assomption (Assumption Day) |
| November 1 | Monday | Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) |
| November 11 | Thursday | Armistice (Armistice Day) |
| December 25 | Saturday | Noël (Christmas Day) |
Note: August 15 falls on a Saturday and November 1 on a Sunday in 2027, so you effectively get 9 weekday public holidays. Workers in Alsace-Moselle also get Good Friday (April 3) and St Stephen's Day (December 26).
Month-by-Month Leave Strategy
January: New Year's Long Weekend
Public holiday: Nouvel An, Friday, January 1
- Already a 3-day weekend (Fri 1 to Sun 3 Jan)
- Hold your congés for the bigger plays ahead
March: Easter Long Weekend
Public holiday: Lundi de Pâques, Monday, March 29
- Already a 3-day weekend (Sat 27 to Mon 29 Mar)
- Strategy: Take off Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April (4 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 27 Mar to Sun 4 Apr)
May: Ascension Pont
Public holiday: Ascension, Thursday, May 6
- The classic French pont: take off Friday, May 7 (1 day)
- Result: 4-day weekend (Thu 6 to Sun 9 May)
- Upgrade: Take off Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 plus Friday 7 (4 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 1 to Sun 9 May)
- Fête du travail (May 1) and Victoire 1945 (May 8) both fall on Saturdays in 2027, so this ponte carries the whole month
- Lundi de Pentecôte, Monday, May 17 adds a free 3-day weekend
July: Bastille Day Week
Public holiday: Fête Nationale, Wednesday, July 14
- A mid-week holiday, perfect for a double bridge
- Strategy: Take off Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 (2 days) for 5 days off (Sat 10 to Wed 14 Jul)
- Better: Take off Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 (4 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 10 to Sun 18 Jul)
- Assomption falls on a Sunday in 2027, so August gives you nothing extra
November: The Double Opportunity
Public holidays: Toussaint, Monday, November 1 and Armistice, Thursday, November 11
- Toussaint gives a free 3-day weekend (Sat 30 Oct to Mon 1 Nov)
- Strategy for Armistice: Take off Friday, November 12 (1 day)
- Result: 4-day weekend (Thu 11 to Sun 14 Nov)
- Big play: Take off Friday 12 November plus the 4 days between the holidays only if you want a massive break: November 2 to 5 and 8 to 10 cost 7 days for 16 days off (Sat 30 Oct to Sun 14 Nov)
December: Christmas Bridge
Public holiday: Noël, Saturday, December 25
- Christmas falls on a Saturday in 2027, and New Year's Day 2028 does too
- Strategy: Take off Monday 27 to Friday 31 December (5 days)
- Result: 9 days off (Sat 25 Dec to Sun 2 Jan 2028)
The 25-Day Leave Plan
The French statutory minimum is 25 working days of congés payés. Here's how to turn them into 50+ days off:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's (free) | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 4 | 9 | Mar 27 – Apr 4 |
| Ascension week | 4 | 9 | May 1–9 |
| Pentecost (free) | 0 | 3 | May 15–17 |
| Bastille week | 4 | 9 | Jul 10–18 |
| Toussaint (free) | 0 | 3 | Oct 30 – Nov 1 |
| Armistice bridge | 1 | 4 | Nov 11–14 |
| Christmas + New Year | 5 | 9 | Dec 25 – Jan 2 |
| Total | 18 | 49 | Year-round |
That's 49 days off using just 18 of your 25 days. The remaining 7 days are enough for a full summer week, taking you past 55 days off for the year.
The 30-Day Leave Plan
With 30 days (statutory plus RTT or fractionnement days) you can take the November marathon:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's (free) | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 4 | 9 | Mar 27 – Apr 4 |
| Ascension week | 4 | 9 | May 1–9 |
| Bastille week | 4 | 9 | Jul 10–18 |
| Summer holiday | 5 | 9 | Your pick in August |
| November marathon | 7 | 16 | Oct 30 – Nov 14 |
| Christmas + New Year | 5 | 9 | Dec 25 – Jan 2 |
| Total | 29 | 68 | Year-round |
That's 68 days off, the best total of the European guides this year. The 16-day November block alone is worth more than many people's entire summer holiday.
All 2027 Opportunities at a Glance
Here's every public holiday opportunity for mix-and-match planning:
| Break | Leave Days Used | Total Days Off | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's | 0 | 3 | Jan 1–3 |
| Easter | 0 | 3 | Mar 27–29 |
| Ascension | 1 | 4 | May 6–9 |
| Whit Monday | 0 | 3 | May 15–17 |
| Bastille Day | 2 | 5 | Jul 10–14 |
| All Saints | 0 | 3 | Oct 30 – Nov 1 |
| Armistice | 1 | 4 | Nov 11–14 |
Pick the breaks that matter most. With just 25 congés payés, you can get 64 days off in 2027.
Tips to Maximise Your Congés
1. Book Early, Especially May
May is the most contested month in France. Submit your leave requests as early as possible, ideally in January, to secure the ponts and extended breaks.
2. Know Your Convention Collective
Your convention collective (industry agreement) may grant extra leave days on top of the legal minimum, for example, for seniority, family events, or specific holidays. Check with your employer.
3. Coordinate with Your Partner
Planning holidays with a partner or family? Use TimeOffCalendar to see both schedules side by side and avoid booking conflicts.
4. Track Your Balance
Between congés payés, RTT, and fractionnement days, it's easy to lose count. TimeOffCalendar automatically tracks your remaining balance as you mark days off.
5. Use the Pont Strategy
The pont (bridge) is a French tradition, taking a day off between a public holiday and the weekend. In 2027, the best ponts are:
- Friday January 2 (after New Year's Thursday)
- Friday May 15 (after Ascension Thursday)
- Monday July 13 (before Bastille Day Tuesday)
- Thursday–Friday November 12–13 (after Armistice Wednesday)
6. Don't Forget Fractionnement
If you take leave outside the main summer period (May 1 – October 31), you may be entitled to extra jours de fractionnement, up to 2 additional days. Check your company's policy.
Why Strategic Leave Planning Matters
French workers enjoy some of the most generous leave entitlements in Europe, but many still don't make the most of it. Planning ahead means:
- Better travel deals, booking months in advance saves hundreds
- First pick of dates, before your colleagues claim the same weeks
- More quality time, coordinated holidays with your partner and family
- Regular breaks, spread throughout the year to prevent burnout
Make Every Congé Count
Join thousands of people who plan their time off smarter. See your whole year, track your allowance, and coordinate with your partner, completely free for individual use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does France have in 2027?
France has 11 public holidays in 2027. Four fall on weekends (May 1, May 8, August 15 and Christmas), leaving 7 weekday holidays. The good news: several land on Thursdays, which creates easy ponts.
What is the minimum paid leave in France?
Full-time workers are entitled to 25 congés payés (paid leave days) per year. Many workers get additional RTT days, bringing the total to 30+.
What is RTT?
RTT (Réduction du Temps de Travail) days are additional paid days off given to employees who work more than 35 hours per week on paper. The number varies by company, typically 5–12 extra days per year.
What are the best months to take leave in France in 2027?
November (Toussaint plus Armistice) can give you 16 days off for 7 leave days. July gets you 9 days around the Wednesday Bastille Day, and May delivers an easy 9 days for 4 around Ascension.
What is fractionnement?
If you take some of your main leave entitlement (the 4th and 5th weeks) outside the period May 1 – October 31, you may earn 1–2 extra days called jours de fractionnement.
Start planning your 2027 congés today with TimeOffCalendar, see your entire year at a glance and never waste a leave day again.