New Year tours are itineraries departing at the end of December for those who want to welcome the new year in a different city. As 1 January 2027 falls on a Friday, it creates a three-day break when combined with the weekend; adding a few days of leave makes a week-long tour possible. This page lists tours arranged for New Year that depart in the final days of December.
Where to Go for New Year's?
In Europe, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Paris, and Rome are known for their New Year's Eve celebrations and fireworks; some Christmas markets remain open until New Year's Eve. In the Balkans, Belgrade and Sarajevo offer lively New Year's Eve celebrations and a convenient visa-free option for a short getaway. Egypt, Dubai, Thailand, and the Maldives are popular choices for welcoming the new year somewhere warm.
How Many Days Is the New Year's Holiday?
1 January 2027 falls on a Friday; the public holiday combines with Saturday and Sunday to make a three-day break. 3-night programs departing on 31 December and returning on 3 January can be taken without using leave. Adding leave for 28–30 December also makes it possible to fit in a week-long Far East or European tour.
New Year’s Eve Itinerary
Some tours include a gala dinner or celebration program on New Year's Eve, while others offer it separately as an optional extra. Hotels and restaurants may require guests to attend a gala dinner on New Year's Eve. Each tour's inclusions and exclusions list clearly states what is included.
Early Planning and Visas
New Year’s week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year; flights and hotels fill up early. If you’re travelling to a Schengen country, visa appointments also get booked up ahead of December, so applications need to be submitted in October–November. If there isn’t enough time to get a visa, the Balkans, Egypt, Georgia and visa-free countries in the Far East are good alternatives.
Weather and Preparation
In Central and Northern Europe, temperatures can drop below zero at New Year, and daylight hours are short; a warm coat, gloves and waterproof shoes are essential. Daytime temperatures around the Red Sea and in Dubai are around 20–25 °C. As public transport and traffic arrangements are made in city squares on New Year’s Eve, it’s best to plan your return to the hotel in advance.
Domestic New Year’s Eve
For those who want to welcome the New Year in Türkiye, highlights include Cappadocia’s cave hotels and snowy valleys, ski resorts such as Uludağ and Kartalkaya, the Black Sea region’s winter scenery and the quieter cities along the GAP route. Domestic itineraries are better suited to last-minute plans, as no passport or visa is required. New Year’s week is the busiest period of the season at ski resorts, and hotel availability runs out early. Road conditions due to snowfall may affect the schedules of coach tours; your guide will provide the latest information.
New Year's Prices
New Year’s week is one of the periods when flight and hotel prices reach their highest levels of the year. Some hotels require a minimum stay for bookings that include the night of 31 December. Dates for the same tour in early December or mid-January are usually more affordable. Prices applicable to each date are shown separately in the calendar for each tour; services included in the price are listed in the inclusions/exclusions section.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do New Year’s tours depart?
New Year’s programs usually depart between December 27 and 31 and return between January 1 and 4. Exact departure dates for each tour are listed in the calendar on its page.
Where can you go visa-free for New Year’s?
Balkan capitals such as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Skopje and Podgorica, as well as Batumi and Tbilisi, Morocco, Thailand and Japan are visa-free. Visas for Egypt are obtained on arrival.
Is the gala dinner included in the price?
It varies by tour; whether the gala dinner is included, optional or subject to a mandatory surcharge is stated in the tour’s inclusions and exclusions.
When should I book a New Year's tour?
October–November is a suitable time, as flight and hotel availability fills up early; for countries requiring visas, also allow time for the visa application process.
How do I make a reservation?
Select your departure date and party size on the tour page and complete your booking online, or send us your preferred date and party size using the WhatsApp button to ask our team about availability and the final price.