Best Places to Spend New Year’s Eve in Europe

Still not sure where you should spend New Year’s Eve? Why not toast to the new year in a completely different Country? Following you find the best places to spend New Year’s Eve in Europe.

I’m kind of tired of always spending it in St. Gallen in a big crowed, where you have to be afraid that fireworks will hit you, or in Zurich (good fireworks but just so cold and after having been there the past 3 years in a row, it’s time for someting new.) I’m really excited to be going to the place that has been voted number 1 of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve in Europe and that is London.

#1 London

London is a special place at the turn of the year. The city is lit up and establishments across the capital will pull out all the stops to make this New Year’s Eve in London a memorable one. So, get your nearest and dearest together and say cheers to 2016. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, London’s night skies will be a blaze of light and colour with a display of stunning pyrotechnics from the river on London’s famous South Bank (you have to buy tickets for £10 to get a good spot for the fireworks here. Unfortunately, for 2016/17 they have been sold out already). London continues to usher in the New Year on 1 January with the New Year’s Day Parade. This year marks the 30th annual parade to march through London and there will be 8,500 performers representing 20 countries world-wide and from across the London Boroughs, including marching bands, cheerleaders, clowns, acrobats and much more.(©visitlondon).

#2 Edinburgh

It seems the north-west of Europe is leading the competition of being great places to be on NYE!

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the biggest and best New Year celebrations in the world. Things get underway on 30 December with the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the son et lumiére and fireworks finale on Calton Hill. On Hogmanay itself, the action moves to Princes Street in the very heart of the city of Edinburgh beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Around 80,000 people party their way into the new year at the Concert in the Gardens featuring incredible live music and entertainment from headlining band Biffy Clyro, DJ’s, giant screens, outdoor bars and of course, the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks on the castle ramparts. (©VisitScotland)

#3 Berlin

Berlin is celebrating New Year’s Eve in style – with around one million visitors gathering at the Brandenburg Gate to welcome in 2016! All the traditional treats are lined up – more than two kilometres of fun stages for shows, party tents, light and laser shows as well as a mass of food and drink stands. The spectacular firework display starts at midnight on the dot – like the clinking of glasses as Berliners and visitors toast the New Year in. The following parties will last well into the small hours! (©visitberlin.de).

#4 Paris

 

What could be a better setting than watching fireworks around the Eiffel Tower? To top this, you could ride into the new year in style on a boat on the Seine with a 5 course meal and live orchestra.

#5 Prague

Prague is always good for partying, also on NYE.  It’s a beautiful city and you will welcome the year with a big fireworks display in Letná Parks. It can be best seen from the bridges and embankments along the Moldau.

#6 Vienna

The city’s most famous party is the Grand Ball held at the Hofburg Palace, but there are plenty of other opportunities for revelry in the Austrian capital. The city’s Christmas markets transform into fairs and the New Year’s Eve Trail will lead you through the Old City. The party begins at 2 in the afternoon and continues long after the clock has struck midnight. Mulled wine is the drink of choice for this crowd. A spectacular fireworks display highlights the Wiener Prater at midnight. On New Year’s Day, join the crowd gathered outside City Hall to watch the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s concert on a giant screen.

More cities that have been mentionned along with NYE are Dubrovnik, Reykjavik and Barcelona.

Where are you spending NYE? What’s your secret tip for a great start into the next year?