WHERE TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR´S EVE IN EUROPE
Every year it comes as a big surprise – New Year´s Eve. At least this is how I feel. I was always one of the last persons to make my New Year´s Eve plans and then I got quite nervous since I had to make spontaneous plans.
If you like to be better organized and are currently planning your New Year´s Eve this post is for you.
Where to celebrate New Year´s Eve in Europe?
Find out about 10 great European places to celebrate New Year´s Eve. 10 travel bloggers have shared their favorite places to celebrate New Year´s Eve.
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Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Prague, the Czech Republic
by Viktor from Traveling Lifestyle
Prague is definitely the place you want to be for New Year’s Eve. Everything is full from the river cruises, bars, clubs, and restaurants.
The atmosphere is incomparable to anything you have ever seen. As midnight fireworks are about to light the sky the travelers and locals gather by the river, Wenceslas Square, and Old Town Square. There is a myriad of entertainment options you can choose from for every type of traveler’s taste.
Have an all-inclusive night in a restaurant full of food, dancing, and drinks. Bar hop around Prague’s best pubs or simply enjoy a romantic dinner with your loved one.
Clubs are full of New Year parties and there are always awesome river cruises you can attend. Restaurants and river cruises usually time their entertainment programs in a way so you can watch the fireworks and they provide you with Champagne to celebrate with.
You can visit the churches to hear choirs singing on that day and take a stroll around the Christmas market on the Old Town Square. Prague on New Year’s Eve is absolutely amazing.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland
by Nicola from FunkyEllas Travel
Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital, is the place to be for New Year or “Hogmanay’ as we call it.
The city goes all out and the tickets sell like hot cakes. The Christmas markets, fair, and rides are still there until after New Year as well which is a bonus. Celebrations begin on the 30th with a torchlight procession through the streets accompanied by pipers and drums.
On the eve itself, there is loads on including a “Baby does Disco Hogmanay” for the kids, a candlelit concert held in the stunning St Giles Cathedral, and a concert in the gardens which always has a fantastic headline act.
This year it’s Rag’n’Bone Man. There is a massive Street Party if your aim is to drink yourself into the New Year and a slightly more dignified Ceilidh under the Castle for those who fancy something more traditionally Scottish.
At midnight the clock chimes and a huge fireworks display lights up the sky over Edinburgh Castle.
The celebrations culminate in a “Loony Dook’ in the freezing cold Firth of Forth on New Year’s Day, where crazy participants dress up and run into the water. It certainly helps clear the head!
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Ischgl, Austria
by Tom from Travel Tom Tom
For a unique way to celebrate New Year´s Eve, you gotta head into the Austrian Alps and join the skiing crowd.
All day long there will be pre-parties on the slopes and when it is time to ski back to the base you will mingle with the crowd in one of the many après ski bars waiting for the day to come to an end. When it is countdown time there will be fireworks from a couple of places around town and a big fire show at the Pardatschgratbahn.
Ischgl is one of the most popular (après) ski resorts in Europe and a place that attracts young people, international DJs, and a crowd that knows how to party.
With its more than 200 kilometers of groomed track, you won’t get bored here and with its unique location, it is possible to cross the border into Switzerland on your skis.
On the first day of the new year, there are several parties on the slopes, and when it is a beautiful day find yourself a bean bag, get some drinks, and chill in the sun listening to funky tunes from the world’s best DJs while dealing with your hangover!
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Sofia, Bulgaria
by Hayley and Scott from International Hotdish
New Year’s in Sofia is truly a night to remember. During the day you can visit all kinds of shops in the city center, get coffee at any of the numerous cafes, and take some great photos while exploring the city on one of the free city tours.
The area is easy to walk and meet up with friends.
Rumor even has it public transportation is free all night. Or you can wait for the evening’s fireworks by skiing and snowshoeing in the nearby hills. Amazing views from up there, by the way.
Stop by the Batenberg Square for live music and entertainment. Later they’ll shoot off loads of fireworks, but really the whole town celebrates by shooting off their own fireworks.
A word to the wise. Locals often stock up on fireworks and shoot them out their windows or roofs at midnight.
Because of this, it can be dangerous to roam the streets in certain places, lest fireworks explode too close to you. Be cautious and keep a lookout for rogue fireworks.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Tallinn, Estonia
by Mindi from 2 Food Trippers
Tallinn is festive all year but especially during the holiday season when Estonia’s capital city sparkles for crowds who come to shop at one of Europe’s best Christmas markets.
Most visitors just stay for a day, but the smart visitors linger for the city’s New Year celebration.
On New Year’s Eve, Tallinn’s historic Old Town fills with revelers who celebrate at pubs and on the street while waiting and anticipating the big event – an epic fireworks display in Freedom Square.
We were lucky enough to bring in the new year in Tallinn last year by attending a Soviet/Vegas-style cabaret show that featured a buffet of classic Estonian dishes along with a parade of talented performers. For us, the unique experience was the perfect way to ring in the new year in Tallinn.
Click here to read more about the best things to do in Tallinn.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Lisbon, Portugal
by Sonja from Migrating Miss
Lisbon is one of the sunniest cities in Europe, which actually makes it a great place to spend New Year’s Eve!
Spend the day seeing the sights of Lisbon and riding on the famous yellow trams, before watching the sunset from one of the many viewpoints around the hilly city.
Then head down to the main plaza or the waterfront for spectacular fireworks against the clear night sky!
There are usually bands playing in Praça do Comércio and entrance is free, or go down to the Belém district for fireworks displays next to the tower at midnight.
If you like to party there are plenty of bars open late into the night and the parties often spill over into the street, or find somewhere playing traditional fado music and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful city.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in London, England
by Heather from Wanderlust Wayfarer
Each year as the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, Big Ben’s chimes ring out a lively tune accompanied by an unrivaled fireworks display across the water at the London Eye. London is amazing in December and a perfect choice to celebrate New Year´s Eve!
Millions of people make their way to Victoria Embankment and South Bank to take in the spectacular sight, which is synchronized to popular songs. Presented by the mayor of London, it’s the largest annual fireworks show in the United Kingdom.
Events start at 8 p.m. on December 31 and last until about 12:15 a.m. on January. In order to get the best view of the show, be sure to purchase tickets in advance. At just £10 each, they tend to sell out quickly. To see the show from a different vantage point, consider taking a dinner cruise along the Thames or having drinks at the Shard.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Berlin, Germany
by Clemens from the Travellers Archive
Berlin is said to be the best place to be in Europe recently – and for New Year’s it definitely is the best city.
The biggest party is celebrated at the Brandenburg Gate with thousands waiting for midnight to come, famous bands playing all night with live broadcasting on German TV. But this one is crowded and the rather unpopular option for real Berliners.
They used to celebrate into the next year at home parties, often on rooftops where they defied the cold weather conditions. But the best part of New Year’s in Berlin is definitely the German taste for big fireworks.
It’s a tradition to buy New Year rockets already weeks before New Year’s and get it started right at midnight.
At this very moment, the whole city is full of the most colorful fireworks. And just imagine that you experience this from the rooftop of a five-story building with a glass of champagne in your hand and the eyes on the horizon.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Barcelona, Spain
by Claire from Tales of a Backpacker
Barcelona is a city that loves to party, and New Year’s Eve is no exception!
As well as fireworks and parties, Barcelona also practices a Catalan tradition of eating twelve grapes – one at each chime of the clock at midnight. This is considerably harder if your grapes have seeds in, so if you want to join in then consider splashing out on seedless grapes!
The main fireworks display for the city takes place around Plaça Espanya and the Magic Fountain on Avinguda Reina Maria Christina, where thousands of people gather to watch. It is quite a sight, but obviously gets very busy – so for a different view you could head up to one of the hundreds of terraces in Barcelona to watch the display – the restaurants on the top floor of Las Arenas shopping
It is quite a sight, but obviously gets very busy – so for a different view you could head up to one of the hundreds of terraces in Barcelona to watch the display – the restaurants on the top floor of Las Arenas shopping center have a spectacular view.
Alternatively, you could join a rooftop party at a hotel, head to the beach, or up to Tibidabo mountain to watch the whole city light up.
After the fireworks, all the clubs in town will have special parties all night long – but buy your ticket in advance as they often sell out.
The good news is that wherever you decide to go, the metro runs all night long on New Year’s Eve, and although it will be filled with revelers (especially after the fireworks display), it is a cheap and safe way to head home when you’re partied out.
Celebrate New Year´s Eve in Naples, Italy
by Cameron from The World Pursuit
Naples, Italy has to be one of the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe.
The city is a worthy travel destination that often gets skipped over for the Mediterranean or the rich cities of Northern Italy.
The gritty city is long known for its ties to the Italian Mafia and it often gets a bad wrap. However, any street-smart traveler is unlikely to run into any problems. It’s filled with hospitable locals who are known for their loud personalities.
This is the Italy you dream of, it’s filled with crumbling buildings, laundry airing from high buildings, and colorful locals yelling in the streets. It’s loud and it’s vibrant.
A city primed for a New Year’s Eve celebration. As night begins it feels as if the city explodes, literally, as locals light fireworks off in crowded streets and narrow alleyways. It all culminates with a concert and massive firework show atop the city’s famous castle to ring in the New Year.
Before you depart from the city it is an absolute must to try the best pizza in the world from Gino Sorbillos and enjoy a morning cappuccino in one of the city’s numerous cafe bars.
Wherever you celebrate New Year´s Eve – enjoy!