Long weekends and bank holidays in Italy 2027: making the most of a stingy year

Let's say it straight away: the 2027 calendar is not a generous one. 25 April falls on a Sunday, 1 May on a Saturday, Ferragosto on a Sunday, and both Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day end up on the weekend. Four holidays that are, in practice, lost.

With a little planning, though, 2027 can still be saved: there are four long weekends that don't cost a single day off, several bridges that turn 2 days off into 5 days of holiday, and a few 9-day windows. And with St Francis' Day on 4 October back as a national holiday, the autumn turns out surprisingly well.

We've lined up all the dates, together with the group trips we're preparing.

New Year and Epiphany: a good start

1 January 2027 is a Friday: a long weekend from the 1st to the 3rd with no days off. Epiphany is Wednesday 6: take Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 off and you're away from 1 to 6 January, six days for just two days of leave.

February: Socotra, the island of dragon trees

There are no holidays in February, but it's the best month for Socotra: calm sea and temperatures between 20 and 30 °C. From 2 to 9 February 2027 we'll explore it by 4x4, camping in the island's most beautiful spots:

• the dragon's blood trees of the Dixam plateau and the Firmihin forest
• the white dunes of Arher and Zahek
• the turquoise Detwah lagoon and Shoab beach, reachable only by boat
• snorkelling in the Dihamri marine reserve

Dates depend on the charter flight from Jeddah and are confirmed once 10 people have joined: if you're interested, get in touch soon.

March: northern lights in Lapland and an early Easter

March is one of the best months to see the aurora borealis, and we'll be in Lapland twice:

• Lapland: chasing the northern lights, 4 days from 4 to 7 March: Thursday to Sunday, so 2 days off are enough
• Finnish Lapland: beyond the Arctic Circle, 6 days from 8 to 13 March, flights included and three nights hunting the aurora as far north as Inari

Easter 2027 is Sunday 28 March, with Easter Monday on the 29th: a three-day weekend with no days off, perfect for a European capital at the start of spring.

25 April and 1 May: Uzbekistan in the bridge you can build

This year the two spring holidays fall on a Sunday and a Saturday, so no free bridge. They are very close, though: take 5 days off, from 26 to 30 April, and you get 9 days in a row, from Saturday 24 April to Sunday 2 May.

It's the longest window of the year for a long-haul trip, and we'll use it for Uzbekistan. Spring is the best season to go, with mild days before the summer heat, and the right time to discover the cities of the Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, with their turquoise domes, madrasas and bazaars. Dates and itinerary are coming soon: message us if you want to be among the first to know.

2 June: a first taste of summer

2 June is a Wednesday. Two options:

• with 2 days off (31 May and 1 June, or 3 and 4 June) you get 5 days of holiday
• with 4 days off you're away for 9 days, from Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June

The right time for the first beach of the year or a nature trip before high season.

Ferragosto in the Azores

In 2027 Ferragosto falls on a Sunday and gives no extra days. For those who take their holidays in August, though, it's the heart of summer, and we'll spend it in the Azores, leaving on 7 or 8 August.

Volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, where summer is never scorching: lakes inside craters, bright green hills and hydrangeas, hot springs and an ocean where you can spot whales and dolphins. A perfect alternative to crowded August beaches.

Second half of September: Canada

September has no holidays, but it's one of the best months to travel: high season is over and the weather is still pleasant. In the second half of September we'll leave for Canada, just as nature starts turning to autumn colours. Dates and itinerary are coming soon.

Autumn: two long weekends in one month

This is the real surprise of 2027. Since 2026 4 October, St Francis' Day, is a national holiday again, and in 2027 it falls on a Monday: a long weekend from 2 to 4 October with no days off.

Four weeks later comes All Saints' Day, Monday 1 November: another long weekend, from 30 October to 1 November, again with no days off. Two chances for a city break, autumn colours or a taste of a European city in the fall.

Second half of November: Japan off the beaten track

In the second half of November we're going back to Japan, but away from the usual routes: a trip for those who want to see the country beyond the postcards, in places few tourists reach. It's also momiji season, when the maples turn red. Dates and itinerary are coming soon.

Immaculate Conception bridge 2027

8 December is a Wednesday. Take Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 off and you're away from 4 to 8 December; add two more days (9 and 10) and you get 9 days, from 4 to 12 December.

If you live in Milan it's even better: St Ambrose's Day is Tuesday 7, so a single day off is enough for the five-day bridge.

Christmas and New Year: on a Saturday

Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day fall on Saturday and Sunday, and 1 January 2028 is a Saturday too. If you can afford 5 days off from 27 to 31 December, though, you get 9 days in a row, from Christmas to 2 January: ideal for a trip somewhere warm or a New Year's Eve far from home.

2027 at a glance

Long weekends with no days off:

• 1–3 January
• 27–29 March (Easter)
• 2–4 October (St Francis)
• 30 October – 1 November (All Saints)

With 2 days off:

• 1–6 January (6 days)
• 29 May – 2 June (5 days)
• 4–8 December (5 days)

The 9-day windows:

• 24 April – 2 May, with 5 days off
• 29 May – 6 June, with 4 days off
• 4–12 December, with 4 days off
• 25 December – 2 January 2028, with 5 days off

Our 2027 group trips:

• Socotra, 2–9 February
• Lapland, 4–7 March and 8–13 March
• Uzbekistan, over the late April and early May holidays
• Azores, leaving on 7 or 8 August
• Canada, second half of September
• Japan, second half of November

Why travel as a group in a year like this

When bridges are scarce, every free day counts double and shouldn't be wasted on planning. With our group trips:

• dates are chosen to fit the calendar
• the itinerary is ready and every day is put to good use
• you travel with people who share the same curiosity

Want to know more about the trips planned for 2027? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll help you choose the right one.