The Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe

With fireworks lighting up historic skylines, snow-dusted streets buzzing with excitement, Christmas markets still in full swing and crowds singing into the night, Europe is one of the best places in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve. If you’re ready to wave goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026, here are some memorable places you can celebrate the dawn of a new year.

Edinburgh

When it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve, very few places do it better than Edinburgh. The Scottish capital is renowned across Europe for its wondrous Hogmanay Festival, a three-day celebration dating back to 1993 that transforms the city into a giant street party filled with music, parades, food and fireworks.

Edinburgh Hogmanay Events

29 December – Torchlight Procession

Edinburgh’s New Year celebrations begin with the Torchlight Procession, where more than 10,000 torchbearers light up the city’s cobbled streets. The procession proceeds past Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks, creating a magical and atmospheric start to the Hogmanay celebrations.

30 December – Night Afore Concert

The festivities don’t stop there. They continue at Princes Street Gardens, where traditional Scottish music rings long into the night at the Night Afore Concert. It’s one of the best ways to get into the Hogmanay spirit with dancing, live bands and stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.

31 December – Hogmanay Street Party & Fireworks

Last but not least, the main event arrives on New Year’s Eve, when Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party brings thousands of people together from across the world. Expect world-class entertainment, live performances and the city’s legendary fireworks over Edinburgh Castle. As the clock strikes midnight, revelers link arms to sing Auld Lang Syne, creating a joyous atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.

How to get to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is well-connected and easy to reach from most places in the UK, making it an ideal destination to celebrate New Year’s 2026.

By Train

You can travel to Edinburgh by train from major UK cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Leeds. Waverley Station is located in the heart of the city, making onward travel simple and fast.

By Ferry from Northern Ireland

Traveling by ferry is a popular and scenic option for those arriving from Northern Ireland. Once you arrive at Cairnryan Port, you can drive to Edinburgh in just under 3 hours.

Belfast to Cairnryan Ferry

• Duration: 2 hours 22 minutes
• Operator: Stena Line
• Cairnryan to Edinburgh: 2 hours 30 minutes – 3 hours drive

Larne to Cairnryan Ferry

• Duration: 2 hours
• Operator: P&O Ferries
• Cairnryan to Edinburgh: 2 hours 30 minutes – 3 hours drive

There are many benefits to taking the ferry from Northern Ireland to Scotland, including the flexibility to bring your own car, enjoy a relaxed crossing and continue your road trip to Edinburgh at your own pace.

Berlin

If you're searching for one of the biggest and most iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations in Europe, look no further than Berlin. The German capital evolves into a giant open-air festival on the 31st of December, with the legendary party at Brandenburg Gate attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. Celebrations get underway as early as 2pm, with a busy day of scheduled entertainment including light shows, international live music acts, DJs and cultural performances.

Brandenburg Gate New Year’s Eve Celebration

At the Brandenburg Gate event, you’ll find an extensive selection of food and drink stalls offering classic German favorites such as Bratwurst, pretzels and hearty winter dishes, alongside beer served in traditional steins. As midnight approaches, the excitement builds for the spectacular Berlin New Year’s Eve fireworks, one of the most famous displays in Europe. The official event continues until around 3am, but in true Berlin fashion, that’s only the beginning. Known for its legendary nightlife and world-class clubs, Berlin offers endless after-parties where celebrations continue well into the next morning.

More Relaxed New Year’s Eve Options in Berlin

Despite its vivacious nightlife, Berlin caters to every type of traveler, including those seeking a more relaxed celebration. You can enjoy traditional New Year’s Eve concerts at the Berliner Philharmoniker or take a romantic cruise along the Spree River. However you choose to spend your time, Berlin on New Year’s Eve is the place to be.

How to get to Berlin

Although there are no direct ferries from the UK to Germany, reaching Berlin is easy by combining a ferry crossing to the Netherlands with a scenic onward journey by train or car. This route is very popular as it gives travelers the flexibility to bring their vehicle or enjoy a relaxed overnight sailing.

Newcastle to Amsterdam Ferry

• Duration: 15 hours 45 minutes
• Operator: DFDS
• Amsterdam to Berlin: approx. 7-hour drive / 6-hour train

Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

• Duration: 11 hours 15 minutes
• Operator: P&O Ferries
• Rotterdam to Berlin: approx. 6 hours 30 minutes’ drive / 6 hours 30 minutes train

Paris

No list of the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe would be complete without Paris. The timeless City of Light certainly lives up to its namesake during the festive season, with twinkling illuminations, elegant decorations and spectacular firework displays that make the city feel truly magical.

The Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe New Year’s Eve Celebration

On New Year’s Eve in Paris, thousands gather along the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe for the city’s largest celebration of the year. A video projection lights up the monument, followed by a dazzling Paris New Year’s Eve firework display at midnight. It’s one of Europe’s most iconic ways to welcome the new year.

Exceptional New Year’s Eve Dining in Paris

Needless to say, Paris is globally renowned for its cuisine, and New Year’s Eve is one of the best nights of the year to enjoy French food. Restaurants across the city offer gourmet festive menus featuring oysters, foie gras, champagne and classic French desserts. Whether you want a romantic candlelit dinner or a lively night out with friends, Paris has a dining experience to suit every occasion. Just ensure that you make your reservations well in advance, as NYE bookings fill quickly.

Romantic and Family-Friendly New Year Options

If romance is on your mind, book a Seine River New Year’s Eve cruise. Enjoy a flute of champagne as you sail past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and the Louvre, all aglow with festive lights. And if that’s not enough, watch the sky erupt in fireworks.

For a family-friendly New Year’s Eve in Paris, Disneyland Paris is pure magic. Offering spectacular firework shows, joyful parades and the chance for children to meet their favourite Disney characters, it’s a celebration that will provide memories that last a lifetime.

How to get to Paris

It’s never been easier to get to Paris from the UK, with both ferry and Eurotunnel options available.

Ferry to France

The Dover to Calais ferry is the fastest and most popular route from the UK to France.

Dover to Calais Ferry

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Operators: Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, DFDS
• Calais to Paris: approx. 3-hour drive / 2-hour train ride

Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais

The Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais is the quickest way to cross the Channel.

Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel

• Duration: 35 minutes
• Calais to Paris: approx. 3-hour drive / 2-hour train ride

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve in Europe without question. Wherever you are in the city, you will discover festive lights reflecting across its famous canals and winter ice-skating rinks occupying its lively city squares. As the year comes to an end, Amsterdam transforms into a vibrant winter playground with entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Museumplein – The Main Amsterdam New Year’s Eve Celebration

The biggest New Year’s Eve event in Amsterdam takes place at Museumplein, where thousands gather for live performances and a spectacular fireworks display. The festivities begin early with the Electric Fireworks Junior Program at 6:45pm, a family-friendly event perfect for children who won’t be awake to enjoy the midnight countdown.

The main celebration gets underway at 10:30pm, featuring live acts, DJs and an incredible atmosphere leading up to the ten-minute countdown before midnight. Following this, the sky above Amsterdam lights up with a stunning fireworks show. Since Museumplein is free to enter, it’s best to arrive early to get yourself a good viewing spot.

More Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam

If you prefer something different, Amsterdam has plenty of ways for you to celebrate the new year. You’ll find elegant New Year’s Eve dinners, lively pub crawls, indoor music festivals and all-night club events. One of the most romantic ways to celebrate is onboard an Amsterdam New Year’s Eve canal cruise, where you can enjoy dinner, drinks and watch the fireworks from the comfort of your seat.

How to get to Amsterdam

Newcastle to Amsterdam Ferry

• Duration: 16 hours 45 minutes
• Operator: DFDS

Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

• Duration: 11 hours 15 minutes
• Operator: P&O Ferries
• Rotterdam to Amsterdam: approx. 1-hour drive / 30-minute train ride

Dublin

If you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve the Irish way, Dublin is the perfect destination. The city is famous for its lively pubs and year-round festivities, but on New Year’s Eve, Dublin takes things to a whole new level. The Dublin New Year Festival (NYF Dublin) is a spectacular 3-day celebration that features concerts, parades and cultural events spread across some of the city’s most iconic venues.

Dublin’s New Year Festival – A 3-Day Celebration

The festivities commence on 30th December at Dublin Castle with Echoes of Ireland, a showcase of Irish musicians performing live in one of the city’s most historic settings.

On New Year’s Eve, Dublin’s celebrations get into full swing at around 4pm with the Ignite and Excite Procession. This enchanting parade takes over the streets with marching bands, dancers, illuminated performers and bright costumes.

The entertainment steps up a notch with the Countdown Concert Matinee, featuring Irish artists and special guests who keep the energy high all the way to midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, the breathtaking NYF Dublin Fireworks Spectacular lights up Howth Harbour and Dún Laoghaire Harbour, accompanied by crowds singing Auld Lang Syne across the city.

More Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Dublin

Many hotels and restaurants across Dublin host themed dinners, while pubs and bars invite you inside with traditional music and dancing that often spills into the streets. For those in search of a jovial party atmosphere, Temple Bar is always packed with revelers celebrating long into the night.

And the celebrations don’t stop at midnight. On New Year’s Day, Dublin Castle and Meeting House Square host additional concerts, offering a memorable finale to your New Year trip.

How to get to Dublin

Traveling to Dublin for New Year’s Eve is easy thanks to direct ferry connections from Wales. Holyhead is well-connected by train from major UK cities such as London, Chester and Birmingham.

Holyhead to Dublin Ferry

• Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
• Operators: Irish Ferries, Stena Line

Wherever you choose to celebrate, make your journey part of the experience. Book your ferry tickets with Direct Ferries today and start planning a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget. The countdown to your next adventure begins now…