Where to go if you've had enough of domestic New Year's Eve parties and want a bit of a change? Although Estonia is located in one corner of Europe, there are enough unique places to discover within a driving distance for us. Go with your family or rent a minibus and enjoy New Year's Eve with a larger group.
Germany – close enough, plenty of opportunities
Berlin is one of those cities where there is no way that New Year's Eve will go unnoticed. In 2016, more than a million people gathered around the Brandenburg Gate to welcome the New Year! More than two kilometers of stages, shows, party tents, light and laser shows and of course plenty of food and drink stalls. And at exactly midnight, you can expect a wonderful fireworks display and then parties that last until the morning and take place in hundreds of different clubs in Berlin.
A good alternative to Berlin is Dresden. A little further south, but still close enough from Estonia. The historic buildings surrounding Theaterplatz square give Dresden's New Year's Eve party a nice touch. Especially good news for families with small children - the real fireworks at midnight are preceded by fireworks for children in the earlier evening hours.
Croatia and Montenegro if you want southern warmth
Although Estonians are used to the fact that New Year's Eve parties involve freezing fingers and toes and breath visible from tens of meters away, this does not mean that the New Year cannot be welcomed in warmer conditions. In Croatia, Dubrovnik awaits with a huge New Year's Eve party on the city's main street, Stardun. Family-friendly events include performances by local artists and traditional food and drinks. Around noon on January 1, the Dubrovnik City Orchestra will also give a wonderful open-air concert.
For those who find Croatia too boring but still want a warmer New Year's Eve, Montenegro awaits them. The drive is not much longer, but if you do go, then not just for one evening. The celebrations on the main square of Budva last for four days! Concerts, from rock bands to symphony orchestras, and events for both children and adults are worth seeing. And of course – midnight fireworks.
Across the sea – Sweden and Finland
The Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm is one of the most popular places to ring in the new year. Even if you can't make it to the open-air museum, every Swede will get to experience it, as the live broadcast of the New Year's Eve will be broadcast from there. This means that Skansen can be quite a crowded place. However, even a one-off experience is a pretty good experience. However, in Sweden, as a mountainous country, you can also travel further from the capital and ring in the new year at one of the ski resorts.
Finland is also an ideal place if you want an active New Year's Eve. The best experience is probably skiing in Ruka and in the restaurant there. Kontioluola is a particularly unique experience - dinner in a restaurant in a cave and at 23:55 pm you can admire the torchlight ski descent and, of course, fireworks. A ski trip to Lapland, on the other hand, is a good, peaceful option, which is also suitable for those who are not tempted by speeding down a mountain. If you don't want to hear about skiing, you can rent a ski lift on the shore of a Finnish lake. soft and just to welcome the New Year in the company of your friends.
Poland – not just a transit country
Poland has more than just the capital Warsaw, and more and more Estonians are starting to discover the great country. A good destination for New Year's Eve is Gdansk, where celebrations take place all over the city. For animal lovers, instead of fireworks, there should be a spectacular laser light show this year, so if you have four-legged friends in your travel party, this may be the best choice. Special buses will also be running during the celebrations, so you can leave your own transport at your accommodation.
Krakow is the former capital of Poland, with over a thousand years of history, but it’s not just for history buffs. It’s also the unofficial cultural capital of Poland, so when they do something, they do it big. This also applies to New Year’s Eve celebrations! A romantic atmosphere, events supported by local performers, and at the same time a chance to party hard.
You can rent a minibus for your trip. www.rendibuss.ee