24Lisa

I know I'm probably not being very specific but we are looking to go to Europe for about 5-7 nights leaving just after Christmas staying through New Years. We're coming from Chicago and the only place in Europe we have been is Ireland.

We really want something that will be beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations and has good New Years celebrations (fireworks...)

Since we will be there for 5-7 nights, there needs to be alot to see also.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond, you have already been very helpful with other trips I have planned to Asia/Africa. Thanks again.

travelphile

Sigh... I was going to suggest Dublin, but it sounds like Ireland isn't in the running.

We hopped across the pond to Dublin across NYE for 4 nights in 2003/2004 - it was wonderful! DH and I have been together for 10 yrs and NYE at Christ's Church is one of my favorite memories (on NYE it is like the Times Square of Dublin)

You can find the trip report under my screen name. Good luck choosing!

P_M

There are so many options you will get a lot of good ideas.

In January 2000 I greeted the new year in Rhodes, which is a Greek island. That was a great party with perfect weather, but I only halfway recommend it because so many places close for the winter in the Greek islands.

I rang in 2004 in the main square of Lisbon. There was a concert, dancing, a laser light show, and of course fireworks. It was a wild time, but unforgettable. The Christmas decorations were beautiful. Another great thing about Lisbon is that is's not as cold as some parts of Europe.

24Lisa

Any opinions on Amsterdam, Prague, or Zurich for New Years?

We like to spend New Years somewhere different each year. We have spent it in New York, Las Vegas, and Mexico. My birthday is Christmas Eve and I turn 30 this year so I was thinking about something a little more special.

Thanks

allovereurope

Amterdam doesn't do all that much for New Years (most restaurants are closed!)--Vienna is way better (but cold!). You can go to any one of a number of New Year's eve balls--they are available on the tourism website. And then go to a traditional New Year's Eve concert the next day. Or, do as we did, and sleep off the hangover.

I don't think anyone does New Year's like New York.

PalenqueBob

the week between Christmas and New Years is hopping in Amsterdam - hotels are impossible to get - i know i tried to arrange one a few years ago for my son - couldn't find anything - they said that for the whole week Amsterdam was obscenely crowded - a huge party with appropriate New Year's Eve partying. In Zurich they roll up the sidewalks when stores close - in the main train station not long ago on a Sunday all the shops - all were closed by about 8pm - nothing in town open - may have great New Years but i doubt it. In times i've been in Europe at Christmas there has been a paucity of Christmas decorations - i went to paris once expecting lots and found just a few - ditto for London. Edinburgh has what is considered Europe's best New Year's Even party - Hoogamany (sp?) a citywide revelry - not been there but something else i gather. Paris has some good street parties as well.

Patrick

I'll never forget the year we arrived in Lucerne for a week on Christmas Day. Each evening they lit the real candles on the tree in the bar/lobby.
Chestnuts roasting in the streets in Zurich where they had beautiful lights and decorations. Snow falling in the pretty little town of Brienz. New Year's Eve at the Ratskeller in Lucerne.

g33kgrl

I spent New Year's Eve 2003/2004 in Rome. They were supposed to have a big concert but it was canceled due to terrorism fears. After a lovely dinner, we spent the evening at the Spanish Steps with thousands of other people, watching fireworks and drinking spumante. Then we walked down to Trevi Fountain and made our wishes for the new year. It was great!

suze

Paris?... Are there fireworks in Paris? There's certainly plenty to see & do to fill 5-7 days.

Although I love Patrick's suggestion for Switzerland myself.

palmettoprincess

Scotland is to New Years what Bethlehem is to Christmas. Auld Lang Si was written by Robert Burns and they think they invented the holiday. Edinburgh is traditional and mystic. Glasgow is modern and sophisticated. Better book a hotel now if you want to join in on the fun.

kenman

New Years in Europe is a great idea, Lisa. We did Venice last year and Paris the year before, and had a great time in each. In Venice, there were fireworks in St. Marks at midnight; I'm sure there were fireworks in Paris (probably at the Eiffel Tower or the Arc?), but we were in the midst of a wild party at Alcazar and didn't make it outside.

Obviously, both are really lovely cities. Between the two, it would be a tough call. Paris probably had more Christmas decorations, but Venice also has those costume party masks (like in Eyes Wide Shut) that lend a very festive air to the holiday fete. Both are fairly chilly at that time of year, but it's tough to come up with a more romantic setting. Enjoy!

suze

Montreux, Vevey, Lausanne along Lac Leman in Switzerland (1 hour outside Geneva) would be very beautiful at the holidays. Montreux has a Christmas market.
www.montreux.ch
www.vevey.ch

sheila

Edinburgh wholly fits your bill.

http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/

gives the details

janis

My choices would be 1) Edinburgh (definitely my first choice) 2) either Paris or Venice. Of the two I'd probably pick Paris because it is a better place to be if the weather is wicked.

Hogmanay -- Scottish New Year -- in Edinburgh is the best street party in Europe. The center of town is one huge party venue w/ many bandstands and events. And the fireworks over the castle are awesome.

There is a lot to see/do in Edinburgh on the days before and after the Hogmanay celebrations. Plus you can take short train rides to places like Glasgow and Stirling for day trips out of the city.

But if you do choose Edinburgh, get your accomodations as soon as possible, like yesterday . . . .

Budman

I was looking at Edinburgh also. I understand the events were cancelled because of a snow storm last year.

Brazilnut

Hi 24Lisa,

Does it have to be in Europe? Because the best New Year's eve celebrations are not necessarily there.

If you like cold weather, go to New York, otherwise go to Rio de Janeiro: it is beautiful!

mousireid

SCOTLAND of course! Hogmanay (New Years) is HUGE there and whether you are in a wee pub on a tiny island or revelling with the folks in Edinburgh you are sure to have an unforgettable time There's nowhere else I would rather be at that time. Christmas is a different story however - then I'd choose Rome or New York.

buzzer

Another vote for Hogmanay.

In addition to arranging your hotel early, buy your street party tickets early, too. They sell out.

To give you one example of the excess that is Hogmanay, in the 5 minutes after midnight they set off about an hour's worth of fireworks. If you didn't know it was a party you might be forgiven for supposing it was Armageddon.

24Lisa

Funny, I never thought of Scotland. That sounds exactly what we are looking for.

We did think about Rio but we already are planning to go there in October 06. Good suggestion thought, we did think about it.

As far a New York goes, we went there 3 years ago. It was fun, but while standing on Times Square at midnight was an experience I think everyone should have once in their lives, once was enough for me.

The cold is not an issue as we are from the Chicago area and are used to below zero (farenheit) temperatures at this time of year.

You guys are awesome, thanks for the suggestions so far.

24Lisa

If we do go to Edinburg, where do you recommend we stay?