Top : Among friends, As a couple, As a family, Christmas, Winter

Our ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Grand Est region

Do you dream of an unforgettable New Year? Head to the Grand Est region to see in the New Year! Enchanting illuminations, Champagne, gourmet dining or even a getaway into the countryside… The region’s destinations have plenty of surprises in store to help you celebrate New Year’s Eve in style.

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Spending New Year’s Eve in the Grand Est region

10 ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Grand Est

How about escaping to the Grand Est region for a New Year’s Eve like no other? Alsatian magic, the sparkle of champagne or the peaks of the Vosges… Here are 10 ideas for organising a memorable New Year’s Eve in the Grand Est.

Dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant

Step inside one of the region’s finest restaurants and treat yourself to an unbeatable New Year’s Eve dinner! Whether in Alsace, Lorraine or Champagne, our exceptional venues are sure to surprise you with their unique festive menus. An unmissable experience, combining culinary excellence with local authenticity.

Spend the evening on the Avenue de Champagne

What better place than the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Book your evening at one of the venues, hotels or restaurants on this legendary avenue, lined with the great Champagne Houses. What’s on the programme? Bubbly* and sparkling moments!

Book a cabaret evening

Whether in Alsace or Champagne, book your evening at a music hall to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a glittering world of feathers, rhinestones and lights. A dinner dance, a show, entertainment and fine dining will keep you going until the early hours!

Experience an unusual New Year’s Eve for two

Celebrate New Year’s Eve like you’ve never celebrated it before! Book a unique place to stay for an unforgettable night in one of the Grand Est region’s destinations: a Scandinavian hut in the Vosges Mountains, an ecolodge in the Moselle, or a cosy cabin in the Ardennes... Make the most of a romantic weekend away from it all.

Attend public shows

Experience unique cultural moments thanks to the New Year’s Eve festivities and shows! Fireworks over the hills of Alsatian villages (such as Ribeauvillé or Kaysersberg), a New Year’s concert at the Cité-musicale Metz or a special evening at the Reims Opera House… So many wonderful moments to enjoy during a break with family or friends!

In the snow

Celebrate the New Year in the magical setting of the snow-covered Vosges (weather permitting!). Hitting the slopes as a family at the ski resorts, snowshoeing amongst the snow-covered fir trees, and a cosy meal by the fireside in a farmhouse inn (remember to book in advance). Magical!

A stay at a spa hotel

For a New Year’s celebration all about relaxation, some hotels in the Grand Est region offer wellness and spa facilities with a cosy atmosphere perfect for unwinding. A lovely way to start the year gently, with a relaxing treatment and a New Year’s Eve dinner in a soothing and refined setting.

Make the most of the last few days of the Christmas markets

Are you one of those who simply can’t get enough of the festive magic? Then head to one of the Christmas markets still open on 31 December: Obernai, Munster, Épinal or Colmar (the gourmet market and the Ferris wheel remain open until early January). Please note, however, that these markets usually close earlier on 31 December, around 4 pm or 5 pm, so you can get ready for New Year’s Eve in style!

Rent a chalet with friends

Do you see New Year’s Eve as an evening you want to spend with your friends in a friendly and decidedly festive atmosphere? This year, add a special touch to this highlight by booking a chalet in the mountains or by the water. It’s the ideal way to toast the New Year together, right in the heart of the winter magic!

Rent a holiday cottage in the countryside

Rent a holiday cottage in the countryside to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your family and share cosy, peaceful moments together. Board games by the fireside, invigorating walks through the region’s frost-kissed landscapes, a delicious home-cooked dinner… The perfect way to welcome in the New Year in a cosy, intimate atmosphere.

Winter activities in the Grand Est region

The origins of New Year celebrations

In France, it was in the 16th century that 1 January became the start of the new year following a decision by King Charles IX. This change was complemented by the adoption of the new Gregorian calendar (named after Pope Gregory XIII), which is still in use today.

Nowadays, New Year’s Eve – that is, the evening of 31 December – marks the start of much-anticipated festivities. It is an opportunity for many to get together, in small or large groups, and to wish one another a Happy New Year!

Good to know: Not all New Year celebrations take place on 1 January. The Chinese New Year falls between late January and late February, the Jewish New Year takes place in September or October, whilst the Islamic New Year shifts gradually each year.

: Celebration and sharing have always been part of New Year’s traditions in eastern France. In Alsace and parts of Lorraine, some bakeries keep alive the tradition of the New Year’s pretzel. Originally, godparents would give this sweet, large-sized treat to their godchildren.

In the past, in the Alsatian countryside, small groups would roam the streets on the night of 31 December, making a great deal of noise. This ritual was meant to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck to the locals. In return, people would often be given biscuits or a few coins.

Today, as everywhere in France, New Year’s Eve is a special occasion, perfect for spending time with family or friends. And there’s one unmissable tradition: raising a glass at the stroke of midnight and wishing each other all the best for the year ahead!

: If you’d like to share in the festive spirit of New Year’s Eve with hundreds of people, head to the Grand Sapin on Place Kléber in Strasbourg, or to Place Stanislas in Nancy!

Nature lovers and those who enjoy the great outdoors might prefer a getaway to the Vosges mountains to see in the New Year with friends in a cosy chalet. Finally, the region also offers unique, lively evenings at its finest restaurants, particularly in Champagne.

: If you’d like to spend New Year’s Eve in the Grand Est region, do remember to start looking as soon as the new school term begins in September. Accommodation and events tend to sell out very quickly at this time of year. Take the time to decide what you’d like to do (a gourmet dinner in Champagne, a night in a family chalet in the Vosges, a cabaret evening in Alsace…) and then browse the offers available on our platform. You can then finalise your booking directly online or by telephone with the establishment of your choice!