ESSENTIAL TIPS AND THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
Celebrating New Year's Eve in Berlin (Germany)
Most Germans celebrate New Year's Eve with friends and family, a good party and special food. The following things and tips for visitors are good to know for a nice NYE experience in Berlin and at least in 80% of Germany. Read additionally the essential tips for traveling to and in Germany.
Top 15 things to know about New Year's Eve in Berlin
- Plan NYE travel early in year: around NYE Berlin is filled up with visitors. Therefore do reservations as soon as possible.
- Main event and fireworks is the street party at Brandenburg Gate. Go there early enough to get in and dress for outdoors.
- To join other big NYE parties early buying of tickets is recommended. Not all events contain own fireworks.
- A lot of restaurants and bars offer parties or specials. The ones which do not offer a party close during the evening hours on NYE to allow their staff to celebrate.
- Public transport is operating the full night - spend a smile and a "thumbs up" to the staff. Look also at top tips and things to know about Berlin's public transport. Be aware that full-day tickets are only valid until 3 am of next morning.
- Most shops close on NYE day between 1 and 2 pm and re-open on Jan. 2nd (if not Sundays).
- Buying fireworks (class II+) is allowed for adults (18 years and older) from Dec. 29-31. It is sold in some supermarkets (special stands) and in specialised shops. Never buy firecrackers without officially tested BAM seal (no joke).
- Private fireworks are allowed in Berlin between 6 pm on NYE until 7 am the next morning. Actually they will happen the whole NYE day increasing to midnight all over the town on the streets of Berlin. Take care of yourself the whole day!
- Avoid risky situations: stay and keep children far enough away from fireworks. Never use firecrackers without officially tested BAM seal (no joke). Never touch non-detonated firecrackers (danger). Look up further official tips for a secure NYE.
- Short daylight: on NYE day expect less than 8 hours of full daylight. Sunset will be around 4 pm.
- Protect property: park your car at a safe place, e.g. a park garage. Close all windows of accommodation before leaving.
- Dress suitable to weather: look up local forecast and dress up accordingly - be prepared for cold and rain or snow.
- Health - ear protection: wear light in-ear protections to protect your sense of hearing and also yourself from stress peaks caused by surprising explosions near to you.
- Health - fine dust: air pollution is growing significantly by dust from fireworks. In Germany the amount of PM10 particles caused by fireworks at NYE equals 17% of annual traffic output. People with respiratory or lung diseases are likely to suffer at NYE.
- Limited outlook and view: Due to the amount of fireworks in Berlin there is lots of dust in the air, sometimes a blanket or fog of smog reduces the sight around midnight to a few blocks only. Have that in mind when planning to book a location and to view main firework from the distance - without right proportion of wind you will see nothing.
Tip: Look also into FAQ for and by visitors to get further tips to plan your travel to Berlin.
German New Year's Eve traditions
- "Silvester" is the German word for the last day of a year.
- Fireworks: In Germany at every year's end people spend over 130 million Euro on private fireworks.
- Typical food and drinks:
- Rollmops, a rolled pickled herring, is eaten in the early evening by people who plan to drink a lot in the night. Sometimes it is enjoyed the next morning to cope with the headaches.
- Raclette and Fondue are favorites for a long common dinner in the evening allowing different tastes to eat together.
- Eating a sweet "Berliner" is mandatory but take care: normally one of all is filled with mustard instead of jam.
- Sparkling wine or champagne are for some people the traditional drink to pledge the toast "Prosit Neujahr" at midnight.
- Lead-pouring was a tradition to get some freaky metal figures which were interpreted as symbol of luck for the new year.
- Watching short and old comedy sketch "Dinner for one" on TV is a mood-setter in the afternoon for the coming evening.
- "Ein frohes neues Jahr" is the typical toast or greeting the first days of new year to wish others a happy new year.
- People often have one or a few New Year's resolutions.
- For sure other people know some more German NYE traditions from their own families. So asking for traditions or how people celebrated it when they were kids is often a good opening question for a lively conversation.
Have a safe and enjoyable time!