It only happens once a year and is the last night you can break your resolutions (without
feeling guilty), so you want to make sure it’s an epic one. That’s right, I am talking about
New Year’s Eve. From one-of- a-kind cultural traditions, to blow out all-nighters, I have
teamed up with hen and Stag Specialists Last Night of Freedom have rounded up the very
best places to spend December 31st.
Berlin
Known as ‘Silvester’ in the capital, those Germans sure know how to throw a party.
Celebrated mainly on the winding two kilometre stretch between the Brandenburg Gate
and the Victory Column, around a million people take to this ‘party strip’ each New Year’s
Eve in Berlin. There’s laser shows, food stalls, large projector screens and entertainment at
every turn. Guten Rutsch!
Edinburgh
If there’s ever been a more justified “I was there” bragging right, it’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
The Scottish celebrations are well known around the world, with open air Ceilidhs, outdoor
concerts and whopping firework displays taking over the entire city. Although ‘Hogmanay’
translates as ‘last day of the year’, the celebrations usually span across three days, kicking
off with a glorious torch lit procession throughout Edinburgh on the 30th December.
London
Our quintessentially English capital is a cracking place to celebrate New Year. Around a
quarter of a million people annually crowd the banks of the River Thames and its iconic
surrounding landmarks, to see in the New Year together. Big Ben chimes in the final hour of
the year, then there’s a spectacular 10-minute lights show and fireworks display
surrounding the London Eye and the Palace of Westminster.
Las Vegas
The bright lights of Sin City get that little bit brighter on December 31 st . New Year is one of
the only celebrations which sees the Las Vegas Strip closed to cars and transform into a
giant street party, with live bands, pyrotechnics and laser shows. There are also pop up
parties in every nook and cranny of the entire city, including clubs, hotels and casinos, and
even fireworks launched from several rooftops along the Strip. You’ll be among over
300,000 visitors drinking and mingling, so prepare for the night of your life.
Barcelona
There’s literally nowhere in the world more magical to spend New Year than the Magic
Fountains of Montjuic in Barcelona. With jaw dropping music, water and lights shows,
they’re a great place to unite against the cold and listen to those bells chime. Starting at
11pm, the best bit about these celebrations is that they’re absolutely free.
Amsterdam
There are lots of different ways of spending New Year in Amsterdam. You can wrap up warm
and taking to the Oosterdocks to see a spectacular firework display behind the tall ships,
dance the night away in one of the city’s biggest clubs, or even (carefully) wander the canals
to take in the city’s tradition of setting off fireworks on every bridge. Whatever you do,
make sure you embrace the local culture by feasting on oliebollen and Champagne to see in
the New Year.
Reykjavik
Iceland’s mystical capital epitomises everything I love about this season; from cosy blankets
of snow and hand-warming drinks, to getting wrapped up and watching magical Northern
Lights dance around the sky. Kicking off with bonfires which symbolise burning the old
year’s problems (we like it), the celebrations develop into fireworks, hot springs and
firework displays. New Year in Reykjavik is defiantly something to tick off your bucket list.
Madrid
The Spanish capital hosts one long party on New Year’s Eve, with cava being cracked open
earlier than midday. In Spain, their New Year’s tradition doesn’t revolve around resolutions,
but grapes. If you can manage to stuff 12 grapes into your mouth when the midnight chimes
strike, then you’ve achieved good luck for the entire of the coming year. Hamster
impressions at the ready…
Newcastle
The Geordie homeland is a mint place to spend New Year’s Eve. Known for its Epic
Newcastle stag do’s, it’s a mecca for all things wild. For a true Geordie Shore experience,
you could take to the Diamond Strip nightlife area and get proper mortal (make sure to book
guestlist entry as these places get rammed) or even take a walk up to the Town Moor and
Exhibition Park, for an impressive bonfire and epic fireworks display. Auld lang syne sorted,
whey aye.
Paris
The chic French capital’s celebrations live up to their massive reputation. Hordes of people
take to the Eiffel Tower to witness the lively lights show on the monument, all to a backdrop
of premium fireworks. There are even boat cruises along the Seine, to make sure you see in
the New Year in the most romantic way possible. Take us there now, s'il vous plait.
If none of these tickle your fancy, firstly, what’s wrong with you? And secondly, why not
take a look at Last Night Of Freedom’s huge range of destinations for more inspiration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*This is a guest blog post. Therefore, I have not written this content myself and it has been provided to promote Last Night of Freedom's destinations.
good post
ReplyDelete