If you live in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Portugal or England, 2027 has some very good ways to turn a few public holidays into a proper break. The calendar is not equally kind to everyone, so here is the honest version: which days off really line up, where one day of annual leave buys you four days away, and which holidays fall on a weekend and give you nothing.
Levanto, on the Ligurian coast and home to the Oasi Boutique Hotel, is a very good place to spend them. It is a real town with a beach, a historic centre and a weekly market, and the Cinque Terre are a short train ride away: Monterosso is 4 minutes by train, and the hotel is 350 m from the station and 400 m from the beach.
Why Levanto works so well for a long weekend
- Easy to reach: Levanto is on the coastal railway line and well connected by road, so you can arrive without a car and do without one once you are here.
- The Cinque Terre on your doorstep: regular trains run to the five villages, and you can buy the Cinque Terre Card at our front desk.
- A town with a life of its own: focaccia and pesto, a beach, cafés and shops, and a calmer pace than the villages in the middle of the day.
- A quiet base: after a full day out, it is a short walk back to the hotel.
The 2027 calendar, market by market
Easter falls early in 2027 (Sunday 28 March) and Ascension Day lands on Thursday 6 May, which is the date that matters most. Rules vary by country and region, so check your own employer’s calendar, but these are the days that usually count.
Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark)
- Easter: Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) in all four countries. Norway and Denmark also have Maundy Thursday (25 March), so Thursday to Monday gives you five days off without using any leave.
- Ascension Day: Thursday 6 May. Take Friday 7 May and you have four days. This is the classic bridging day (the Swedes call it klämdag).
- Whit Monday: 17 May in Norway and Denmark, a three-day weekend. In Norway it is also Constitution Day, so the whole country is off.
- Midsummer (Finland and Sweden): Midsummer Eve is Friday 25 June and Midsummer Day is Saturday 26 June. Midsummer Eve is not an official holiday, but almost everything closes, so a long weekend is built in.
- Not this year: 1 May falls on a Saturday and Sweden’s National Day (6 June) on a Sunday. Denmark no longer has Great Prayer Day, so Ascension and Whit Monday carry the spring.
The Netherlands
- Easter: Easter Monday is 29 March. Good Friday (26 March) is not a general public holiday, but many people take it off, and it is the easy way to make four days.
- King’s Day: Tuesday 27 April. Take Monday 26 April and you have Saturday to Tuesday.
- Ascension Day: Thursday 6 May, and Friday 7 May as your bridging day.
- Whit Monday: 17 May, a three-day weekend from Saturday 15 May.
Eastern Europe (Poland, Czechia, Hungary)
- Poland: Easter Monday (29 March); 1 May is a Saturday and 3 May a Monday, so Saturday to Monday is free; Corpus Christi is Thursday 27 May (take Friday 28 May); 1 November is a Monday; Independence Day is Thursday 11 November (take Friday 12 November). 15 August falls on a Sunday.
- Czechia: Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) give you four days with no leave. The Cyril and Methodius and Jan Hus holidays fall on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 July, so Saturday 3 to Tuesday 6 July is free. State Day is Tuesday 28 September (take Monday 27) and Independence Day is Thursday 28 October (take Friday 29).
- Hungary: 15 March is a Monday, and Good Friday plus Easter Monday give four days at the end of the month. Whit Monday (17 May), 20 August (Friday) and 1 November (Monday) all make long weekends. Hungary often moves working days around bridging days, so check the official calendar when it is published.
Portugal
- Easter: Good Friday is 26 March; add Monday 29 March if you can.
- Corpus Christi: Thursday 27 May. Take Friday 28 May for four days.
- Portugal Day: Thursday 10 June. Take Friday 11 June for four days.
- Republic Day: Tuesday 5 October. Take Monday 4 October for four days.
- All Saints: Monday 1 November, a three-day weekend.
- Not this year: Freedom Day (25 April), Labour Day (1 May) and the Assumption (15 August) all fall on a weekend. 1 December and 8 December are Wednesdays, so they need two days of leave to be worth it.
England
- Easter: Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March).
- Early May bank holiday: Monday 3 May.
- Spring bank holiday: Monday 31 May, which usually falls in the school half-term week (31 May to 4 June), when families travel and prices rise.
- Summer bank holiday: Monday 30 August.
- Christmas: 25 and 26 December fall on a weekend, so the bank holidays move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December, which suits a short winter break.
The best windows in 2027, in date order
- 25 to 29 March: Easter, for every market (five days in Norway and Denmark).
- 24 to 27 April: King’s Day, for the Netherlands.
- 6 to 9 May: Ascension, the widest window of the year: Scandinavia, the Netherlands and more, for a single day of leave.
- 15 to 17 May: Whit weekend, for the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Hungary.
- 27 to 31 May: Corpus Christi for Poland and Portugal, and the spring bank holiday for England.
- 10 to 13 June: Portugal Day.
- 25 to 27 June: Midsummer, for Finland and Sweden.
- Autumn: Czechia (27 to 28 September, 28 to 31 October), Portugal (2 to 5 October), All Saints (30 October to 1 November) and Poland (11 to 14 November).
If your dates are flexible, our honest advice is to start with Ascension (6 to 9 May). It works for so many markets at once that it is also the weekend most likely to be busy. Easter at the end of March is early for swimming, but it is a lovely time to walk and to see the villages before the summer crowds; the weather can be changeable.
What to do around Levanto in a long weekend
The Cinque Terre and the Golfo dei Poeti
The five villages are a short regional train ride away, with pastel-coloured houses on the cliffs, sea views and a very Italian atmosphere. Our guides to the Cinque Terre Express line and to visiting the Cinque Terre from Levanto will help you plan the days. Further south, the Golfo dei Poeti is made for boat trips and scenic walks.
Genoa, Camogli, Portofino and San Fruttuoso
Genoa’s medieval alleys (the caruggi) and its aquarium make a full day, and Camogli and San Fruttuoso are a lovely day trip on the coast.
Walking, cycling and the sea
Levanto is a base for hiking and mountain biking, and for surfing and paddleboarding when the sea allows.
Pisa, Lucca and the Carrara quarries
They are possible as day trips, but with a four-day break we would rather you stayed on the coast and did fewer things well.
Your stay at the Oasi Boutique Hotel
The Oasi is a short stroll from both the beach and the train station, close to cafés and shops, and our team is happy to help you plan trains, trails and boat trips. Because the long weekends are the first dates to fill, it is worth booking as soon as you know which days of leave you will use.
Frequently asked questions
When are the best bridging holidays in 2027 for a trip to Levanto?
For most markets, Ascension Day (Thursday 6 May, with Friday 7 May as the bridging day) and Easter (25 to 29 March) are the best windows. The Netherlands also has King’s Day on 27 April, and Portugal and Poland have several Thursday holidays that make four-day breaks.
How many days do I need for Levanto and the Cinque Terre?
Four days is a comfortable minimum: one day for the villages by train, one for walking or the sea, one for Genoa, Camogli or Portofino, and one to do very little in Levanto itself.
Is Easter 2027 a good time to visit?
Easter is early, on 28 March, so expect cooler weather and a sea that is too cold for most swimmers. It is a good time for walking and for seeing the villages before the summer crowds, although the long weekend is lively. Check train times and trail conditions before you set out.
Do I need a car in Levanto?
No. The hotel is 350 m from the train station, and trains connect Levanto with the Cinque Terre, La Spezia and Genoa.
How far ahead should I book a long weekend?
As early as you can. Bridging weekends such as Easter and Ascension are the first dates to sell out, and booking direct with us gives you our best rate.
Planning your stay? Book direct with the Oasi Boutique Hotel and make the most of your 2027 long weekends in Levanto.
Last updated: 1 November 2026.
