How many holiday days do you get in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria?

Quick Answer

• Portugal: at least 22 working days of paid leave, plus 13 national public holidays

• Spain: about 22 working days of paid leave, plus up to 14 public holidays

• Greece: at least 20 working days, rising to 22 after two years of service, plus 13 public holidays

• Bulgaria: at least 20 working days, plus 13 official public holidays

• Public holidays are not deducted from your holiday days in any of the four

• These are legal minimums; your own contract can offer more

How many holiday days do you get in Portugal?

Portuguese law sets the minimum at 22 working days of paid holiday a year. On top of that come 13 national public holidays, and every town has its own local holiday as well. In Lisbon that is 13 June for Santo António, in Porto 24 June for São João, and both turn into all-night street parties rather than quiet days at home.

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How many holiday days do you get in Spain?

In Spain the minimum is about 22 working days of paid leave a year, so roughly four and a half weeks. On top of that you get up to 14 public holidays. Two of those are chosen by your own town, which is why the calendar looks different in Valencia, Málaga and Barcelona.

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How many holiday days do you get in Greece?

In Greece the minimum is 20 working days in your first year on a five-day working week. That goes up to 21 in your second year and 22 from your third, and after ten years with the same employer it reaches 25. Greece counts 13 public holidays a year, separate from your leave.

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How many holiday days do you get in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria sets the minimum at 20 working days of paid leave a year, alongside 13 official public holidays. One rule is written into the labour code and applies wherever you work: when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes a day off instead. That quietly adds a few long weekends to the calendar.

Read more about working in Bulgaria and what daily life there looks like.

Do public holidays count as your holiday days?

No. In all four countries a public holiday is counted separately from your annual leave, so it never comes off your balance. What it does not mean is that you are automatically free that day. In customer service and content moderation the queue keeps running, so you could be scheduled on a public holiday.

If that happens, you get something in return. Some employers give you a replacement day off, others pay a supplement on top of your salary. Which of the two applies to you is set by your employer and your contract, so ask about it before you start rather than when the first roster comes out. Our frequently asked questions cover what else to check before you sign.

When you are off on a local holiday, you actually see what people here celebrate. Half the street is out, everyone is happy to explain it to you twice, and you soak up more of the culture in one afternoon than in a month of walking past it.

How many holiday days do you get in your first year?

Fewer than the numbers above, in all three countries. You build up your holiday hours month by month, so what you can take in April is what you have earned by April, not a full year of leave. There is usually a waiting period before you can use your first days as well, and how long that is differs per country and per employer.

Many employers also keep your first months free of leave, because you start with training and onboarding. Some projects have busy periods on top of that, when time off is limited for the whole team. None of this is unusual, but it does mean the annual number says little about your first months, so ask your recruiter or the employer how it works in your role.

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