New Years Eve in Paris
 

My wife and I will be in Paris on New Years Eve and are trying to gather information as to the best place to partake in the festivities. Is there an equivalent to the New York Times Square ball dropping or the Hong Kong fireworks? What is the best place to bar/cafe hop? Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

We were in Paris over NYE in 2009/2010 and had a lovely late dinner. Most restaurants will have a set menu so its a good idea to reserve in advance.

Paris doesnt have fireworks, but I think most people gather on Champs d'elysee, Eiffel Tower and Sacre Couer.

Here is our trip report with pics if you are interested:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...stmas-2009.cfm

The Champs Elysées is indeed the main gathering place. Nothing really happens other than goodwill among strangers from everywhere in the world. You may be kissed a lot at midnight.

You mean there aren't a bunch of drunks wandering around the streets making trouble or carrying liquor in public, maybe breaking bottles?

Most Parisians I know either stay home and celebrate with family or make reservations for a prix-fixe meal and celebration at their favorite restaurant. Those reservations are generally made months in advance, so if that's an experience you'd enjoy I'd suggest you get on that right away. A lot of restaurants won't or can't even take walk-in customers because they hold these special celebrations.

I can't speak to what happens on the Champs Elysées.

There were fireworks when we were there in 2005; don't know if it's an every year thing or not. We had our 3 daughters along, so did not wish to be on the Champs Elysee, as we had heard it got a bit raucous, so we joined a well behaved throng in the area between Invalides and the Seine. Looking back and to our left, we could see the Eiffel start to sparkle right at midnight, and the fireworks launched from Pl. Concorde, I think, which is across the river and slightly to the right.
When we visited Notre Dame the next day, a large crowd had gathered there as well, judging from the number of wine and champagne bottles littering the area. And of course, the Champ de Mars in front of the tower had been packed with celebrants, too.

The fireworks in 2005 were to support the Olympic bid for 2012 which Paris lost anyway.