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11 tips for New Year’s Eve in Berlin

This is how Berlin welcomes 2021

Brandenburg Gate in the darkness
Illuminated Brandenburg Gate © (c) visumate

2020 is drawing to a close. It was a year full of great challenges - and the turn of the year will also be different than in all the years before. Instead of lavish parties, 2021 will be welcomed in close circles and from home. But you can also celebrate at home with others. We'll tell you how in our 11 tips for New Year's Eve in Berlin.

Tip 1: New Year's Eve at the Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate Berlin in Winter
Brandenburg Gate in Winter © Getty Images, Foto: golero

Under the motto "Stay home, stay safe, this is how we celebrate together," you and all the other viewers can experience the big New Year's Eve show at the Brandenburg Gate together in front of the TV this year. Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner will host the big New Year's Eve show and welcome 2021 together with many stars and musical guests. Among others, Álvaro Soler, the Höhner, Luca Hänni, Jürgen Drews and daughter Joelina, Tom Gaebel, Marquess and Topic & A7S will be on board. You can interact in advance via social media and perhaps even be digitally on site via live broadcasts.

When: December 31 from 9.45 pm
Where: ZDF

Digital Events for New Years Eve in Berlin

Tip 2: New Year's Eve Concert of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Kirill Petrenko conducts the Berlin Philharmonic
Kirill Petrenko conducts the Berlin Philharmonic © Foto: Monika Rittershaus

Let the Berliner Philharmoniker take you to southern climes on New Year's Eve. First we go to Spain with compositions by Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Rodrigo, interpreted by star guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas. It continues spiritedly with Bachianas brasileiras No.4 by Heitor Villa-Lobos. And a Beethoven overture is also on the program. The rbbKultur broadcasts the concert live from the Philharmonie on the radio and online. Of course, this year it will take place without an audience on site.

When: December 31 at 6 pm
Where: the concert will be broadcast live by rbbKultur, arte as well as in the Digital Concert Hall

Tip 3: New Year's Eve Menu To Go

Rutz Berlin
Rutz © Ricarda Spiegel

This New Year's Eve, why not indulge in a Menu To Go? The team at Ganymed Brasserie has put together a 4-course special for you with pickled duck breast, wild mushroom consommé, salmon fillet, venison involtini and black forest cherry tartlets. The menu costs 55 euros per person, you can order until December 29, 6 pm. 

You can also enjoy the star cuisine of EinsUnterNull at home. By the way, with the 3-course Care Package Deluxe you not only spoil your own palate, but also support organizations that provide for the homeless.

The Bricole has prepared various delicacies for you in preserving jars, such as Königsberger Klopse of veal, bouillabaisse or caramel butter.

And if you prefer vegan or vegetarian food, we have a few tips for you here.

Vegan & Vegetarian Winter Menus

Tip 4: Look into the stars

Zeiss-Großplanetarium
© visitBerlin, Foto: Jan Frontzek

On the day before New Year's Eve, you can take a look at the stars with the Planetarium Berlin Foundation. Planetarium Director Tim Florian Holt will be the host of this starry preview and guide you through the Astronomical Year 2021 and explain which celestial events await us in 2021. When are the most beautiful stargazing nights in 2021? Which special planetary constellations will occur. Highlights are sure to be the solar eclipse on June 10, 2021, and the arrival of an unmanned mission on Mars.

When: December 30 from 8 pm
Where: online

Astronomical Preview

Tip 5: Tomorrowland

DJ Mixer
DJ Mixer © Getty Images, Foto: 123ducu

Dance into the new year with other hardstyle and techno fans. Tomorrowland invites you to a big, worldwide New Year's Eve party via the new, digital future location Naoz on virtual stages, including 3D design, video and special effects. On the turntables will be Snoop Dogg (as DJ Snoopadelic), Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Artbat, Meduza, Sub Zero Project, Lost Frequencies and Major Lazer, among others.

When: December 31 from 8 pm to January 1, 3 am
Where: Digital location Naoz, tickets from 20 euros.

 

Tip 6: Silvestermeditation

Schnee und Lichter in der Stadt
© Getty Images, Foto: Katrin Ray Shumakov

This year has given us much to think about, including what will happen next. A topic that traditionally occupies many at the turn of the year quite particularly. Some yoga studios in Berlin invite you to start the transition into the new year with a meditation.

Peaceyoga invites you to a joint digital asana practice that uses chanting and affirmations to open the chakras, the energy centers in the body. Part of the practice is a 30-minute deep relaxation and an approximately 15-minute gong bath. Just go for it.

Teresa Yoga School invites you to a one-hour New Year's Eve meditation. If you'd like to participate, just email info@yogaschule-terasa.de. You will receive a ZOOM link to join digitally.

When: Peaceyoga Dec. 31 from 2 to 4 pm, Teresa Yoga School Dec. 31 from 11 am to 12 pm
Where: Online

Tip 7: "Dinner for One" together

Fondue und Sekt an Silvester
© Getty Images, Foto: Westend 61

In a very special version, the Brotfabrik theatre brings you this year "Dinner for One" as a stage version which you can watch from home. The most famous European TV sketch is not simply acted out, but transformed by the protagonists into a funny soap opera that invites you to laugh and stumble along. Let's celebrate "Dinner for One" together.

When: December 30, 8 pm
Where: digital

Tip 8: Christmas tree run

Weihnachtsbaum am Brandenburger Tor
© Getty Images, Foto: fhm

The SCC invites you to the Christmas tree run between the years. Your goal and destination should be your favorite Christmas tree. How far this is from your starting point is up to you. The period of your self-organized run should be between December 27 and January 1. You can print out a start number from the SCC website. Registration is not necessary, but you should pay attention to the existing distance and hygiene rules as well as the road traffic regulations. You can share your personal impressions under the hashtag #weihnachtsbaumlauf.

When: Anytime between December 27 and January 1.
Where: everywhere, print your start number on the SCC website

Christmas tree run

Tip 9: Powerful stories from Berlin

Marlene Dietrich telefoniert mit ihrer Tochter
© Erich Salomon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With our Strong Stories from Berlin, we have taken a look at the past 600 years of history for you. In the process, we have discovered some exciting historical events that cheer you up and give you courage. Berlin has made it through many a crisis. Let yourself be inspired and strengthened a little, for example with these stories:

More Inspiration from Berlin

Tip 10: Sweet and chocolaty

Chocolate fondue with fruits in Berlin
Chocolate fondue with fruits © Getty Images, Foto: margouillatphotos

You can't change whatever happened in 2020, but you can sweeten the transition into the new year a little bit. Hokey Pokey delivers the delicious Berlin ice creations in environmentally friendly packaging made of pressed straw. They ship twice a week. Berliners can also order via Lieferando or Wolt. Here's where you can order more sweet and chocolaty treats.

11 ultimate tips for chocoholics

Tip 11: Game tips from Berlin

Puzzle pieces
Two puzzle pieces © Getty Images, Foto: Witthaya Prasongsin

Shorten the time until the countdown to the new year with a game night, completely analog and cozy at the family table. We have put together a few Berlin games for you. Let us inspire you and discover Berlin from the gaming table!

For even more event tips, you can always click through our tips for each day in Berlin's largest event calendar.

Josefine Köhn-Haskins

Josefine

is originally from Munich and started out her career at one of Germanys largest daily news papers. Before finding her home in Berlin, she also reported as a correspondent and trend scout from the US. Today she is cruising Berlin's neighbourhoods, always on the lookout for good stories - with a focus on culture, music and ideas for the future of an innovative Berlin. All posts