New Year's Eve somehow always comes sooner than expected, doesn't it? And before you know it, New Year's Eve is already here and tickets for the best events are already sold out. So how about a spontaneous city trip?
Many people now like to celebrate the New Year in a different location. Aor a short trip with friends, traveling over New Year's Eve is becoming increasingly popular. And if you're thinking, "Oh dear, I have no idea what to do on New Year's Eve," then a spontaneous city trip might be just the thing for you. The travel portal "Tui.de“ has summarized a selection of great travel tips for New Year’s Eve, which we will now introduce to you in more detail.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is really something special on New Year's Eve. In addition to a huge fireworks display that brightly illuminates Gellért Hill, the Danube and the famous Chain Bridge at midnight, the Hungarian capital celebrates New Year's Eve with many unique traditions. For example, some people put on masks and walk around the city with them. Others welcome the New Year with a dance under the roaring fireworks.
And Budapest also has a lot of great activities to offer for your New Year's Eve trip. The city's thermal houses and springs are particularly popular, as is the coffee house culture and the great Art Nouveau buildings.
Lisbon, Portugal
Going to Portugal is only possible in summer? Well, of ways. The Portuguese capital Lisbon is also worth a visit in winter. And especially on New Year's Eve. The city not only impresses with mild temperatures of up to 15 °C, but also with great New Year's Eve customs, which you can then experience live. The biggest New Year's Eve party in Lisbon, for example, takes place at the Praça do Comércio on the banks of the Tagus, where great concerts and big fireworks await you.
Other picturesque sights in the city are the Ascensores de Lisboa, the funiculars that take you up all the hills in Lisbon. Also worth seeing is the Ponte 25 de Abril, a 3.2 kilometer long bridge with a 2,278 meter long suspension bridge that is reminiscent of the US Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin! This is a good idea, especially on New Year's Eve. If you want to see our capital in a completely different light, you should gather at the Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve, like 65,000 other partygoers, for Germany's largest New Year's Eve party (admission only with a ticket).
From a spectacular stage show with star performances by Maite Kelly, Sarah Engels and Co., which will be broadcast live in the ZDF program “Welcome 2025”, to a Ferris wheel and of course the fireworks as the crowning finale, no party wish is unfulfilled here calm.
But Berlin also has many other places to offer that are certainly worth a visit at the turn of the year. If you want to admire the fireworks, you can enjoy it on the Spree, for example. If you need a little more action on New Year's Eve, rooftop parties with a view over the city could be something for you.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Holland's city of Amsterdam is also an ideal destination for a spontaneous New Year's Eve trip. Anyone traveling from North Rhine-Westphalia can be there in just two to three hours by car and can enjoy the typical New Year's Eve customs of the Dutch from Amsterdam's streets or directly from the canals. Popular locations here are the Magere Brug bridge and the area between the Prinsengracht and the Bloemgracht. But you should be quick here, because the places with the best view are quickly occupied.
You can marvel at the largest public fireworks display on the Kop van Javaeiland, the island at the port of Amsterdam. Here you can either join the fray straight away or watch the spectacle from one of the surrounding rooftop bars.
Vienna, Austria
Anyone who has ever been to Vienna knows how beautiful Austria's capital is. The architecture of picturesque old buildings, the sights such as Schönbrunn Palace and the numerous coffee houses make the city something very special. And especially at the turn of the year, a trip to Vienna is a good idea. The so-called New Year's Eve Trail takes place here every year and runs through the old town of Vienna.
Here you can enjoy Vienna's delicious specialties with live music, various shows and performances and celebrate the year 2025. And that for a whole twelve hours. The celebration begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m. on New Year's morning.
London, England
London is always worth a trip, but especially on New Year's Eve. Because some of the best New Year's Eve parties take place here. Numerous restaurants also offer New Year’s Eve events. But you'll definitely have to be quick here if you want to get one of the coveted tickets.
If you want to experience the big London fireworks display at midnight from a very special perspective, you can book a trip on the Thames at the turn of the year and admire the spectacle from the water. There's just something magical about the view of Big Ben and Tower Bridge, especially under the colorfully lit night sky.
New Year's Eve at home? Here's how you can welcome the new year:
