New year in Prague is never a low-key affair. There’s a bit of snow, clear skies ready to display the most gorgeous fireworks, champagne bottles popping up in the bars and restaurants, midnight cruises, and a romantic feeling in the air. No matter what time of the year, Prague is always worth visiting but when it comes to celebrating the New Year, it is the place to be in Central Europe. Here are some interesting ways in which one can celebrate Prague new years eve 2020.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

The fireworks display takes the center stage in the New Year celebrations in Prague. It is a spectacle to behold. The best views are from the main square in the Old Town and Wenceslas Square. If one prefers a quiet time away from the crowd to enjoy the display, Charles Bridge or any of the Prague’s 14 bridges are a better option. Petrin Hill or the riverbanks, along with the wall of Kampa Park, also provide a good view. However, the grand firework display happens on January 1st at 6 PM while on the eve of the New Year amateur fireworks are set off by locals and event organizers. The sight of the sky lighting up above the Prague Castle is a sight to behold.

Top New Year’s Eve River Cruises

Prague offers many party cruises along the Vltava river. The luxury boats cruise past the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Rudolfinum, Prague Parliament, the lesser town, national theatre, dancing house, and Vysehrad. These cruises are perfect for a romantic evening with your partner while sipping on champagne and watching the fireworks. There are five river cruises for New Year’s Eve in Prague to choose from and this year’s bookings have already begun. The following cruises are available for 31st December 2019 and the boarding point is the river embankment in the city center.

New Year’s Eve Party Boat

This is the original party boat that has been running for the past 15 years. It is exclusively for the New Year’s Eve. A welcome drink is served once you board and it offers a buffet dinner along with drinks.

Duration of the cruise: 5 hours
Timings: 21:00 to 2:00
Cost: INR 12800 per person

New Year’s Eve Jazz Cruise

This cruise exclusively plays jazz live music all throughout the journey. This year they have two exclusive jazz boats, one that serves a buffet dinner and one that serves a 3-course set menu. Vegetarian options are also available.

Duration of the cruise: 5 hours
Timings: 20:00 to 1:00
Cost: INR 12800 per person

New Year’s Eve Grand Panoramic Cruise

These boats have a live band playing old tunes throughout. Gourmet buffet dinner is served with unlimited drinks and they have other entertainment such as a pop quiz on board.

Duration of the cruise: 4.5 hours
Timings: 20:30 to 1:00
Cost: INR 21000 per person

New Year’s Eve Panoramic Cruise

This is quite similar to the Grand panoramic cruise except for the kind of entertainment they provide. This boat hosts karaoke and a buffet dinner with unlimited drinks.

Duration of the cruise: 5 hours
Timings: 20:30 to 1:30
Cost: INR 21000 per person

New Year’s Eve A La Carte Dinner Cruise

They offer a set 3-course gourmet dinner that starts with a glass of red wine as soon as one board the boat. Unlimited drinks with an exclusive waiter at your service on board are provided along with some live music and dancing. This place offers one of the best Prague new years eve parties. They have a limited number of tables making its availability a bit tricky. This cruise is perfect for those looking for a romantic evening with their partners.

Duration of the cruise: 4.5 hours
Timings: 20:30 to 1:00
Cost: INR 28000 per person.

The new year in Hong Kong is as exciting as it sounds! This city knows how to celebrate every moment, especially the new year’s eve. The party vibes start to crawl in right from Christmas and last till the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in February.

Hong Kong becomes lit AF during the eve of New Year. The party atmosphere takes up the whole city and the fireworks at the Victoria Harbor are too great to miss out on. you will have an unforgettable experience if you are in Hong Kong during the time of new year’s. Celebrate the start of the new year 2020 with a bang. We bet Hong Kong new year celebration will take you by surprise.

Victoria Harbour – Celebrate In Style

The bustling Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong’s downtown area is known for luring innumerable tourists every day. During Hong Kong New Year’s Eve 2020, this locale sure puts on a show to flaunt. You can take an enchanting cruise ride, watch the colorful light & sound show – Symphony of Lights, or glance at the skyline of Hong Kong sparkling with fireworks – there is so much to see and do here on your new year holiday in Hong Kong. No wonder this is one of the best tourist places in Hong Kong to ring in the new year.

Cruise – Ride In Luxury

If you’re planning to celebrate the new year in this region, why not do it aboard a cruise- You might want to join the crowd, sing, and shout. Or you can relax, pick your own little spot, and watch the starlit sky.

Best Hong Kong New Year’s Eve Cruise 2020: Hong Kong Greeters, Harbour Cruise Bauhinia, Shining Star Ferry, and Jetway Express

• Estimated cost: INR 1500 to INR 13,800 per person

New Years’ Parade – Have Fun

For those wish to behold all the colors of Hong Kong’s vibrant culture, there cannot be anything better than attending the New Years Parade. On 31st December, locals organize parades that last till 10 pm. It concludes late at night, only to make way for a wild new year countdown party.

If you can, stay over in Hong Kong for a little longer to watch the grand celebration of Hong Kong New Year in the Chinese tradition. In 2020, the Chinese New Year begins on 25th January.

• Cost: Tickets for the stand starting from INR 4,540 per person
• Timings: 7 PM onwards

Tsim Sha Tsui – Attend Live Concerts

Apart from Hong Kong New Year’s Eve parties, Tsim Sha Tsui is yet another hot spot for enjoying your new year holiday in Hong Kong. The area is dotted with malls, designer showrooms, street markets, hotels, and happening pubs. On NYE, you’ll witness the spark getting brighter with many clubs arranging live concerts and enlivening countdown parties. Tsim Sha Tsui also is the perfect stop to watch the new year fireworks.

• Best bars in Tsim Sha Tsui: Aqua Spirit, Where Bar & Lounge, Club Havana, Why Club, and Dada Bar + Lounge
• Concert tickets: Starting INR 4,700 onwards

Vantage Point – Watch Fireworks

Captivating fireworks are the prime attraction of the New Year celebration in Hong Kong. Locals and people from across the world gather at the vantage points to watch the sky sparkle. The city’s skyline illuminates with colorful lights while the waterfront gets decked up with a rippling effect and an impressive light and sound show.

Best vantage points to see fireworks: Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center, Harbour City Car Park, China Ferry Terminal, Hung Hom, West Kowloon, Waterfront Promenade and Kowloon Peak, IFC Mall, waterfront next to Hong Kong Observation Wheel and Tamar Park.

• New Year’s Eve Party – Dance The Night Away

Hong Kong, as we know it, can be a party animals dream come true; and what could be a better time to make most of life! Tap your feet to the beat as you attend some of the best new year parties in Hong Kong.

Best new year parties in Hong Kong are hosted at Kee Club at Wellington St, Duddell’s at Central, Ozone Bar in West Kowloon, and The Pawn in Wan Chai

• Admission Fee in Bars: INR 1,500-4,000
• Hong Kong Times Square – New Year’s Ball Drop

Yes, there is a Times Square right here in Hong Kong and it is inspired by the original one in New York. Welcome, Hong Kong New Year 2020 at the Times New Square. You don’t even have to be in New York to enjoy watching the customary New Year’s Ball Drop because it happens here too. Thousands of people gather at Hong Kong’s Times Square to watch the rising and lighting of the ball. There’ confetti and rocking performances to enlighten Hong Kong New Years Eve

• Location: Causeway Bay
• How to reach: Take the MTR line to Causeway Bay. The station is well-connected to all the places via the MTR network.

Lan Kwai Fong – Lit New Year Parties

Lan Kwai Fong is the best place to celebrate New Year in Hong Kong. It is home to some 1oo bars and clubs where you can enjoy amazing Hong Kong nightlife. Locals and travelers come to this part of the town to enjoy a lavish buffet and free drinks. However, most places here ask for a hefty cover charge. If you are not willing to pay so much for the New Year Party in Hong Kong, you could hit the bars or the streets to take part in the merriment and revelries.

• Best spots: Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, 7-Eleven
• Location: Central, Hong Kong
• How to reach: It is located between D’Aguilar Street and Wyndham Street. Get down at MTR Central Station and walk along the Theatre Lane and toward D’Aguilar Street.

Observation Wheel Ride

It is easy to get lost in the crowd and lose sight. Don’t let that happen to you while you are enjoying Hong Kong new year celebration. Head straightaway to Hong Kong Observation Wheel, hop on the ride and enjoy the lit views of the island from a height. Trust me! This moment will be the ultimate highlight of New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong 2020

• Location: 33 Man Kwong St, Central, Hong Kong
• How to reach: You could get down at any of the stations; Hong Kong A2, Central H, or Central A, and walk towards Central Harbourfront.

Luxury Feast

Those who can splurge and like to splurge can make reservations at one of the fancy restaurants in Hong Kong and enjoy a fancy dinner. There is no better way to end your year than gluttony. Also, they say that the way you end the last day of the year is how you set the tone for the next year. It is also an amazing alternative to ditch Hong Kong new years eve party if you hate crowds. Enjoy your meal in peace and admire the views of fireworks out the window.

• Best places: The Excelsior, The Peninsula

Well, your Hong Kong new year’s eve just got lit up! Quite literally. Excited all ready to celebrate the new year while you’re holidaying in Hong Kong? Make sure that you book the accommodation and flights ASAP to save bucks and get the spot without any fuss. Have a great New Year in Hong Kong!

Why would you choose a New Year break in Scotland? Well, no other nation in the world celebrates the New Year with quite as much revelry and passion as Scotland does, and it’s hardly surprising that the enormous celebration that engulfs the country is legendary the world over.

Hogmanay is what we Scots call New Year’s Eve – 31 December – the big night that marks the arrival of the new year. Its origins reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Vikings with wild parties in late December.

But whatever the scale of the event and wherever it’s held, Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations guarantee a warm welcome and more new friends than you ever knew you had, all in a frenzy of goodwill! For an unforgettable Hogmanay break, it’s got to be Scotland.

Hogmanay Edinburgh

Three days of fantastic atmosphere and unforgettable memories. It must be experienced to be believed!

30 December – Torchlight Procession

Join the revelers and get the party started! In Scotland, New Year’s carousing gets underway when thousands of torch-bearers join Up Helly Aa’s Vikings, pipes and drums. Together, they march through the heart of Edinburgh with flaming torches, creating a river of fire down the historic Royal Mile to Holyrood Park for the finale and closing celebrations.

31 December – Hogmanay Street Party

Princes Street welcomes the merrymakers to one of the greatest events on the planet (and we mean it!). Set beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, dance the night away at the Concert in the Gardens featuring incredible live music, entertainment, DJs, giant screens, and outdoor bars.

As the bells strike midnight, admire the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks on the castle ramparts. And make sure you don’t leave before Auld Lang Syne – a national sing-along where you join hands with friends you just met from across the globe in its biggest rendition in the world.

1 January – The Loony Dook

And if you need something to clear your head the morning after, why not take part in the (literally) breathtaking Loony Dook, the annual splash in the River Forth at South Queensferry? Take part in the Dockers Parade through the High Street before taking the plunge in the freezing Forthwith the iconic Forth Bridges as a backdrop. And don’t forget your fancy dress! Or you could just sleep in.

Other Hogmanay Highlights

It’s not just Scotland’s capital that knows how to throw a New Year celebration! Here are some fantastic and unique ways to ‘bring in the bells’ in other parts of Scotland.

A Red Hot Highland Fling In Inverness

Scotland’s biggest free Hogmanay celebration can be found in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. The family-friendly Red Hot Highland Fling will be celebrating this year on the banks of the River Ness in Northern Meeting Park, with music and fireworks more than entertaining the crowds. The top billing is always on stage before 10 pm so that families can get home to see in the bells.

Stonehaven Fireballs

In Stonehaven, they really turn up the heat at New Year! One of many winter fire festivals unique to Scotland, this fireballs parade in Aberdeenshire is a powerful spectacle to behold. It’s a free Hogmanay event that has been celebrated for over 100 years and it always attracts a large crowd. Traditionally, it was a cleansing ritual to burn off any bad spirits left from the old year so that the New Year can begin clean and purified. Watch in awe as the piper leads the procession marching down the street just before midnight as they swing balls of fire above their head in the ultimate test of bravery.

The Biggar Bonfire

An enormous pile of wood gradually starts to stack up in Biggar town center in the final weeks of the year in preparation for the South Lanarkshire town’s own New Year celebration. Lit at 9.30 pm on New Year’s Eve, Biggar Bonfire sees the welcoming of a New Year by the townsfolk in a warm, fiery glow.

Drams In Dufftown

Dufftown in Speyside is known as the ‘malt whiskey capital of the world’. While most of its New Year celebrations are much the same as you would find in small towns and villages up and down the country, it has its special twist. After the annual Hogmanay Ceilidh at a local hotel, the community gathers in The Square where drams of whiskey and pieces of shortbread are shared out to see in the bells, courtesy of the local Glenfiddich distillery and Walkers biscuit factory. Slainte!

Aberdeen’s Traditional Scottish Hogmanay

For something a little different, book a ticket to Hogmanay Live! in Aberdeen with two shows at the Tivoli Theatre – an evening of traditional Scottish music with Graham Geddes and friends, followed by the second show of Dancing on Tables, a five-piece indie-pop band from Dunfermline. Or enjoy a traditional Hogmanay Ceilidh at the Beach Ballroom.

Burghead ‘s Burning Of The Clavie

The residents of Burghead in Moray don’t celebrate their New Year on 31 December. Instead, they ignore the Gregorian calendar introduced in the 1750s and continue to celebrate ‘old Hogmanay’ on 11 January instead. They parade the clavie – a wooden barrel filled with wooden staves – through the town before setting it alight on a nearby hill, smoldering well into the next day. The origins of the festival are subject to debate, but as it takes place later than the official New Year’s Eve, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate twice!

Comrie Flambeaux

Like many of Scotland’s famous fire festivals, the Comrie Flambeaux is likely to be pagan in origin – when the fire was used to warn away evil spirits of the old year – but no one in this Perthshire village is certain of when it first began. On New Year’s Eve, eight or so lit torches, some nearly 10 ft in height, parades around the small village at midnight. The procession is accompanied by music, people in fancy dress and general merriment and celebration before the torches are thrown into the River Earn.

Hogmanay House

As the new year begins, celebrate the magic and origins of Hogmanay at Lauriston Castle with musicians, magicians, and storytellers. Located in secluded grounds on the outskirts of Edinburgh, this stunningly beautiful castle is rich in history with spectacular views over the Firth of Forth. Explore its opulent rooms, secret passages and hidden chambers as you uncover some of the weirdest and most wonderful Hogmanay traditions from around Scotland from the 2nd – 5th of January. Hogmanay House is part of Magicfest.

For fans of the national fireworks and parties, there is only one place to celebrate New Year’s Eve… Rotterdam! New Year’s Eve in Rotterdam guarantees you a festive start of the New Year. In this article, we will try to give you an impression of the festivities.

The Biggest Firework Show Of The Netherlands

The best and biggest firework show in The Netherlands can be seen live at the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam. People come from all over just to be there. First, there will be a firework show for children at 19.00 hours and at midnight the real spectacle will begin. Next to the main show at the Erasmus bridge, there will be two other firework shows in Hoek van Holland and Nesselande. Lighting your fireworks is prohibited at many spots in Rotterdam.

Touch-Of-Gold

At Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre and Mainport New Year’s Eve is a big thing. This year the theme will be “Touch-of-Gold”. As many people already know the 16th floor with Panorama view is the place to be for New Year. The celebration will include, DJ’s, Champagne, “oliebollen”, a photo booth and the best view on the National Fireworks. For a complete night out you can book the live cooking dinner buffet with, of course, a grand dessert.

If you prefer to watch the fireworks from the comfort of your room we’ve got you covered as well! We would be happy to serve you with a cold bottle of Champagne.

Check out all the possibilities to spend New Year’s Eve in Rotterdam! Are you going to enjoy New Year’s Eve till the wee hours? On New Year’s Day, there is a late breakfast buffet and an extended check-out time.

Take a look at the specials at Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre and the specials at Mainport.

Parties

Besides the Firework show, there are plenty of other fun activities for New Year’s Eve in Rotterdam. What would you think of a disco cruise? While enjoying bites and drinks you get to go boogie on the dancefloor and watch the firework show from the water.

Festival organizer TIKTAK also promises quite happening in the Maassilo. They will have parties in the entire country and aim to have the biggest countdown in The Netherlands.

You’ll be surprised!

On December 31, Vienna’s old city center transforms into a giant party zone: From 2 p.m. in the afternoon to 2 a.m. the following morning, top entertainment is guaranteed by the New Year’s Eve Trail in the city center, at City Hall Square and in the Prater. Along the New Year’s Eve Trail, dozens of gastronomes serve you punch and culinary treats. Numerous areas provided entertainment with show programs, waltzes, operetta, rock, pop, DJ lines, and hit music. The classical area on Graben is a popular fixture. Vienna’s dance schools offer crash waltz dancing courses here during the afternoon and transform Graben into an idyllic open-air ballroom. A large firework display will be held on City Hall Square and in the Prater at midnight.

A unique New Year’s atmosphere can also be enjoyed on a boat trip along the Danube, at the New Year’s Eve Ball at the Hofburg Vienna (Imperial Palace) and New Year galas held in City Hall and the city’s leading hotels. The “Majestic Imperator”, a luxurious imperial, invites everyone to go on an exclusive ride into the new year, while “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss is performed in time-honored tradition at the Vienna State Opera and also broadcast live on the outdoor screen.

New Year’s Day in Vienna will be greeted classically with a morning “hangover cure” brunch – featuring a live broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert on a big screen – in front of City Hall (from 11 a.m., repeated at 2 p.m.)

How Is New Year’s Eve Celebrated?

New Year’s Eve is known as Silvester in Austria. It’s the Roman Catholic feast day of the same-named pope and saint, who died on December 31st, AD 335. None of which has any relevance, though, to how Vienna celebrates the turn of the year.

People party just like the rest of the world, but there are one or two little traditions in Vienna not shared by such cities as New York, London or Tokyo.

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the main national TV station plays Dinner for One, a short comedy sketch recorded in 1963 (in English!). At midnight itself, the giant Pummerin bell of Vienna’s St Stephen’s cathedral rings in the New Year with the chimes broadcast across TV and radio.

Once the last echoes of the Pummerin fade away, all hell breaks loose, as various fireworks displays across the city burst into action.

Broadcasters then switch to the Blue Danube waltz and everyone dances in the New Year as lights explode across the night sky.

Then, just to add that last touch of romance to the evening, we all swap marzipan pigs. Seriously – they are lucky charms here.

The fireworks make quite a sight (and noise), leaving Vienna a smoky haze in the early morning redolent with the smell of gunpowder (possibly just my imagination).

To get a good view of the fireworks over the city, choose from three options:

• Head up into the Vienna hills (but this takes you away from the action)
• Get seats at the Danube Tower or Das Loft restaurants, both famous for their views. Book early. Very early.
• Find your way to any of the other places known for great views of Vienna (NB: the Gloriette is inaccessible at night).

The Silvesterpfad

New Year’s Eve in Vienna is all about the Silvesterpfad, which translates literally as the “New Year’s Eve trail”. It’s a series of events and activities around the city center that typically begin at 2 pm on December 31st and runs through to 2 am the next day. Last year (2019/2020), some 800,000 people celebrated along with it.

The city puts up temporary stages, so live performers, bands, orchestras, and DJs can entertain everyone until midnight and beyond.

The Viennese ballroom dancing schools offer free waltz courses on the Graben (the pedestrianized zone that leads away from St Stephen’s Cathedral). And the State Opera House puts up a big screen outside with opera highlights. Dozens of food stand to ensure you won’t go hungry or thirsty.

Finally, at midnight, people gather in one of two places:

The Stephansplatz square in front of the cathedral to hear the midnight chimes “live”. The Rathausplatz square in front of the Rathaus town hall for a communal waltz and firework display. It’s a grand city-wide party.

New Year Markets

Vienna is, of course, famous for its Christmas markets, but why stop there? Why indeed.

A couple of these markets morph into New Year alternatives from December 27th. At the best ones, you get all the sights, sounds, smells, and (most importantly) tastes that make the Christmas versions so popular, but without the nagging sense of guilt that you ought to buy a few presents while there.

There are several markets dotted around the city, but the three big ones are:

• Schönbrunn Palace
• The Silvesterdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz
• The Silvesterdorf at Belvedere

New Year Events

The big traditional event is the New Year’s Concert given by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musikverein. What few people know is that there are three concerts with the same program:

• A “preview performance” on Dec 30
• A Silvesterkonzert on Dec 31
• The actual New Year’s Concert on Jan 1st

Good luck getting tickets for any of these. And I don’t mean that sarcastically – a lottery system decides who can buy a ticket.

You need to register at a special page on the orchestra’s website during the preceding February to have a chance. You’d think tickets would be astronomically expensive and some are, but prices start from around €20.

A lot of hotels and town palaces host special Silvester gala evenings for the 31st, too. The most well-known is probably the Hofburg Silvester Ball (the Hofburg is the winter palace of the Habsburgs).

Other prominent events include the one at the Rathaus*, the gala (and concert*) at the Kursalon, or the gala held at Palais Auersperg.

Year after year, Rio de Janeiro ranks top of the list of the world’s best places to celebrate New Year’s. With jaw-dropping firework displays, two million people happily crammed onto the famous Copacabana beach and a mix of spiritual and superstitious rituals, it’s not hard to see why. Here, we explore where to go, what to eat and what to wear to Rio’s extravagant and unforgettable New Year’s Eve parties.

Head To Copacabana Beach

Throughout Rio are some incredible parties in the city’s hottest nightclubs with open bars, live DJs and wall-shaking music. However, each year, it’s Copacabana beach that attracts the highest number of visitors with over two million party-goers taking over the sandy shores to watch one of the world’s biggest firework spectacles. The party officially begins around 8 p.m. with live bands that range from international DJs to beloved Brazilian legends, but the beach will start filling up from the early afternoon. Join in the countdown and prepare to cheer, dance and embrace strangers as the skies fill up with bright smoky lights from hundreds of fireworks being set off.

Wear White

One of the most beautiful sights during New Year’s in Rio is looking over Copacabana beach and seeing a wave of white as nearly all two million visitors dress head to toe in white clothes. The look is striking and comes from a past superstition that white brings prosperity and peace. This fashionable custom remains a firm tradition in the Brazilian New Year’s Eve celebrations. Sometimes, colored underwear is used to represent other values: green for health, yellow for money and red for romance. Be sure to dig out your white summer clothes to get glammed up for a traditional Brazilian New Year’s Eve party.

Jump Seven Waves

That’s if you can get through the crowds to the sea, that is! After the fireworks are over, it is customary to head to the sea and jump seven waves while making seven wishes, a tradition that came from honoring the Goddess of the Ocean, Iemanjá. Legend has it that after jumping the seven waves and leaving the ocean, it’s important to not look back to avoid making Iemanjá angry. It’s a wonderful custom to take part in and the atmosphere is vibrant and euphoric, so be sure to head down to the water’s edge and jump the seven waves with hundreds of other people.

Eat Well

Food and eating is an important part of Brazilian social lives, so it’s not surprising that what you eat on New Year’s Eve is considered to reflect your luck and success for the following 12 months. Lentils are supposedly good for bringing luck, but turkey and crab are unlucky, according to Brazilian tradition. There’s good news for party-goers — drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve is encouraged, as it will keep you active and full of energy for the year ahead (although these effects may not be felt on New Year’s day!).

Make a Spiritual Offering to Iemanjá, Goddess of the Ocean

Among the hustle and bustle of the rowdy crowd, relentless samba beats and exploding fireworks, some locals will quietly retreat to the shore’s edge to leave white flowers and float candles out to the sea as an offering to Iemanjá, Goddess of the Ocean, in hope that she will grant their wishes. If the offering is brought back to shore, it’s considered a sign that the wish will not be granted, which is why you may see locals wading out and pushing mini-boats out past the waves. It is a mesmerizing act to watch, as its beauty and simplicity temporarily drown out the noise of the surrounding celebrations.

Get your friends and family together and see London light up for the new year, with parties, fireworks, cruises and more on New Year’s Eve in London.

Take a look below for ideas of things to do in London on New Year’s Eve, from the London New Year fireworks and special New Year’s Eve day events to dazzling meals and parties lasting into the early hours of 2020.

Whatever your plans, make sure to check availability and book in advance to make the most of London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, as spaces are often limited.

Central London gets very busy during the evening, so make sure to plan your journey. There is usually free travel on TfL public transport services on New Year’s Eve, including the Underground, buses, DLR, London Overground and trams.

London New Year’s Eve Fireworks

The London New Year’s Eve fireworks light up central London every New Year’s Eve with a dazzling spectacle of pyrotechnics.

London’s NYE fireworks have been ticketed since 2014. If you want to be part of the celebrations on the night, you must have secured a ticket to be able to attend. Tickets for London New Year’s Eve fireworks 2019 have now sold out. Head to the official website for the latest information and make sure to follow @LDN_gov for updates on the night.

If you’re not attending the fireworks, there are plenty more London New Year’s Eve 2019 activities to enjoy – take a look at some alternatives below, including other ways to see the London NYE fireworks.

NYE Cruises With Views Of The Fireworks

• Choose a magical New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames, where you can watch the NYE fireworks and enjoy live entertainment as you welcome 2020.
• Watch the London NYE fireworks from the river on one of City Cruises’ New Year’s Eve cruises: choose from dinner cruises, speedboat rides, traditional boat trips with champagne and live music, and even dinner in the R.S. Hispaniola ship, moored opposite the London Eye.
• Take a thrilling speedboat ride with Thames Rockets, before cruising back to central London in time to see the firework show. Or tuck into a celebration hamper including bubbly on a Thamesjet speedboat as you watch the sky light up. 

Other Ways To See London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks

• Party through the decades at the Southbank Centre’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular. Take a breather from dancing and enjoy prime views of the London fireworks from the outdoor spaces.
• Treat yourself to an unforgettable London NYE at The Rooftop with free-flowing champagne and delicious food, plus views of Trafalgar Square and the fireworks. 
• Feast on scallops and beef wellington at the legendary Savoy Grill before making the most of riverside views as the sky erupts at midnight. 
• See the skyline sparkle from the riverside restaurant at Sea Containers hotel, or head to the rooftop and party with live music and an open bar at 12th Knot.
• End the year on a high with dinner and music at a restaurant with amazing views of the London New Year’s Eve fireworks.

London Restaurants For New Year’s Eve Dining

• Savor venison loin with a cold glass of champagne while enjoying the 1920s theme at St Pancras Brasserie & Champagne Bar by Searcys.
• Feast on five fabulous courses at Coq D’Argent, the sophisticated French fare on offer includes a ballotine of foie gras and yellowfin tuna.
• After a stroll past the twinkling lights of Marylebone Village, dine on seven sumptuous courses in the elegant room of Orrery. 
• Find and book a restaurant for New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve Clubs And Parties

• Dance in front of spectacular views of the fireworks, cocktail in hand, with the New Year’s Eve party at The Shard. 
• Ring in 2020 under the blue whale at the Natural History Museum with the Creatures of the Night party, featuring musical bingo, mask making and a lot of UV paint.
• Be transported to Times Square with the New Year’s Eve Ball at Battersea Evolution. The themed party pays homage to the Big Apple with dodgems and speakeasy bars.
• Dress to impress in a dazzling gold outfit at New Year at the Gold Mansion. Bedazzled by fire shows and aerial performers.
• Channel the spirit of 1960s Hong Kong nightlife with Bun House’s basement NYE Party. Dance to surf rock and nestle in a velvet booth to snack on steamed buns. 
• Get your skates on and head to the NYE Bash at Skylight’s rooftop bar, complete with an ice rink and bookable igloos to nestle in.
• Hit five NYE parties in one night with Zoo Bar’s New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl, including a glass of bubbly when the clock strikes 12.
• Get ready for a weird and wonderful night with Astroworld NYE at Concrete in Shoreditch. Expect plenty of bashment, afro beats, and hip hop tunes. 

New Year’s Eve Shows And Concerts

• Enjoy an evening of classical music from the Johann Strauss Orchestra with the Viennese New Year’s Eve Gala at the Barbican.
• Watch top comedians at the New Year’s Eve Comedy Carnival and start the New Year with a wide grin on your face.
• Head to Greenwich for a night of comedy, burgers, drinks, and dancing at Up the Creek. 
• Take in the magic of The Nutcracker as the Birmingham Royal Ballet returns to the Royal Albert Hall. 
• Grab a glass of bubbly and enter a subversive world filled with circus and cabaret with La Clique’s NYE Spectacular.

Day And Evening NYE London Ideas

• Enjoy an afternoon skate at one of London’s top ice-skating rinks.
• Get stuck into festive fun at Winter Wonderland with rides, markets, and shows.
• Take the family to a top Christmas show or a spectacular West End performance (not all productions have shows on New Year’s Eve, so check dates in advance).
• Tick off some of London’s top attractions, many of which are open during the day on New Year’s Eve.
• Watch The Shard illuminate the sky with a special New Year’s Eve light show.

Things To Do On New Year’s Day

• Start the new year off with the London New Year’s Day Parade 2020, which usually sees around 10,000 performers parade through central London.
• Hit the shops in one of London’s top shopping destinations to pick up bargains in the January sales.
• Marvel at the Christmas lights, which can still be spotted across the city.
• Take a look at what else is on in London on New Year’s Day.

Germany’s capital city is known for its hedonistic parties and underground clubs, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s also one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve. In an explosion of energy, debauchery, and diversity, the city’s anything-goes attitude takes hold of the New Year and lights up the evening for an unforgettable night. Here are 11 reasons why Berlin is the best place to spend New Year’s Eve.

A Midnight Is An Explosive Event

As amateur firework shows fill the streets, the real deal will wow visitors at Brandenburg Gate. As the clock strike midnight, one of the city’s most iconic sights, along with streets around the city, light up in a spectacular display.

Some Of The Best Clubs

Berlin is home to some of the best clubs in the world, known for the high-end culture, hedonism and sexy attitude they emulate. On the 31st, these temples of techno open their doors for wild and uninterrupted parties to help you ring in the New Year to a serious beat.

The Clubs Will Stay Open For Days

Berlin’s infamous techno clubs are known for their long opening hours, and on New Year’s Eve, these clubs turn it up a notch with nonstop, open-for-days parties.

Fireworks Are Everywhere

It just wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without a sky filled with colorful, electric fireworks, and the people of Berlin take this seriously. The city lifts its ban on the illicit pyrotechnics, letting its locals and visitors celebrate with a wild night of letting off rockets, fireworks, and sparklers. The streets ignite in a chaotic explosion of sound, color, and energy.

There Is An Electric Atmosphere On The Streets

No other city parties like Berlin and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Also known as Silvester, millions of visitors and residents descend on the city’s streets to enjoy a wild night of explosive fireworks, wild parties, and an incomparable atmosphere.

You Can Celebrate With People From All Over The World

As a city bursting with multiculturalism and one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, New Year’s Eve in Berlin will see you celebrating with people from across the globe. Ring in the New Year with a mixture of culture and diversity while letting loose at parties all over the city.

You Can Escape The Madness For Higher Ground

If you, like most of the world, believe fireworks are best enjoyed from a distance and with a skyline view, then Berlin has plenty of rooftop parties to choose from. Dotted around the city, Berlin’s rooftop bars fill up for a festive night of debauchery, dancing and stunning views of the city’s electric midnight show.

You Can Head Over To One Of Europe’s Biggest Open-Air Parties

For the city’s most legendary New Year’s Eve party, head over to Brandenburg Gate, as around one million visitors gather there to bring in the New Year, at one of Europe’s largest open-air parties. Extending for two kilometers, the Silvester party offers multiple stages, party tents, a plethora of food and explosive fireworks, light and laser show.

Or Enjoy The City’s Biggest Indoor Party

The Kulturbrauerei is home to a multitude of businesses, clubs, and restaurants, and on New Year’s Eve, they all join forces to offer the largest indoor party in the city. With one ticket, visitors can enjoy an explosive party at eight different clubs, offering 13 different dance floors. Serving up a range of musical stylings, great food, and an electric atmosphere, it’s one of the most diverse and exciting parties in the city.

You Can Ring In The New Year With World-Class DJs

Berlin’s infamous club culture means drawing in big-name DJs and acts is a regular event. As the clock strike midnight, clubs across the city will be ringing with thumping beats from world-class DJs and performers.

There Is A Party For Everyone

Whether you’re a techno-loving club kid, enthralled by big parties and stunning light displays, or prefer something a little more low-key, Berlin has a party and event for you. The city’s diversity and uniqueness are only amplified on New Year’s Eve, so regardless of your interests, one thing is for sure, you will have an explosive, electric night in Berlin.

Sydney’s world-famous New Year’s Eve show kicks off from 6 pm when thrilling air displays take over the skies above the harbor, fire tugs create striking water displays and Sydney’s traditional indigenous custodians perform a Welcome to Country.

At 9 pm, a special fireworks display for kids and families is followed by an enchanting Harbour of Light Parade. On the stroke of midnight, dazzling fireworks erupt from barges on the water, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

See the display from incredible vantage points around Sydney Harbour, such as the Sydney Opera House or the nearby Royal Botanic Garden. The Sydney Opera House also hosts an Opera Gala each year, with intervals timed for the 9 pm and midnight fireworks.

You can also experience Sydney’s New Year’s Eve from one of the beautiful Sydney Harbour Island parties, situated in the stunning surrounds of the harbor. Or celebrate the New Year with spectacular, family-friendly fireworks at Darling Harbour. See fantastic light shows every hour from 7 pm and brilliant fireworks at 9 pm and midnight. This event is family-friendly and accessible.

Another alternative location is on a cruise on Sydney Harbour where you’ll enjoy great food and wine and 360-degree views of the city, the harbor and the bridge.

Enjoy spectacular views, a festive atmosphere and live entertainment at one of Sydney’s famous hotels. The Park Hyatt, Four Seasons Hotel, Intercontinental, Shangri-La and Pier One all offer a variety of New Year’s Eve party and accommodation options to help you celebrate and see in the New Year.

The Star is another popular location for celebrations, with a number of festive programs, restaurants, and bars to help make the night memorable. These venues also have easy access to harbourside locations in and around Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay.

Things To Do On New Year’s Eve In Sydney:

1. Make A Day Of It

Before the family firework display begins at 9 pm, Sydney Harbour is the setting for a host of activities and pre-show entertainment. Previous years’ festivities have included aerial displays, a sunset demonstration of fire tug water cannons, and a traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking ceremony, which uses eucalyptus smoke to cleanse the harbor of negative spirits. Many roads around the city will be closed during the event, so the best way to travel to and from the city center is via bus, train, ferry or light rail.

2. See The Fireworks From The Foreshore

Numerous vantage points around the Sydney Harbour foreshore provide fantastic views of the fireworks. Access to many of these vantage points is free, but some areas are sectioned off for ticket holders, and you’ll need to buy tickets in advance. To be smack bang in the middle of the action, secure a spot at the Sydney Opera House, the Circular Quay promenade or at Mrs. Macquaries Point in The Domain. Alternatively, head to the north side of the bridge to Mary Booth Reserve at Kirribilli or Blues Point Reserve at McMahons Point.

3. Head Out On The Water

Take in the fireworks from the water aboard a New Year’s Eve cruise. There are a number of cruise operators to choose from, and packages include canapés, dinner, beverages, live entertainment, and a party atmosphere. Many cruises also take part in the Harbour of Light Parade, where decorated vessels dance across the harbor from Goat Island to Cockatoo Island and back. Cruises return after the midnight fireworks.

4. Stay Close To The Action

When it comes to booking accommodation in Sydney for New Year’s Eve, it’s all about one thing: an epic view. There are countless hotels around the harbor that offer spectacular vistas from their suites, or special firework viewing areas that are reserved for guests. The luxurious Park Hyatt Sydney is nestled between the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and most rooms have a private balcony overlooking the water. The coveted Grand Harbour View Rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel offers panoramas over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, while the wraparound rooftop terrace above the InterContinental boasts enviable vistas. There are also countless budget-friendly options in the city center, including serviced apartments and youth hostels, so in the wee hours of the morning, you won’t have to travel far to rest your head.