New Year’s Europe – ringing in the cost of a continental break

As December diaries fill up with Christmas shopping, family visits and the all-important Boxing Day sales, New Year’s Eve is rarely overlooked. A highlight of the social calendar, it’s a chance to see our nearest and dearest and raise a glass to what’s ahead. For the more adventurous travelling types who want to take in more than the traditional firework display this New Year’s Eve, we can point you in the right direction.

We’ve compiled a guide to five European cities that breaks down the cost of a visit to each. It includes everything from the cost of a pint in Paris to a bed in Berlin, so you can decide where to get the best value-for-money trip. So read on if you fancy splashing out on a New Year mini-break to remember.

Amsterdam
With canal-side walks and culture spilling from every gallery and museum, Amsterdam is well worth spending more than a day in. But if you’re heading there for New Year, there’s also plenty of festive fun on the menu. With a three-course meal and club night at Old & New 2017, or a casual-chic cruise off Ruyterkade pier 14, you can choose your own Amsterdam adventure. Hotels hover around the £150 mark for New Year’s Eve, making Amsterdam’s hotel rooms the most expensive of the five from our research. That’s no reason to miss out on what promises to be a great evening taking in the sights, though.
Total per person: £440.60

Barcelona
Barcelona always brings its A-game for visitors keen to soak up some culture, but when it comes to New Year’s Eve, it takes things up another notch. The NYE party at Poble Espanyol draws you into the beautiful surroundings of the open-air architectural museum, with the soundtrack of Europe’s top DJs. Alternatively, check out the club night at Pacha, playing music that will get you hyped for the midnight countdown and chill you out afterwards. After Amsterdam, Barcelona is putting on the most affordable events, averaging out at around £50 per person. It’s a great way to ring in the New Year with some stunning scenery.
Total per person: £408.41

Berlin
Divided by the Wall for so long, Berlin has grown faster than most European destinations in recent years and now offers a diverse range of entertainment – so you know there’s plenty to do for the New Year. For under £400 a head, you can sample the creative atmosphere for yourself – the lowest overall total in our guide. Hotels are the second cheapest on our list, and the cost of a good meal is very affordable too. For your New Year celebration, choose between an 8-in-1 ticket to Berlin’s hottest clubs, or enjoy an evening’s dinner and dancing in a beautiful palace ballroom overlooking Lake Tegel.
Total per person: £396.11

Paris
Whether you’re on the steps of Sacré-Coeur or mingling with the crowd along the Champs-Élysées, there’s a special New Year buzz in the Parisian night air. Before that, choose between a cruise on the scenic Seine with dinner and dancing, or a meal at the world-famous Le Duplex nightclub featuring violinists in concert. Either way, you can still ring in the New Year beneath the towering l’Arc de Triomphe. Paris hotels average a little over £50 per night, the cheapest on our list by far, so you can be sure of an affordable New Year getaway if you choose to spend it in the French capital.
Total per person: £400.30

Prague
At a shade over £500 per person, it may be the most expensive way to spend the New Year in our guide, but this Bohemian beauty at its dazzling best is one not to be missed. It’s the cheapest on our list in terms of food and drink, so check out what’s on offer at the fusion restaurants and rooftop bars throughout the city. If you’re keen to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style, book tickets for a scenic river cruise featuring a smooth jazz act. Enjoy a few glasses of fizz on the top deck when the fireworks go off at midnight.
Total per person: £502.59

If you’re looking to try something different for the New Year, it’s a great chance to see a new side to your favourite European city. So why not take the plunge and see how Europe steps up its game when it comes to celebrating?

Prices correct at time of research, November 2017.