Every year, Berlin attracts thousands of people from all over the world to celebrate the New Year. This occasion usually implies celebrations with friends and strangers at various open-for-days parties at bars, in local clubs, and on popular squares. When we say "open-for-days parties", we mean that these parties can truly last for days! Yes, Berliners know how to bid farewell to the old year and keep the dance floor grooving all through the night, making New Year's Eve one of the best times to visit Berlin.
New Year's Eve at Brandenburg Gate
Once you come to the city center, it's almost impossible to miss the annual party concentrated on a 1.2 mile (2 km) stretch between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column along Straße des 17 Juni. The festival program covers numerous live performances, light & laser shows, DJ sets, shows, and lots of food and drinks from all over the world. The peak of celebration comes with spectacular fireworks at midnight when visitors and Berliners alike enter a new year, called Silvester in German.
Best places for NYE parties
If you are looking for local hotels, bars, or clubs that regularly host Berlin's New Year's Eve events, check Spindler & Klatt, famous Kreuzberg, the Kulturbrauerei, ALICE Rooftop & Garden, Watergate, Kater Blau, and Ritter Butzke. These spots are about to throw parties you won't be able to put out of your mind.
Other famed gathering points outdoors
If you want to be surrounded by like-minded people ready to paint the town red, head to Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz, Friedrichstraße, and Kurfürstendamm. For quirky desires, go to Kreuzberg, a district of Berlin (or "home to students and artists"), filled with street art, authentic bars, and thrift shops.
New Year's Eve at the Citadel
Well, Berlin is a versatile city, where everyone will find something for themselves, and it's not only about wild parties. This event is held at the citadel in Spandau, featuring a family party, four fireworks displays, four stage shows, a children's program, and a lot of opportunities to have fun. The children's program starts at 3 pm. Dancing part begins at 7 pm and the revelry continues through 3 am. The online tickets are €10 for kids, and €26 for general admission, while prices at the gate rise to €12 and €30 respectively.
Since the details of the events change every year, we suggest you check with the official websites in the External Resources below. And yes, when coming to Berlin, one day wouldn't be enough for sure. So, you can use the map suggesting the best-in-class places to stay nearby.
