New Year's Eve in Berlin, Germany

New Year's Eve in Berlin, Germany, is a city-wide celebration that the whole world can now share in. It is the largest open-air celebration; in which last year over 1 million people attended.

With the Brandenburg Tor (Gate) on one end, and the Berlin Siegessaule (Victory Column) on the other, and the Strasse des 17 Juni running between the two ; the New Year's Eve 2008 celebration in Berlin not only promises to be one wild celebration, it will put the attendee right in the middle of history. What could be better than ringing in the New Year, in a city with so much history?

The Strasse des 17 Juni (the 17^th of June Street) along which the celebration will take place, encompasses 2 kilometers (a little over a mile), or 80,000 meters. In this area will be show stages in which several international music stars and famous bands will perform. There will also be different live acts. There will be video screens throughout the Strasse, along with party tents, food and refreshment stands, and a media center with 500 journalists and 350 national and international television crews.

This Berlin New Year's eve celebration is free of charge and families are encouraged to attend. It is mentioned though, that families with young children reconsider bringing them, but only because of the huge crowd and the noise level. There will be people from all over the world, in all different age groups celebrating this 2008 New Year's celebration.

If you choose not to stay amongst the entire large party crowd the entire evening, there are other parties that you can attend as well.

The Ritz Carlton is having a New Year's Eve Ball in the style of the Roaring Twenties. Rooms can be booked at $395 Euro for a single room, and $595 Euro for a double.

Hotel Concorde Berlin is having a New Year's Eve Gala Buffet, including a glass of champagne and mid-night snack, live music and an amazing view of the fireworks at Potsdamer Platz.

You can find a more complete listing of hotels in which to stay while enjoying New Year's in Berlin at http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/kultur/index.en.php?spreche=en&menultm=winterzauber&subMenultm=silvester&artikel=parties (you may need to click on 'English Version' on the main page of the site to access this page) I know, it's a long address, but if you copy and paste it, you won't have any trouble; then click on Hotels toward the bottom of the page.

You might also consider a package deal, while planning to spend New Year's Eve in Berlin. At http://www.visitberlin.de/english/suchen-buchen/e_sb_pauschal.php you will find quite a complete listing of hotels that offer package deals, and you can get some sight-seeing and shopping in while waiting to celebrate New Year's Eve in Berlin. Most of these hotels have tours and shopping trips for their guests.

No matter which party you go to in Berlin on New Year's eve, the new year will be brought in with bells ringing all over the city, the singing of Auld Land Syne and a fireworks display like no other in the world.

Resources:

http://www.silvester-berlin.de/English/start.html

http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de

http://www.visitberlin.de/english/suchen-buchen/e_sb_pauschal.php

Wikipedia - Berlin