New Year’s Eve in Berlin

Updated: Oktober 12, 2021

You’re in Berlin over the holidays and don’t know what to do at New Year’s Eve? Celebrate the new year with Berliners eating their name-sake donut cakes, melting metal for good luck, partying till dawn, with fireworks and a lot of fire crackers in the streets. New Year's in Berlin's city center can be pretty wild and noisy. Berliners will do their own fireworks and firecrackers all day on New Year's Eve.... just letting you know in case you tell us we did not warn you.  There’s a lot to do in Berlin for New Year's. And if you have not found your house party at a friend's place where you can watch the fireworks from the rooftop, here are some other ideas.

 

Enjoy Music and Theater

Check out the concert halls, opera houses, theaters and cabarets. Many of them have special shows on New Year’s Eve. You’re not likely to find the heavy stuff on that special evening, rather the pleasant, funny music and plays.

 

Visit the biggest Party in Germany: New Year’s Eve at the Brandenburg Gate

Every big city has its iconic place to spend New Year’s Eve. In Berlin, Germany’s biggest party is traditionally at the Brandenburg Gate. Where else could it be after all? Berlin is expecting around one million people to greet 2015 here. On the traditional “Party Mile”, the “Straße des 17. Juni”, between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column (Siegessäule), three stages for shows and music from Pop to Classic, party tents and a lot of food and drink stands are waiting for the party goers. At Midnight a spectacular firework will be in display – clink your Champaign glasses, it’s legal!  Admission is free, the entrances open at 10 am on December 31st, from 2 pm through 6 pm you can listen to the rehearsals, the program starts at 6:30 pm. There will be a security check at the gates, weapons and all objects that can be used as such (e.g. glass bottles) and fireworks are strictly prohibited. Check out more info on the program etc. here.

Check out the old warehouse: Universal Osthafen Spreeterrassen

The party near the beautiful Oberbaumbrücke is at a terrific location: a former cold store for eggs (yes!) made of yellow bricks, the headquarter of Universal Entertainment in Germany.  Dance on two floors to House, R’n’B, Disco Classics and the music of the 80s, 90s and today. At midnight, enjoy the fireworks at the Oberbaumbrücke.

 

Party in the transformer: Umspannwerk Alexanderplatz

The Umspannwerk (transformer) is an industrial building from the 1960s close to the TV tower.  Two dance floors, a live act and a lounge to chill are waiting for the guest. And at midnight, there are fireworks at Alexanderplatz.

 

Be a hero for one night: in the Monkey Bar

A David Bowie theme party in the 25hours hotel at the Bikini Berlin concept mall.        Enjoy music and drinks with a view over the City West near the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche.

 

Party as much as you can: Get the Silvester Ticket for 6 locations

You don’t know yet where you want to go, only that you want to party? You think it’s a pity to spend this special night in one location only? The, get the “Silvester Ticket”, it’s like a city pass for 6 different parties in town:

  •  “Alte Münze Berlin” (near the Nikolaiviertel) Am Molkenmarkt 2,
  • “Columbiahalle” Columbiadamm 13-21
  • “ewerk “(close to Checkpoint Charlie), Wilhelmstraße 43
  • “Postbahnhof” (close to the Ostbahnhof and the East Side Gallery) Straße der Pariser Kommune 8
  • “Umspannwerk” Alexanderplatz
  • “Spreegalerie” Alexanderplatz

 

Or you can always take it easy and go out only at Midnight to watch the fireworks and drink Champaign: “Prosit Neujahr!” as the Germans say.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!!!

About The Author

Anne Wittig

Anne was born in East Berlin and came of age in the unified city. She has an intimate relationship with her city of birth and still calls Berlin home. For the past 10 years, she has managed and written Free Tours by Foot's Berlin blog, detailing the best places to go, where to stay, and what to do in her hometown. This blog has been featured on Berlin's official website, mainstream press like Berlingske, and local blogs like Berlinforallthefamily.com. Over 14,000 visitors to Berlin have taken a tour from Free Tours by Foot.
Updated: Oktober 12th, 2021
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