Europe over New Year's

Most of the German markets will close the day or two before Christmas. Last year we spent New Years in Seville and it was very pleasant. Have been in Paris over New Years - cold and rainy. I would vote for southern Spain or Italy just for the better weather.

We spent New Year's Eve celebrating with a million people or so at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Quite an experience!!!!! It was pretty cold though but with some toe warmers inside your boots and "Gluewein" inside your belly it's not so bad. Berlin was a great destination especially since there are also good indoor sites to see that are very worthwhile like the Pergamon museum or the Reichstag. Except for the pm of Dec 31 and am of Jan 1 everything was open and busy. And you can do some shopping in trendy Prenzlauer Berg with good sales going on. There were a few Christmas market booths still open at the Potsdamer Platz train station and at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedaechtsnis Kirche but it's not as big as it would be before Christmas.

If you're in Europe on New Years Eve think about going to Edinburgh. This is their holiday and it's always big. Think about it, we Auld Lang Syne on New Years so it makes send that the Scots' really know how to celebrate this holiday. Pam

HI let me second Edinburgh. World class museums and wonderful buildings . We were there Dec 21-28 two years ago. There is a wonderful winterfest that goes on from mid-Dec through Christmas in the central park with Christmas market, rides, food, and lots of beuatiful lights that brighten the short days. Do be aware that much closes on Christmas day and the day after which is Boxing day. I know New year`s Eve is quite an event-recommend you try to get a room immediately. Favorite sites were Castle and scottish war musuem, Scottish national Museum, Scottish Art gallery, Grass market area(we stayed at novotel hotel there and found that to be a great location. Enjoyed ghost walk through abandoned areas underground. penguins at the zoo Enjoy Mike DC

Mike made a good point: cities with famous New Year's Eve parties sell out quickly for those dates. That was the case for Berlin too. Usually one of the most affordable capitals in Europe they hiked up hotel prices substantially. Make your reservations early!

Christmas in England (London esp) can be tough, much ,if not all, closes down. No such problems over New Year. great if you know people who live there

We spent 10 days in Paris for New Year's two years ago. We arrived in Bruges on 12/27 and they had their Christmas market in full swing. We even found a couple of smaller ones after arriving in Paris on 12/29. It was quite cold the year we went, but coming from NYC the cold will probably not affect you the same way it did us. Paris is beautifully, and tastefully, decorated for the holidays. It is not as in-your-face over the top decorating like it can be in the U.S.

It´s probably worth pointing out that Christmas markets can be found in France, Belgium and the Netherlands (and probably other countries I don´t know about). They aren´t an exclusively German tradition. In fact, the two largest and most elaborate I have ever seen are in Leuven and Hasselt, both in Belgium.

Thanks very much to all of you - these are all great ideas. Merci - gracias - danke!