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The City of Light is a magical place to ring in the New Year, whether it’s at a nightclub, a house party, or on a boat. There are so many glorious options for toasting with some champagne and celebrating le Nouvel An!
See the Lights & Fireworks on the Champs-Elysées
A Parisian tradition, the luminous show on the Arc de Triomphe starts at around 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Folks flock to crowd around the Champs-Elysées for a glimpse of the lights, and though there aren’t usually any fireworks to accompany it, the experience is just as compelling.
Urbansider Tip: Be sure to bundle up and wear something to keep you warm while you’re out in the frigid cold!
Would you like a custom-made New Year’s Eve itinerary? Our local Paris concierge can help!
Take a Dinner Cruise
Dinner and a song? Spend the evening aboard a Seine dinner cruise with live music and get great views of the Parisian monuments as you float around the city. There’s nothing more romantic than a boat ride on the famous river with a glass of bubbly and good company.
If you’re after a truly exceptional evening (and have a very generous budget), board the Ducasse Sur Seine New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise for a 7-course meal by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.
More of a land lover? Make a reservation at one of these top Paris restaurants for New Year’s Eve instead.
Dance the Night Away
Clubbing on New Year’s Eve is a great option if you’re looking for hours of fun under strobe lights and house music. A couple of my favorite places are Wanderlust and the Rex Club.
Watch the Eiffel Tower Twinkle
There may not be any fireworks (that’s reserved for Bastille Day), but counting down the seconds to 2023 in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower is probably going to be ingrained in your memory for years to come. Just uncork a bottle of champagne and watch the landmark glitter for the first five minutes at the stroke of midnight. Nothing says Bonne Année quite like this!
Editor’s note: Article originally published December 27, 2018. Updated with additional images and information December 20, 2019.
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