In June, the summer holidays often still seem far away. Then, suddenly, the last day of school is just around the corner, the children are excited, and parents realize: six to nine weeks need to be organized somehow. Childcare, vacation days, excursions, grandparents, work, budget, and a bit of relaxation for everyone.
For the 2025/2026 school year, the Ministry of Education states that the summer holidays begin on July 4, 2026, for Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna. In Carinthia, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg, the holidays begin on July 11, 2026. This is exactly why now is a good time to roughly sort out the family weeks.
First, get the calendar honest
It is best not to start with big excursion plans, but with a sober calendar. Which weeks are already covered by vacation? When do both parents work? Are there grandparent days, childcare, camps, club offers, or days off? As soon as these fixed points are visible, the summer becomes more manageable.
I would mark the holiday calendar in three colors:
- Fixed childcare:Vacation, camp, grandparents, after-school care, reliable childcare.
- Half open:one parent can finish early, home office is possible, but not perfect.
- Still unresolved:this actively requires a solution.
This takes the pressure off because you no longer have to solve "the whole holiday" but can see concrete gaps.
Check childcare and camps in good time
Many municipalities, clubs, and organizations offer day camps, sports weeks, creative activities, or excursions during the holidays. oesterreich.gv.at points out that in addition to camps with overnight stays, there are also day camps, and many municipalities organize their own holiday care. It is particularly helpful to search locally first: municipality, school, sports club, music school, parishes, Kinderfreunde, Naturfreunde, Alpine Club, or youth centers.
It is not just the price that is important. You should also check:
- Age and group size
- Drop-off and pick-up times
- Catering and allergies
- Bad weather program
- Cancellation conditions
- whether siblings can participate together
Set a budget before the wish list grows
Summer holidays can quickly become expensive: entrance fees, ice cream, swimming pool, train tickets, gas, camps, snack boxes, and spontaneous excursions. That is why a weekly budget helps. Not as a killjoy, but as a guide.
A simple division works well:
- one major excursion per week
- one free or cheap outdoor day
- one day at home with crafts, cooking, games, or gardening
- one flexible day for weather, fatigue, or spontaneous ideas
This way, children still have highlights, but not every day needs to be a program with an entrance ticket.
A small list of ideas against boredom
When everyone is tired, you often can't think of anything. A prepared list of ideas saves nerves. It is best to write it together with the children and hang it up where it is visible.
- Picnic in the park or at the playground
- Visit the library or bookshop
- Water games in the garden or on the balcony
- Try out a bike or scooter route
- Zoo, museum, or nature park
- Invite friends over to play
- cook a simple summer dish together
- Rainy day: home cinema, board games, crafts, rearranging the room
For teenagers, the list can look different: city walk, photo tour, swimming pool, sports field, cheap day trip by public transport, cooking together, or a consciously free afternoon without a family program.
Think about heat and snacks
In summer, preparation often determines whether an excursion remains relaxing. Water bottles, sun hats, light snacks, wet wipes, plasters, and a small cooler bag are packed quickly and save money on the go. On hot days, it is better to start in the morning and keep the midday heat quieter.
For food on the go: keep sensitive food cool and do not leave it in the sun for hours. Especially for picnics, swimming pools, or car trips, a cooler bag is worth it.
Also plan breaks
Children need holidays, but so do parents. There doesn't have to be an experience every day. Some of the best holiday days are slow: long breakfasts, splashing in the garden, visiting friends, eating ice cream, sitting outside in the evening.
That is why the calendar should also consciously include: nothing. No camp, no excursion, no to-do list. Especially after the school year, an empty day is often good for everyone.
My 20-minute holiday planning
- Enter summer holiday dates for your own federal state.
- Mark vacation days and fixed childcare.
- Make open childcare gaps visible.
- Check local holiday offers and camps.
- Set a budget per week.
- Write a list of ideas together with the children.
- Prepare an excursion bag with basic items.
- Plan at least one free day per week.
This way, the summer won't be perfect, but it will be much easier. And that is exactly what it is about: enough structure so that everyday life works, and enough air so that holidays really remain holidays.
Caution
- Excursions with children in Lower Austria
- 10 excursion destinations for families around Vienna
- Excursions with teenagers in Vienna
- The Best Game Ideas for the Beach or Outdoor Pool
- The best recipes for a picnic
- Travel checklist: What do you need on vacation?
Sources and further information
- Federal Ministry of Education: School holidays in Austria in the 2025/2026 school year
- oesterreich.gv.at: Holiday care and holiday camps for young people
- oesterreich.gv.at: Addresses and further information on childcare
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
