Can you believe it’s already 2025? It feels like just yesterday we were planning our New Year’s resolutions and looking ahead to the holidays. Now that we’re in the new year, it’s the perfect time to plan ahead and make the most of your time off.
What’s the best way to kick-start the year? Strategic planning of your leave days, of course. After all, when you’re immersed in work, having a long weekend or a holiday to look forward to can do wonders for your well-being. Plus, with the 2025 Singapore public holiday calendar providing some opportunities for clever planning, you can stretch your annual leave days to create more time off. Imagine this: you could get a grand total of 48 days off by using just 15 days of annual leave. Sounds too good to be true? Keep reading to learn how you can make it happen.
Singapore’s Public Holidays in 2025
In 2025, there are 11 official public holidays in Singapore. Here’s a quick look at them:
- New Year’s Day – 1 Jan 2025 (Wednesday)
- Chinese New Year – 29 Jan 2025 (Wednesday) & 30 Jan 2025 (Thursday)
- Hari Raya Puasa – 31 Mar 2025 (Monday)
- Good Friday – 18 Apr 2025 (Friday)
- Labour Day – 1 May 2025 (Thursday)
- Vesak Day – 12 May 2025 (Monday)
- Hari Raya Haji – 7 Jun 2025 (Saturday)
- National Day – 9 Aug 2025 (Saturday)
- Deepavali – 20 Oct 2025 (Monday)
- Christmas Day – 25 Dec 2025 (Thursday)
Out of these 11 holidays, four will create long weekends:
- Hari Raya Puasa – 31 Mar 2025 (Monday)
- Good Friday – 18 Apr 2025 (Friday)
- Vesak Day – 12 May 2025 (Monday)
- Deepavali – 20 Oct 2025 (Monday)
That’s already 12 days of holidays, but with a little planning, you can take advantage of mid-week public holidays and stretch your time off to 48 days. Let’s dive into how to do that.
How to Maximize Your Public Holidays in 2025
Long weekends are pretty straightforward, but it’s the mid-week public holidays that require a bit of clever planning. For 2025, five holidays fall on Wednesdays or Thursdays, which gives you a chance to extend your time off. Here’s how you can plan:
1. New Year’s Day – 1 Jan 2025 (Wednesday)
- Take leave: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
- Leave days: 4
- Vacation days: 9 (Saturday-Sunday, Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday)
With just four leave days, you can turn New Year’s Day into a 9-day break, including the weekends.
2. Chinese New Year – 29 Jan 2025 (Wednesday) & 30 Jan 2025 (Thursday)
- Take leave: Monday, Tuesday, Friday
- Leave days: 3
- Vacation days: 9 (Saturday-Sunday, Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday)
By taking leave on the surrounding days, you’ll get a 9-day holiday with just three days of annual leave.
3. Labour Day – 1 May 2025 (Thursday)
- Take leave: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
- Leave days: 4
- Vacation days: 9 (Saturday-Sunday, Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday)
If you’re planning to have a long weekend, consider taking Monday through Wednesday off, which gives you an entire 9-day break.
4. Christmas Day – 25 Dec 2025 (Thursday)
- Take leave: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
- Leave days: 4
- Vacation days: 9 (Saturday-Sunday, Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday)
Another long break made possible by strategic leave planning! By taking four days off, you can create a 9-day holiday from Christmas.
Totaling Up: How 15 Days of Annual Leave Becomes 48 Days Off
Here’s how your holiday days add up when you follow the above suggestions:
- Long weekends (from holidays that fall on Mondays or Fridays) – 12 days (Hari Raya Puasa, Good Friday, Vesak Day, Deepavali)
- Strategic leave (for mid-week holidays like New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Labour Day, and Christmas) – 36 days (9 days each for New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Labour Day, and Christmas)
With 15 days of annual leave, you can enjoy a total of 48 days off in 2025. That’s nearly two months of time off, just by planning your leave days around the public holidays.
Tips for Smooth Travel Plans
With all these holidays, it’s no surprise that many will be planning overseas vacations. If you’re one of them, here are some essential tips to ensure your travel goes smoothly:
1. Avoid School Holidays
Singaporeans love to travel, and so do schoolchildren and their families. If you’re not a parent, you might want to avoid the peak travel periods around school holidays, which are usually filled with large crowds. In 2025, the main school holiday periods are:
- March 15-23 (Between Terms I & II)
- May 31-June 29 (Between Semesters I & II)
- September 6-14 (Between Terms III & IV)
- November 22-December 31 (End of school year)
Traveling outside these dates will help you avoid overcrowded airports and tourist spots.
2. Use a Digital Multi-Currency Wallet
Foreign exchange fees can eat into your travel budget. A digital multi-currency wallet like YouTrip or Instarem’s Amaze Card can help you avoid foreign transaction fees. YouTrip, for instance, offers 0% foreign transaction fees and supports over 150 currencies. By using these services, you can save on currency conversion and streamline your spending while traveling.
3. Maximize Miles with a Miles Card
If you’re serious about travel, using a miles card for your purchases is a great way to earn points that can be redeemed for flight upgrades or free flights. For instance, the Citi PremierMiles Card gives up to 10 miles per dollar on selected hotel and flight bookings, and many miles cards offer travel perks like lounge access and complimentary travel insurance.
4. Exchange Money in Advance
Planning ahead for currency exchange can save you from poor rates at airports. Make sure to check the best money changers in Singapore or use a multi-currency card to minimize fees. You can also avoid multiple exchanges if you’re traveling to several countries by using a digital wallet with multiple currencies.
5. Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may not be the most exciting thing to think about, but it’s essential. Ensure that you have comprehensive coverage that includes medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost baggage. Travel insurance offers peace of mind, so you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about unexpected mishaps.
Final Thoughts
The year ahead offers ample opportunities to make the most of your public holidays with strategic planning. By taking just 15 days of annual leave, you can turn them into 48 days off—a fantastic way to recharge, take that long-awaited trip, or simply enjoy some quality time with friends and family. Planning ahead, avoiding peak travel times, and using smart financial tools can make your 2025 travel experiences more enjoyable and stress-free. Here’s to a year of well-deserved relaxation and unforgettable adventures!
Learn more about: Friendly Trips from Singapore in 2025: Top 3D2N Destinations