New Year's Eve in Europe

Everywhere in Europe you'll find celebrations and festivals on New Year's Eve. Each country gives it's own spin on celebrating New Year's Eve and some European cities have special celebrations. The biggest New Year's Eve parties are found in the European capital cities, of course. What's common to most? Often, big fireworks displays ring in the New Year.

Join us for a survey of what you might experience on New Year's Eve in Europe.

New Year's Eve in Amsterdam

New Year's Eve in Holland is really called Old Year's Evening. But whatever you call it, if you're looking for the big party scene, Amsterdam is the place to go. The streets and squares will be filled with people and there are plenty of parties in bars and clubs. Not the place to be if you don't like crowds.

Read more about New Year's Eve in Amsterdam

New Year's Eve in France and Paris

In France, you can go clubbing in Paris or other big French cities but France offers some unique ways to celebrate New Year's Eve. You can enjoy a romantic Seine River cruise, a torchlight procession to pick grapes at midnight, or an illuminated city tour of Avignon.

More suggestions for celebrating New Year's Eve in France and in Paris.

New Year's Eve in Italy

La Festa di San Silvestro, New Year's Eve, is celebrated all over Italy with a special traditional dinner, fireworks, music and dancing, and prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. The Fat Ox Fair is held in Bologna on New Year's Eve and the tradition of Lo Sciuscio is still practiced some places in the south.

Rome and Naples are good places to celebrate in Italy.

Find out more about Italy's New Year's Eve traditions and celebrations and be sure to wear your red underwear on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve in London

The highlight of New Year's Eve in London is the huge fireworks display. Lots of London clubs have special New Year's Eve parties and restaurants have special New Year's Eve dinners. You can also take a cruise on the River Thames or attend the largest fetish ball in Europe, the Torture Garden New Year's Eve Ball.

Read more about New Year's Eve in London and find out the best places to watch the fireworks.

In Scotland it's Hogmanay!

"Hogmanay is a Scottish celebration; it is the celebration of New Years Eve and can last for days. No-one celebrates the eve quite like the Scots." So do some First-Footing, will ya? Hogmanay - New Years Eve in Scotland

New Year's Eve in Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is known as a good place to party on the long, dark winter nights. New Year's Eve starts out calmly with a service in the Cathedral, dinner, and a bonfire. At midnight, the fireworks go off and then it's downtown to party until at least 5am.

You can even watch the fireworks in Reykjavik live on the web. Go to www.icelandnaturally.com at 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST on 12/31 (midnight Icelandic time) to see the fireworks over Iceland’s capital city.

Find out more about New Year's Eve Celebrations and Customs in Reykjavik

New Year's Eve in Ireland

In Scotland, Bernd Biege give us a blow by blow description of the 12 days of Christmas, which includes New Year's Eve and New Year's day, of course.

Read more about Ireland's 12 Days of Christmas

Noche Vieja in Spain

New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) in Spain is a party night like everywhere else in the world, though the structure is a little different to in other countries, says travel expert Damian Corrigan. So grab a flute of Cava and some food and enjoy!

Stockholm, Sweden - Head for the Ice Bar

If you're looking for a real winter experience, why not head to the Absolut Icebar Stockholm. Don't worry about not having warm enough clothes, admission includes warm clothing. Only 30 people at a time can enter the Icebar so you'll need a reservation.

Absolut Ice Bar Stockholm pictures and information.