Best European New Year’s Eve Destinations
Tired of seeing the same places on New Year’s Eve? Do you want to see new ones, new people, and new landscapes? Discover the best places in Europe to celebrate the New Year. Marvel at Europe’s most beautiful fireworks, party in Europe’s most beautiful squares, and dance and sing to the rhythm of the New Year’s events and concerts. Count down to the new year in a new language by staying in Funchal, Dubrovnik, Tenerife, Rome, or another of Europe’s top New Year’s Eve destinations.
#1 Madeira Islands, Portugal
On the most beautiful and sunniest of Europe’s islands, celebrate a refined, natural, elegant, tropical New Year. Madeira has been your favorite New Year’s Eve destination in Europe for the past five years, thanks to its chic and gastronomic appeal, as well as its natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Madeira, like Marbella, Biarritz, and Cannes, is a galactic star of European upscale tourism. In recent years, it has also drawn visitors interested in outdoor sports, hiking in nature, birdwatching, and searching for the most beautiful waterfalls, best instagramable spots, and kilometer-long golden sand beaches (Porto Santo ).
Whether you are an influencer or a hiker, the evening of December 31 in Funchal Bay is not to be missed. The largest 360-degree fireworks display in Europe awaits you for unforgettable memories.
Book a table at Restaurant Villa Cipriani in Funchal for a meal that is both prestigious and affordable. Have you overdosed on Madeira Wine and Madeira Rum? On New Year’s Day, spend the afternoon relaxing on Calheta beach.
Are you a morning person? Climb to the summit of Madeira’s peak, Pico do Arieiro, and watch the sunrise. Many flights connect the largest cities in the United States and the United Kingdom to Madeira for a New Year’s celebration that is both cosmopolitan and elegant, as well as traditional, exotic, and folkloric.
Best places to stay in Madeira
#2 Marbella, Spain
Marbella is the best choice for a sparkling, festive, and sunny New Year; it has one of the highest concentrations of designer boutiques, haute-couture boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants, 5-star hotels, an ultra-trendy Marina, and a beach named the most beautiful beach in Spain… so many good reasons to celebrate the New Year in Marbella.
Film stars, as well as artisticocratic and royal families, have made Marbella their pied-à-terre for relaxing, sunbathing, outdoor sports, shopping, parties, and beach vacations.
Marbella’s finest hotels host New Year’s Eve parties that include meals and dancing. You can also celebrate New Year’s Eve in Marbella nightclubs.
Why spend New Year’s Eve in Marbella? Because nothing beats waking up on a sunny New Year’s Day near the sea, lying on a deckchair, and enjoying a massage or a hammam for a detox after party.
Best places to stay in Marbella
#3 London, England
London, which is magical at Christmas, is also an iconic New Year’s destination. What could be more symbolic than ringing in the New Year at the foot of Big Ben, in front of a fireworks display launched from the Thames?
During the day, you can’t go wrong with the London Eye or a Thames cruise. What about a “Beatles Magical Mystery Bus Tour” or climbing the O2 Arena’s roof? In London, you can have unforgettable New Year’s Eve experiences.
The most beautiful parties are held outside to admire the fireworks, such as the Southbank Center Party, or at “The Rooftop” for panoramic views of London.
#4 Lisbon, Portugal
The sun and the warmth of the Portuguese people are two compelling reasons to celebrate the New Year in Lisbon.
Lisbon is one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe, if not THE most beautiful. It appears to be the capital of California in Europe, with its iconic bridge (the same as in San Francisco). Lisbon is popular among young entrepreneurs, finance, and technology professionals, as well as foodies, happy revelers, and even families.
After an unforgettable evening in Bairro Alto’s bars, Cais do Sodré’s bars, or the Portuguese capital’s nightclubs, you can have brunch at the 4 or 5 star hotel or tourist apartment in the heart of the historic district where you will stay to recover strength and discover the city of 7 valleys.
Who is it for? You don’t want to plan your New Year’s Eve 11 months ahead of time and want to hop on the next plane without having to reserve a table, a nightclub entrance, or a restaurant? Lisbon is the place for you. Do you want to ring in the New Year with your family while your feet are in the water? Book your stay in Cascais / Estoril, a seaside resort near Lisbon. Are you traveling as a couple? Book a stay in Sintra and explore Portugal’s most beautiful castles and palaces.
#5 Tbilisi, Georgia
Celebrate the New Year in Tbilisi (Georgia), one of Europe’s most fashionable and cosmopolitan capitals. Tbilisi will astound you with its one-of-a-kind tourist and cultural offerings, as well as its buildings with incredible architecture that appear to be straight out of a thousand and one nights. Tbilisi is a popular destination for foodies, wine lovers, and Instagrammers, but it also draws those who want to think outside the box and discover one of Europe’s most multicultural cities.
Tbilisi, beautifully decorated for New Year’s celebrations, extends the Christmas spirit until mid-January. Many public concerts are planned to celebrate the New Year, and if you have left your evening gown at home, you will be spoiled for choice in Tbilisi’s shopping streets. Do you require a concluding argument? Treat yourself to a 5-star hotel in Tbilisi for the price of a 3-star in Berlin, and spoil yourself with extras in restaurants, nightclubs, and beauty salons in Europe’s most glitzy city.
Do you want to dance? Several evenings are planned in Tbilisi hotels or in nightclubs with DJ sets.
Are you traveling with your family or with your significant other? Do not miss Tbilisi’s Christmas market, which is ranked among the most beautiful in Europe, as well as its Christmas tree, which is also ranked among the most beautiful in Europe!
Best places to stay in Tbilisi
#6 Prague, Czech Republic
One of Europe’s most romantic cities awaits you for a New Year’s Eve “à la carte.” Whether you prefer elegant parties with prom and gala gowns or pub crawling, Prague on New Year’s Eve has something for everyone. The Czech capital is probably one of the cheapest capitals in Europe for a new year, and the Czech Republic is known for its reasonably priced beers, including Pilsner, one of the world’s most famous beer brands. But, according to tradition, champagne is THE drink to have at midnight.
Prague celebrates the New Year with numerous festivities, including outdoor concerts, fireworks, and numerous private parties in the capital’s restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Because New Year’s Eve in Prague is so popular, it is recommended that you book your Prague accommodation as well as tours and activities such as a “Prague Pub Crawl” in advance.
The nightclubs are extremely crowded during the New Year, so we recommend booking well in advance or opting for pub crawls and private parties in bars and restaurants. Prepare warm clothing in addition to your party attire. Take a warm old coat with you in case you forget your jacket somewhere.
Are you traveling as a couple to Prague? Nothing beats a New Year’s Eve dinner cruise on the river for a romantic New Year’s Eve in Prague. Themed cruises like the New Year’s Eve Jazz Cruise or the New Year’s Eve on a party boat are must-dos for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Prague.
#7 Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza is the best place to celebrate the New Year. Ibiza is known for its evenings that bring together the best DJs, dancers, and shows in Europe, but it also means lazing around, beaches, outdoor sports, nautical activities, seaside restaurants… The ideal balance of fiesta and idleness. Celebrate the New Year at the Paccha, Amnesia, or the conceptual “Ushuaia Beach Hotel,” a hotel-nightclub that offers nonstop parties from your room’s balcony.
#8 Sao Miguel, Azores
You spend the majority of your time in the subway, buses, open spaces, closed offices, meeting rooms, and shopping malls, and you crave wide open spaces and nature? The Azores are a great place to spend New Year’s Eve.
Every year, a fireworks display is launched from Ponta Delgada, the Azores’ capital on the main island of Sao Miguel. Many festivities, such as public concerts, are organized, and the party can be extended in Ponta Delgada’s bars and restaurants.
If you want to dance until the end of the night, a light meal based on fish would be ideal… But what about the traditional “Bolo Rei” cake, which is filled with almonds and ten different colored candied fruits?
The Azores are also a popular spa destination. After a night of drinking Gin des Azores and Vinho Verde, treat yourself to a detox in your wellness hotel or one of the Azores’ many natural thermal spots, such as “Furnas Boutique Hotel.”
During your stay, don’t forget to go to Sete Cidades, which has the most
Do you really need to recover from a night of drunkenness? Visit the two Azores tea factories to reduce your migraine symptoms naturally.
Best places to stay in Sao Miguel
#9 Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is a must-see during the holiday season. Its Christmas Market is ranked as one of the best in the UK, and New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh is truly one of the best in Europe.
This event is so significant to the Scots that it is known as “Hogmanay.” The New Year is a true institution, celebrated from December 31 to January 3 with massive parties and open-air concerts featuring local and international artists such as Basement Jacks. An XXL fireworks display is launched at midnight, followed by celebrations in Edinburgh’s streets and parks until the early hours.
“First-footing” is a national custom observed during Hogmanay. It’s about being the first to walk through your best friend’s or favorite neighbor’s door. If you are the first person to enter their home, remember to bring a gift such as whiskey, shortbread biscuits (butter cookies), or even salt. This will bring you both good fortune.
The Hogmanay celebration in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is likely one of the largest in Europe.
Best places to stay in Edinburgh
#10 Porto , Portugal
Porto is the destination to put at the top of your travel wishlist for a festive and friendly New Year. The countdown in front of Porto’s city hall, followed by concerts and parties in the city’s bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Portugal is widely regarded as one of Europe’s safest countries, with the lowest crime rate, second only to Switzerland. Festive, friendly, and safe end-of-year celebrations await you in this city that has become Portugal’s tourist capital.
Book your accommodation at the InterContinental Palacio das Cardosas for a New Year in the heart of the festivities, The Yeatman for a New Year wellness & gastronomy, and