Has anyone been to Berlin for New Years? Are all the sites and tours still running? Where is the best spot to ring in the new year?
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
There'll be about a million people or more in front of the Brandenburg Gate and on the "Strasse des 17. Juni" to the "Siegessaeule". Several stages with entertainment to keep everyone happy. And of course many other events. Check out www.zitty.de
If you don't have accommodation yet, HURRY! As far as tourism goes this is the busiest time of the year for Berlin. A good place to try may be the Motel One Bellevue as it just opened a few days ago.
Sites have reduced hours. Some will be closed on Dec 31 and/or Jan 1, some are open some hours. Most of them will be closed on Jan 1 in the morning - while people try to catch up on their sleep. But there are so many sites in the city that you can fill your days easily if you time it properly. We'll have a guided tour in English of the Reichstag on Jan 1 at noon but the entire building is closed Dec 31 afer 4 pm till the next morning (usually open till midnight).
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
I would have suggested to catch a show at the Friedrichstadtpalast in the early evening and then walk down to the Brandenburg gate. But all the shows are already sold out (the world's largest show stage, obviously even larger than any of the Las Vegas ones). Also for security check issues you'd need to start lining up for getting in to the Brandenburg Gate area by 10pm. You can buy food and drinks inside, enjoy the life music and the fireworks at midnight. And yes, it's usually a million and even more people in that party mile.