Every year, always the same story. As the summer temperatures start to drop and the leaves on the trees begin to turn yellow, a question pops up that causes anxiety for many: what to do on the last day of the year? 31 December is approaching and almost all of us scramble to find a great place to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. The plan often involves a trip, but usually we then opt for the classic family dinner. If this year you are more than willing to stick to your travel plans, we can recommend some interesting places to escape the relatives and pots of lentils. Where to go on New Year's Eve in Italy?
Destinations in Northern Italy
Destination | Average temperatures (min/max) | New Year's weekend cost (3 nights) |
|---|---|---|
Milan, Lombardy | 2 / 7° | from €234,00 |
Venice, Veneto | 1 / 8° | from €255.00 |
Bormio, Lombardy | -5 / 4° | from €315.00 |
Como, Lombardy | 5 / 9° | from €261.00 |
Courmayeur, Aosta Valley | 0 / 5° | from €312.00 |
1 - Milan, Lombardy
Italy's most metropolitan city offers many interesting options. The main squares, including Piazza Duomo, Piazza Castello and Piazza Affari usually host live music and shows with dancers and acrobats dancing in an evocative atmosphere of lights and colours. There is no shortage of theatre events, with interesting performances at the Manzoni, the Piccolo Teatro, the Teatro Nuovo, and, of course, La Scala.
If, on the other hand, you feel like dancing the night away, Milan by night offers endless opportunities: from rock venues to alternative venues, from underground clubs where you can dance to electronic notes, to trendy disco bars. Among the most famous venues are the Circolo Arci Magnolia near Idroscalo, the Tunnel Club in via Sammartini,Alcatraz in the Maciachini area or Le Cannibale in via Valtellina.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Milan
Plan your New Year's Eve in Milan: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €78.00 per night - Discover the offers
2 - Venice, Veneto
The lagoon of Venice is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for those who dream of celebrating the New Year in a romantic way. A fairytale atmosphere characterises the city, with incredible events not to be missed. If you really want to make this magical night unforgettable, dine aboard a boat through the canals of Venice until you reach St Mark 's Square for the institutional collective kiss in the heart of the city: absolutely a must.
If you are a music lover, another great tradition is the concert at La Fenice Theatre.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Venice
Plan your New Year's Eve in Venice: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €85.00 per night - Discover the offers
3 - Bormio, Lombardy
Photo by silvio alaimo sj. Let's return to the mountains, specifically to a Lombardy resort renowned and known throughout Italy for its thermal springs and skiing facilities. Terme Bagni di Bormio is the perfect place for a midnight bath, especially for couples. The Bagni Vecchi have a large open-air panoramic pool, from where you can enjoy the magical scenery while soaking in the warm waters.
SEE ALSO: Bormio: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
Plan your New Year's Eve in Bormio: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €105.00 per night - Discover the offers
4 - Como, Lombardy
Live music and DJ sets until late at night take place strictly overlooking the lake. Como gets a makeover during the winter , beautifully illuminating the monuments in the centre with architectural projections as part of the Como Magic Light Festival and the traditional Christmas markets. Fireworks over Lake Como are an unmissable spectacle.
SEE ALSO: Como: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
Organise your New Year's Eve in Como: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €87.00 per night - Discover the offers
5 - Courmayeur, Aosta Valley
In Courmayeur you can wait for midnight and the New Year by relaxing in a thermal bath, perhaps in one of the open-air ones, amidst the snow and hot water vapours. This is the classic New Year's Eve in the mountains: on the morning of 1 January, if the festivities have also allowed you to rest and regain some energy, you can then go wild on the slopes at 3,500 metres, which can be reached by ascending Mont Blanc with SkyWay, the cable car with rotating cabins.
SEE ALSO: Courmayeur: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
Plan your New Year's Eve in Courmayeur: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €104.00 per night - Discover the offers
Destinations in Central Italy
Destination | Average temperatures (min/max) | Cost of New Year's weekend (3 nights) |
|---|---|---|
Ferrara, Emilia Romagna | 1 / 7° | from €240.00 |
Orvieto, Umbria | 3 / 10° | from €225.00 |
Rimini, Emilia Romagna | 1 / 9° | from €267.00 |
Florence, Tuscany | 3/ 11° | from €255.00 |
Bologna, Emilia Romagna | 2 / 7° | from €219.00 |
Rome, Lazio | 4 / 13° | from €240.00 |
6 - Ferrara, Emilia Romagna
Photo by Nicola Jannucci. Big celebrations are also planned in Emilia Romagna. In Ferrara you can admire the fantastic spectacle of the Castello degli Estensi. Ferrara offers a special, particularly extravagant possibility that will delight all Renaissance history enthusiasts. If you want to spend a truly 'lordly' evening, take part in the banquet of the Dukes of Este at the Castle: guards and ladies-in-waiting in 16th-century costumes await you, and of course a strictly themed menu will immerse you in an atmosphere of the past. At midnight rather than the usual fireworks display, it is the castle itself that catches 'fire', illuminating the night.
SEE ALSO: Ferrara: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
Organise your New Year's Eve in Ferrara: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €80.00 per night - Discover the offers
7 - Orvieto, Umbria
If your tastes are rather refined, Orvieto hosts the famous Umbria Jazz Winter festival, the Italian jazz event par excellence, from 28 December to 1 January. International and Italian guests will make the notes of this musical genre resound throughout the city, accompanying you into the New Year in an evocative and unique atmosphere.
Organise your New Year's Eve in Orvieto: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €75.00 per night - Discover the offers
8 - Rimini, Emilia Romagna
Photo by Comune Rimini. When you think of fun, discos, electronic music and the most exclusive events, you cannot help but think of Rimini and the Romagna Riviera. The capital of Emilia Romagna is a favourite destination for young people and never ceases to amaze with its seemingly endless nights. New Year's Eve is no exception, where Rimini is at its best: in addition to the various parties organised in the busiest discos and clubs, there are street parties, concerts and shows of all kinds: the offer is truly varied!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Rimini
Plan your New Year's Eve in Rimini: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €89.00 per night - Discover the offers
9 - Florence, Tuscany
Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, the city of Dante and great artists is a great stage for New Year's Eve celebrations. In addition to being the capital of culture, it is a city where it is easy to indulge in numerous entertainments. The streets of the historic centre are enlivened by shows of various kinds. In short, Florence is a city that meets everyone's needs even at New Year's Eve.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Florence
Plan your New Year's Eve in Florence: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €85.00 per night - Discover the offers
10 - Bologna, Emilia Romagna
Bologna is the ideal destination for those who love to eat and treat themselves. You can say goodbye to the year with a stroll through a lively piazza, after an excellent dinner, and continue the night dancing to the rhythm of different musical genres. As per tradition, at midnight in Piazza Maggiore the burning of the Vecchione takes place. This superstitious rite is repeated every year by the Bolognese, who burn this puppet representing the old year in order to hope for a better year.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Bologna
Organise your New Year's Eve in Bologna: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €73.00 per night - see offers
11 - Rome, Lazio
The most important New Year's Eve event in Rome is undoubtedly the one celebrated in the historic centre, in the streets. In recent years, the great New Year's Eve concert is also organised, which includes a sparkling wine countdown at the stroke of midnight.
SEE ALSO: New Year's Eve in Rome: Tips, Events and Offers
Organise your New Year's Eve in Rome: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €80.00 per night - Discover the offers
Destinations in the South and Islands
12 - Catania, Sicily
The typical flavours and colours of the Sicilian land are particularly enjoyable during the gala dinners planned for the longest night of the year. In Catania, the centrepiece of the celebrations is Piazza Università, where the traditional show of the Artime Association, an academy of dance, theatre, cinema, singing and music, takes place. But Catania is the ideal destination for those who appreciate the music of yesteryear: there are many places in the city where you can rock out to hits from the 70s-80s-90s. If, on the other hand, you are looking for an elegant night out, the Luxor Park on the slopes of the volcano Etna offers the best you can hope for.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Catania
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €75.00 per night - Check out the deals
13 - Naples, Campania
Choosing Naples for New Year's Eve always falls on deaf ears, because the city in Campania organises events to suit all tastes. The proverbial Neapolitan gaiety permeates the streets of the city, culminating in the great Concert in Piazza del Plebiscito. If you want a scenic countdown, toast with a view from the stunning terrace of Castel dell'Ovo!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Naples
Plan your New Year's Eve in Naples: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €79.00 per night - Discover the offers
14 - Lecce, Apulia
Photo by Tango7174. From the mountains we move on to the much milder temperatures of Lecce, the Apulian capital also famous for the warmth and hospitality of the local population. New Year's Eve in Lecce is highly recommended for families with children: more than 40 shows are organised for the little ones, in addition to the performances that take place in Piazza Sant'Oronzo.
SEE ALSO: Lecce: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
Plan your New Year's Eve in Lecce: costs and useful info
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €69.00 per night - Discover the offers
Other ideas and low cost destinations to celebrate New Year's Eve
Ideas and low-cost offers: Still not clear on what to do on New Year's Eve? Take a look at our great offers.
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