How To Spend New Year's Eve In Greece

There is no right or wrong way to spend New Year’s Eve. For some, champagne, music and sparkles are all they want. For others, a fancy dinner with friends is perfection, while others still prefer a quiet night cuddling with their S.O. Whatever you feel like doing, there are many ways you can spend the New Year’s Eve in Greece. Here are some of the options available to you to enter 2018 like a champ!

Join a New Year’s Eve gala in Athens

Hotel

Every year, the Royal Olympic Hotel celebrates the holiday season with pomp and circumstance at its Christmas gourmet dinner and a New Year’s Eve gala and party. Dine like royalty and enjoy a delicious glass of champagne (or a couple) while enjoying a five-star view of a few of Athens’ famous landmarks, including Lykavittos Hill, the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as the majestic fireworks. You can even enjoy a delicious New Year breakfast with a hot and cold buffet and delicious pastries the next day.

Relax in a Treehouse in the Peloponnese

Treehouse

If you can’t deal with big parties and prefer the calm of nature, then enjoy a unique night under the stars in a treehouse at the Kotsifas Estate near Amaliada in the Peloponnese. Perfect for low-key couples looking for a romantic festive getaway far from the crowds, the little treehouse includes a living area, a bathroom with a double bed, and an outdoor dining area where you can enjoy a romantic New Year’s Eve dinner and watch the starry sky above.

Party all night in Thessaloniki

Greece’s second city is known for its vibrant nightlife, so why not celebrate the New Year with your friends in a club? One great venue for an all-night party is Goldfish, a club that has been putting Thessaloniki on the map when it comes to entertainment. Prepare to spend a night with the hottest DJs on decks.

Spend the day skiing in Parnassos Ski Resort

Ski Resort

There are a lot of ways to spend New Year’s Eve, and a more unusual one is to go skiing! The Parnassos Ski Resort is about two hours from Athens, and although it opens at midnight on the 31st, you can take advantage of great prices and spend a few days there. For entertainment, head to the picturesque village of Arachova, with its plethora of bars, cafés and restaurants, or celebrate with your friends in the comfort of your accommodation.

Camp on a beach in Mani

Camping in winter, you ask? Why yes, Greece enjoys mild winters, so it’s definitely possible to enjoy a winter holiday camping in Greece. Of course, be prepared for temperatures to drop. At Mani Beach Camping, you will find a perfectly adequate campsite by the sea, near Mavrovouni. Don’t have any camping equipment with you? Rent a caravan for up to four persons on-site. Pack up all you need for a midnight dinner on the beach with your friends or significant other and you are set to enter the New Year in a unique fashion.

Spend the New Year in the woods in Pelion

Guesthouse

For those who don’t want a big party but still want to mark the occasion surrounded by friends and family, spending the last day of the year in a cozy cocoon in the mountainous region of Pelion is perfect. Book a room or two at Klio Guesthouse in Portaria, near Volos. This beautiful, charming guesthouse has studios and apartments ideal for families and bigger groups, and allows you to feel at home. If you change your mind about staying in and decide to party in the streets with everyone else, you are only a short drive from Volos.

About the author

Ethel Dilouambaka

Polyglot (with a Master Degree in Translation), adventure seeker, professional shower singer and food enthusiast, Ethel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, usually with a certain amount of eating and drinking involved. Brussels-bred and Athens-bound, she loves traveling around the world, uploading photos on her Instagram feed and daydreaming with a good book in her hands. Want to see the world through her eyes? Find her on Instagram at @heyitsetelle