Europe's top 5 New Year parties

With so many vibrant and exciting cities around Europe, it can be a difficult job picking the best location to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next. So for people who just can't decide where to base their New Year's Eve bash this year, here is a list of the top five cities in Europe to count down to midnight.

Edinburgh

There are few words that better encapsulate a sense of fun and festivity than Hogmanay – the traditional Scottish celebration of the end of the year. Edinburgh's Hogmanay bills itself as simply "the world's best New Year celebration", with such a range of events and activities that visitors of all ages and tastes are sure to be entertained. Running from December 29th to January 1st, Edinburgh's Hogmanay is more of a festival than a party, with highlights including public celebrations in the city centre on New Year's Eve and a candlelit concert in St Giles' Cathedral.

Visitors from Ireland can sail from Belfast or Larne to the ports of Stranraer, Troon or Cairnryan in Scotland with Stena Line or P&O Ferries. After a hard night's partying, there are plenty of hotels in Edinburgh to offer a welcome bed, including the three-star Old Waverley hotel or the luxury five-star Balmoral.

Dublin

Ireland's reputation for good hospitality and a unique party atmosphere makes it highly popular over the festive period. People planning a New Year's Eve trip to Dublin will be able to find plenty of entertainment simply strolling around the city's streets and visiting bars in central areas such as Temple Bar, the city's cultural quarter. At the National Concert Hall, audiences will be treated to an evening of big band music with vocals provided by Claire Martin and David Tughan.

Visitors can then get 2009 off to a memorable start by attending the Lord Mayor's New Year's Day Parade, which will see marching bands from all over the world gather in the Irish capital.

Ferries to Dublin are available from Liverpool, Holyhead and other ports with operators including P&O Ferries and Stena Line. The range of accommodation choices in the city includes the four-star Clarion Liffey and the three-star George Frederic Handel hotel.

London

London's New Year's Eve fireworks show is right up there with the best in the world and was enjoyed by some 700,000 people last year. Gather in the city's popular central areas or along the River Thames to marvel at the stunning pyrotechnics, which since 2003 have been focused around the London Eye. London's pubs and clubs stay open well into the night, providing plenty of options for those who want to continue the party once the fireworks show has finished.

The choice of hotels in England's capital is equally broad, with options such as the three-star Admiral, which is a short walk from Paddington station, and the four-star Corus Hyde Park.

Paris

Visitors celebrating the New Year in France can count down to midnight at one of the many outdoor events and public celebrations that take place in the country's big cities. Arguably the biggest party of all takes place in Paris, with the famous Champs-Elysees regularly serving as a meeting point for revellers. This iconic street will offer partygoers an excellent vantage point to enjoy fireworks displays and also boasts close proximity to numerous clubs and bars to visit before and after midnight. Couples spending New Year's Eve in Paris may be interested in taking a romantic cruise along the River Seine or enjoying a meal in one of the city's gourmet restaurants. There are numerous hotels in Paris where visitors can bring their night to a close, such as the three-star Forest Hill La Villette and the four-star Castiglione.

In addition to its unmissable party atmosphere, Paris boasts the advantage of easy access for foreign visitors. Regular ferry crossings to nearby ports such as St Malo, Le Havre, Dieppe and Calais are provided by major operators including Brittany Ferries, Norfolkline, LD Lines and P&O Ferries.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is as famous for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere as for its windmills and canals. People with a liking for comedy may want to head to the Leidseplein Theater on December 31st for comedy club Boom Chicago's annual costume bash. This year the theme is money and power, with partygoers encouraged to dress up as fat cats and high rollers.

People more interested in music than comedy can head to one of Amsterdam's many nightclubs for New Year's Eve, such as the Supperclub, which will host a glamour-themed party, or the Powerzone, which will be visited by Pacha of Ibiza for a night of music and dancing. End-of-the-year revellers can also head to one of the city's many squares or boulevards to count down to midnight, or alternatively see what is on offer at other Dutch cities such as Rotterdam or Eindhoven.

DFDS Seaways sails to Amsterdam from Newcastle on a daily basis, while P&O Ferries offers crossings from Hull to Rotterdam and Stena Line serves Hook of Holland from Harwich. Popular hotels in the city include the four-star Memphis and the three-star Hotel Nes.

Picked your city? Now book!

Heading overseas for a New Year's Eve bash is all well and good, but no party is the same without friends and family to enjoy it with. People expecting to have ten or more people on their trip can use the aferrygroups.com website, which enables easy arrangement of a group holiday and offers cheap ferry deals to over 60 destinations. Another useful booking tool is aholiday.co.uk, which lets customers combine their ferry travel with hotel accommodation for their New Year's Eve festivities.