the best country is your home country, who wants to celebrate NYE with a bunch of strangers?  Besides, you’ll not know where the best parties are at in a foreign land, you’ll probably be spending it underneath a hostel stairwell drinking buckfast with some smelly aussie talking bout’ all the hot chix you’re not banging

Hogmanay in Edinburgh is one choice.
I had a really, really good time.

Prague was awsome, but a little dangerous, apparently their parents never told them anything about fireworks being dangerous, because they just shot and throw stuff into large crowds. 

Thumbs up as well for Hogmany in Edinburgh, the year I went it snowed, brilliant, I donot suggest Trafalgar Square in London, just full of American High School kids (they are there for the New Years Day parade)

what about amsterdam??? i thkink that should be pretty crazy

any body have any idea of how the new year in Instanbul?

 
dry, very dry

In the past I had always really wanted to spend it in Prague – but with the way I’ve heard that Stag parties have overtook major parts of the city, I’m not sure how that would work out anymore. Even still, prob. if spending it in a more local area it would be amazing.

I’ve heard from friends that Montreal is amazing too….

Montreal is amazing, if you can tolerate 3oF and wind…[&:]

 
If it’s not 30 below, it’s not a real new years.  Montreal is my personal fav to spend NYE

how do you gusy think amsterdam will be???

 
I’ve never been impressed with A’dam nightlife, lots of coffeshops/bars, not as many nite klubs as other capitals, lots of annoying obnoxious german & brit tourists, etc. 

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Montreal NYE. But last time I was there, it was around 20 below zero, and it was a nightmare with sandals and top [8D]…

Copenhagen.  Private (byob) fireworks on every street.  Fun parties before hand (might be hard to arrange for a foreigner). Lots of dancing and drinking.
 
Can be cold, but Not this last year.

I had a couple of new years eve in Prague and to be honest it isn’t that great.  Good to have done it, but freezing my arse in Old Town Square while fireworks fly over my head (if I’m lucky) isn’t actually that great.
Then you just try and get into a bar after midnight, forget it.
As heavydrinker correctly says, be at home with your mates – can’t beat it.

Tommo,
When you live in NYC, that last thing you wanna do is stay around…

I Live in NYC and have had some amazing NYE’s here!

With all due respect, you’re mad.
If I lived in New York City then the question of where to spend new years eve would no longer be a question.

thank you…so amsterdam isnt that great prague is better…..new york city has way to many tourists during new years and everything is way overppriced….the clubs are great its just always a big production and always turns out to be a let down some way or another…believe me youll come here and go to times square like every other visitor while were all in teh clubs drinking if your from new york you know not to go to something after 12 bc you wont get in

I think the moral of this story is that its good to do something different every now and then.  Actually, I think NYE is pretty similar in a lot of places; cold, fireworks, too many people, can’t get a drink at the bar, etc etc.  A huge city like NYC or Berlin, a beautiful city like Prague, a smaller town in Poland where you are about the only foreigners around, or in your home city with friends, its all kind of the same event.  But I’ve spent many NYE at home with friends, its a repeat year after year (and I’m sure it would also become repetitive if I lived in NYC or Prague). So when I have the opportunity I&nbsprefer to visit some place a little more exotic and exciting (preferably with a couple friends). 
 
You will find criticisms for any city you choose (too cold, too hot, too many tourits, no one speaks english, I got hit by fireworks, I didn’t see any fireworks).&nbsprobably one of the biggest variables about a city on NYE is who will be there; NYC, Amsterdam, and Prague are going to be loaded with tourists, go to a smaller or less popular city and you’ll find mostly locals.  You can probably choose any city on the map and there will be some sort of celebration going on.  I know this probably doesn’t help to narrow anything down, but just something to consider among all the criticisms. 

thanks…i think your right and for me this trip will be something different…i think ill do amsterdam nye or maybe ams for three days then over to prague for nye its all deadly

My humble opinion, NYE is overrated.  I was never a fan of Europe in the winter, unless you’re living there long-term, or go with the intention of skiing.  I love holidays and festivals in Europe, but I’d rather do things that are unique to Europe, like say, Venice Carnival, Oktoberfest in Munich, Las Fallas in Valencia, Bastille Day in Paris, Queen’s Day in Amsterdam, Senfermines in Pamplona, Palio in Siena, White Nights in Saint Petersburg, or widespread holidays that are celebrated in a very unique way in certain countries like Christmas in Germany or Easter in Greece.

The quality that I liked about Hogmanay was the combination of the traditional Scottish music etc, and the cosmopolitan atmosphere. There were people from all over the world dancing in the street. It was just a kick-ass party.
Of course NYE is probably just a good night to stay home with a few people, and let the amateurs have their fun, but you take trips when you have the time off, and sometimes that means winter break. I think Christmastime is rather enjoyable in many cities, and for me it was quite nice in the UK—but I’ve only been to Europe in the winter twice, gotta admit it’s not my usual travel time.

I am not a party person at all, and NYE is (at least for me) time to get together with friends. As Cil said, it’s  a time that one may get a week or so off, so I usually take the opportunity to fly somewhere nice…
I don’t mind the cold, or the warmth. NYC is way overrated. You cant get a cab, you cant walk in the streets or ride the subway…
I’ve been to different places around the world and it was not that bad, but again I was with either family or a bunch of places:
– Rio de janeiro – one of the best so far…warm, sunny, friendly ppl, fireworks (not over ur head)
– Punta Cana – at a beach resort with 10 ppl, pretty much Rio like but smaller
– Paris – I didnt like – way too many ppl in the streest just like NYC
– Colorado and Vermont – actually those were mainly to go skiing, as after NYE everybody is sleeping till late and there is abosulutely nobody at the slopes….
– Montreal – parties everywhere.
 
I guess gqstatus718c, if you are going with your friends you will have fun no matter where you go….
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