The Best Ways to Spend New Year's Eve in Berlin

What better perspective to watch the city light up than from above? If you are a person who doesn’t like to necessary be inside the throws of the mosh pit, but likes to watch the chaos from a safe distance, then find a rooftop and enjoy the show. Even if you want to be inside the main attraction, beginning your night with a few drinks on a rooftop is always pleasant, especially if the sky is constantly lighting up in the background. Makes for a romantic and intimate setting, don’t ya think?

Whether you are staying at a hostel or at a friend’s place in Berlin, try to get some people together and welcome the New Year with some tasty homemade cooking to get your best start on the year to come. Drinking and eating casually with some people can be a great way to spend your New Year’s as part one of the evening, to then go out into the streets and clubs for dancing and fun. As an alternative, you can keep your fun indoors and keep it safe, personal, and even have an early night. Both options sound equally appealing.

If you’re traveling on a budget, this may not be the best option for you, but if you feel like this New Year’s you want to go all out, and keep yourself free and open to every possibility, dancing all night and day in some of the best clubs in Berlin is definitely a good option. There are also loads of parties going on all around the city, so you are not limited to waiting on a long club line, unless you are determined to get inside a specific club, or dance to a specific DJ set. You can also look out for New Year’s parties in welcoming flats and bars in every Berlin neighborhood.

Get your fireworks weeks in advance, it will be your most useful tool this New Year’s in Berlin. Even if you think you don’t like to light fireworks, you might find yourself in the scene wishing you could test out your own exciting rocket. Don’t miss out on what might be your only chance to light up your city with awesome fireworks. Just a friendly warning, try to keep it safe, there are far too many mistakes and accidents on this special night.

In the local Berlin bars, or Kneipe, which are home to many of the true Berlin natives, there is often a cute little food table of cheese and sausages in the back room, stellar music that only an oldie from Berlin would be clever enough to play, and a potentially great dance party. Get dancing with the locals, drink some cheap large beers, and celebrate the New Year with true Berliners.

Map out your desired destinations and try to stick to one neighborhood, since transportation can be a real challenge, even if waiting on a platform holding half the city might be a great opportunity to meet people on the way to where you thought you were going. You may end up finding the best party in Berlin this way, if you ever make it into a train, that is.

Just because 90% of the city is out having a party doesn’t necessarily mean you should be out there with them. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood to keep it crazy. Instead, you may want to keep it calm. Having a small celebration, kicking back and taking it easy inside your cozy apartment, or room, can be the best alternative. Go with how you feel that night and stick to your intuition – it’s always the best option.