Hong Kong Public Holidays 2025: Plan Ahead To Maximise Annual Leave

Looking to make the most of the Hong Kong public holidays in 2025? Here’s when to book your annual leave!

We’ve picked our word of the year and it is TRAVEL! So, to get set for the year of adventuring ahead, you’ll want to know how best to use your annual leave to maximise each and every weekend getaway. Whether you’re looking for a wellness retreat to reset and refresh or a city break that’s an easy direct flight away, here’s how to maximise your holiday time in 2025.

Read on to discover our top tips for maximising your time off…

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Hong Kong Public Holidays 2025

The Hong Kong 2025 public holidays are set out by the government each year. Saturday is considered a work day for many in Hong Kong, so when a public holiday falls on a Saturday there is no extra weekday given. A shame for those of us working Monday to Friday, but at least we’ve only got two public holidays falling on a Saturday this year! However, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be given as a day off.

• New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January, 2025
• Lunar New Year: Wednesday, 29 January to Friday, 31 January, 2025
• Ching Ming Festival: Friday, 4 April, 2025
• Easter: Friday, 18 to Monday, 21 April, 2025
• Labour Day: Thursday, 1 May, 2025
• Buddha’s Birthday: Monday, 5 May, 2025
• Dragon Boat Festival: Saturday, 31 May, 2025
• Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day: Tuesday, 1 July, 2025
• National Day: Wednesday, 1 October, 2025
• The Day Following Mid-Autumn Festival: Tuesday, 7 October, 2025
• Chung Yeung Festival: Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
• Christmas: Thursday, 25 December and Friday, 26 December, 2025

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Lunar New Year Public Holidays 2025

Chinese New Year will take place in late January this year. The streets are eerily quiet during Chinese New Year, so make the most of fewer crowds, cooler weather and traditional festive happenings to get out and explore the city.

Travelling over the Chinese New Year public holiday in 2025

• Get your health back on track in 2025, by booking a wellness retreat in Asia.
• Oh, how we’ve longed for the white sand beaches of Thailand! Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta are all stunning at this time of year.
• Catch the Australian summer in all its glory.
• Snow bunnies should hop over to hit the slopes in Hokkaido.

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 29 to Friday, 31 January, 2025
Book off: Monday, 27 and Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Annual leave days used: 2
Days holiday: 9

Read More: All The Essential Things To Know Before Travelling To China

Ching Ming And Easter Public Holidays In 2025

Unfortunately this year, the Ching Ming and Easter public holidays are too far apart to combine them into one grand adventure (unless you’re willing to book nine days off in one go!) but you can still make do with two shorter trips when the public holidays so conveniently land on a Friday.

Where to go for the Easter public holidays in 2025

• Channel Indiana Jones as you explore the ancient wonders of Jordan.
• Visit the New Zealand vineyards (just in time for the annual wine harvest!).
• The heat of the blazing summer makes April a great time to book a South African safari.

Sassy Tip: Check the public holiday opening hours at your destination because some tourist providers in western destinations may close for the holiday.

2025 Public holiday: Friday, 4 April (Ching Ming); Friday, 18 to Monday, 21 April, 2025 (Easter)
Book off: Thursday, 3 or Monday, 7 April (Ching Ming); Monday, 14 to Thursday, 17 April or Tuesday, 22 to Friday, 25 April (Easter)
Annual leave days used: 1 (Ching Ming); 4 (Easter)
Days holiday: 4 (Ching Ming); 10 (Easter)

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Labour Day And Buddha’s Birthday Hong Kong Public Holiday 2025

Since Buddha’s Birthday is on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, it changes on our Gregorian calendar year-to-year. In 2025, it happens to fall four days after Labour Day, giving us the perfect opportunity for a lovely five-day break. Not to mention, May is a great month of the year to travel! You’ll beat the crowds of July and August (not to mention the inflated prices and blazing heat) and tour providers are excited for the upcoming season (read: not exhausted!). 

Great holiday destinations for a combined Labour Day & Buddha’s Birthday trip

• In Penang, Malaysia you can lie on a golden sand beach in the morning, wander historic streets and take in fabulous murals in the afternoon and finish your day feasting on street snacks!
• If you’ve ever wondered about visiting outback Australia, May is the time to do it, the days are warm and not scorching, making it perfect to hike the desert dunes.
• Get your city fix by heading to bustling Busan, South Korea for some of the freshest seafood on the planet.
• Take in the dramatic cliffs and sparkling sea on a romantic coastal getaway to the Almafi Coast in Italy, before the summer crowds spoil your perfect Insta shots.

2025 Public holiday: Thursday, 1 May and Monday, 5 May, 2025
Book off: Friday, 2 May, 2025
Annual leave days used: 1
Days holiday: 5

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Dragon Boat Festival Public Holiday 2025

So this is the stray Saturday public holiday that we don’t get to redeem (the other is part of the Easter weekend) as it falls on 31 May, 2025. Of course you can still dip out of the super-busy Hong Kong streets for a few days, you just won’t really be maximising on your annual leave for it.

Where to travel for the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday

• Explore the lush jungles, see orangutans swinging from the trees and maybe even catch sea turtles hatching! It’s all within easy reach of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo.
• For a foodie adventure like no other book your tickets to Portugal and wine and dine your way through Porto and Lisbon.

2025 Public holiday: Saturday, 31 May, 2025
Book off: Monday, 26 to Friday, 30 May, 2025
Annual leave days used: 5
Days holiday: 9

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Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day 2025

This is a tricky one because Hong Kong is actually a great place to be on this particular public holiday what with all the deals available, but this year also offers the opportunity to take one day off and get a four day holiday so… maybe just spend it in the city on a little staycation or pop on over to Macau and explore our sister city?

2025 Public holiday: Tuesday, 1 July, 2025
Book off: Monday, 30 June, 2025
Annual leave days used: 1
Days holiday: 4

Read More: The Best Hong Kong Hotels & Staycation Packages

National Day And The Day Following Mid-Autumn Festival Public Holiday 2025

Whew! You’ve made it through three whole months without a public holiday, now you get to treat yourself to this: two public holidays six days apart — you know what that means!

Where to travel during the early October public holidays 2025

• Catch the end of Oktoberfest in Munich which wraps up on Sunday, 5 October, 2025.
• Singapore is always an easy destination full of fun, sun and shopping, just be careful you haven’t emptied out your bank account after spending a week there!

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 1 October and Tuesday, 7 October 2025
Book off: Thursday, 2, Friday, 3 and Monday, 6 October, 2025
Annual leave days used: 3
Days holiday: 7

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Chung Yeung Festival Public Holiday 2025

This is sure to be a fun one for those who love going all out for Halloween (and then need to recuperate for a few days) as the Chung Yeung Festival in 2025 is two days before the spookiest night of the year!

Quick getaways for the late October public holiday in 2025

• Head on over to Kerala, India and explore the canals by houseboat.
• The best time to catch the autumn foliage in Japan is mid-October to late November.

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
Book off: Thursday, 30, and Friday, 31 October 2025
Annual leave days used: 2
Days holiday: 5

Read More: 7 Beachside Weekend Getaways From Hong Kong

Christmas & New Year 2025 Public Holidays

It’s hard to imagine reaching the end of another year, but wherever you decide to spend the last days of 2025, it’s sure to be fabulous!

2025 Public holiday: Thursday, 25 December and Friday, 26 December (Christmas); Thursday, 1 January, 2026
Book off: Monday, 29, Tuesday, 30, Wednesday, 31 December 2025 and Friday, 2 January, 2026
Annual leave days used: 4
Days of leave: 11

Read More: Sassy’s Quick Guide To Macau

Editor’s Note: “Public Holidays In 2025: How to Maximise Your Annual Leave” was most recently updated in November 2024.