It’s not too late to go on holiday for New Year’s Eve, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to do it.
While last-minute holidays and cheap holiday deals often go hand in hand, it’s not often you come across a bargain break for a big event like New Year’s Eve.
But look close enough and the deals are there — especially if you’re willing to make a fleeting visit and ring in the New Year by spending less than 24 hours in a new city.
Metro has scoured the travel sites and found flights from all over the UK to Europe for under £100 (excluding from Wales, where flights were a little more pricey), to put together a list of last-minute trip options.
From parties in Prague to beaches in the Canary Islands, these are our travel recommendations for New Year’s Eve 2024.
Scroll down to find the best deals from your closest airport:
Flights from London and South East England
New Year’s Eve is set to be big in the Polish city of Poznan this year, with the city going all out after years of cancellations due to centre renovations, the pandemic, and high inflation.
This year sees the return of Sylwester Miejski (City’s New Year’s Eve Party), a free event which will include a diverse musical programme, a midnight lights show and a DJ.
Poznan is a great choice for travellers hoping to get off the beaten track and avoid the crowds of Warsaw and Krakow, while offering the opportunity to sample Polish cuisine at its finest (its famous St Martin’s croissant is well worth a try).
For a last minute trip, Wizz Air is offering return flights from London Luton for £79, arriving in Poznan at 9am on New Year’s Eve and departing at 9.35am on January 2.
If it’s a warmer climate you’re after, Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands should be on your radar.
In January, temperatures reach average highs of 18°C, meaning a balmy walk along the popular Popcorn Bay could be the way you start 2025.
The beach is just a short drive from the town of Corralejo, on the northern tip of the island, which offers a lively way to ring in the new year, with outdoor bars hosting live music all throughout the night.
If that sounds like your sort of thing, Ryanair is offering return flights from London Stanstead for £76 — you’ll arrive at 11.35am on December 30 and depart on New Year’s Day at 6.45pm — leaving you plenty of time to recover from the night before!
Flights from South West England
Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania, after Vilnius, Europe’s most affordable city.
Not only does the historic city offer a cheap getaway, but there are plenty of festive activities to enjoy too.
While you’re too late to enjoy the Kaunas Christmas Markets, there are concerts, performances and special dinners arranged all over the city, including an English-friendly performance at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre.
The main event takes place at the city’s Christmas tree, where open air dancing, fireworks and a DJ will come together for one spectacular performance.
If this sounds like your perfect start 2025, head to Kaunas from Bristol Airport, where Ryanair is offering return flights for £58.
You’ll arrive in the evening on December 30 and, if you can bear the idea, leave at 7am on New Year’s Day.
Flights from the Midlands
One of the most popular holiday destinations in Eastern Europe, welcoming 5.3 million visitors last year, Budapest is home to good food, good music and numerous historical sites — and it’s a budget-friendly holiday spot too.
Many of the historical sights, bridges, castles and galleries are free, while a meal out can cost as little as £10 and a pint is unlikely to set you back more than £3.50.
Those looking for a New Year’s Eve party should head to Szimpla Kert, the city’s famous ruin bars, and a mainstay in the cultural Jewish Quarter.
Other attractions include The New York Cafe — aka ‘the most beautiful cafe in the world’ — which is home to marble columns, glittering chandeliers and painted ceilings.
It’s one of the more costly options in the city, with afternoon tea priced at £60 and the cafe’s famous 24 carat gold New York cappuccino available for £10.
But there are plenty of free events on New Year’s Eve in Budapest, with parties taking place in the squares and streets across the city.
Most people will gather in Vorosmarty Square to wait for the 12 chimes that mark the new year, where there will be street food stalls open until late and locals wearing wear wigs, masks and hats while dancing the czarda, a famous traditional Hungarian dance.
If this sounds like your kind of party, flights across to Budapest will set you back just £99 from Birmingham, arriving in the city just after midnight on New Year’s Eve morning and taking off again at 4.25pm on New Year’s Day.
Flights from North West England
Another Eastern European favourite is Prague — its lively nightlife draws stag parties from across Europe (though the city has recently cracked down on pub crawls).
There’s a huge programme of events taking place in the city for New Year’s Eve. If it’s a party you’re after, there are numerous club nights and pub crawls scheduled, as well as river cruises along the Vltava with dinner and fireworks.
If you’re hoping to attend one of these events you’ll need to book in advance, but if you’re after something more spontaneous then head to Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square or Charles Bridge to try and catch a glimpse of fireworks around the city.
Though there is no official fireworks display, since the launching of fireworks in the historical centre has been banned, it’s expected that many rebellious locals will set them off from high ground around the city centre.
Ryanair is offering flights from Manchester to Prague from £68, arriving in the city at 8.45pm on December 30 and leaving at 11.55am on New Year’s Day.
You might be back at the airport within 48 hours of arriving, but the good news is Prague has one of the fastest links between the airport and the city centre in Europe, at just 15 minutes.
Top 10 European destinations closest to airports
GoEuro previously ranked the fastest transfers between European destinations and their city centres:
- Nice Côte d’Azur (five-minute transfer)
- Lanzarote (10 minutes)
- Birmingham (nine minutes)
- Málaga-Costa del Sol (12 minutes)
- Frankfurt (10 minutes)
- Nürnberg (12 minutes)
- Cologne Bonn (13 minutes)
- Prague (15 minutes)
- Leipzig-Halle (13 minutes)
- Amsterdam Schiphol (14 minutes).
Meanwhile, it’s possible to snag a cheap last minute trip to Budapest from Liverpool John Lennon Airport too.
Book your outwardbound journey on December 30 with Ryanair and travel back with Wizz Air on New Year’s Day for just £87.
Flights from North East England
Fancy ringing in the new year in Italy? It’s a tight turnaround, but for £53 you could spend 16 hours in Milan to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Trust us, you could do it in less, one woman spent just 14 hours in Milan and couldn’t recommend it enough.
The total trip cost her a little over £250 — far less than you’d spend on a trip down to London for New Year’s Eve.
Visitors can enjoy the annual New Year’s Concert in Piazza del Duomo, in the heart of Milan, where thousands of people gather for the free event featuring Italian and international artists.
For those looking for a classic club night, Fabrique Milano’s New Year’s Eve event will begin with a buffet and selection of drinks and features music and DJ sets that will keep you dancing until dawn (which happens to be when your flight is, by the way).
Other spots to experience Milan’s fantastic nightlife include Tocqueville 13 and Hollywood Milano, both of which are hosting New Year’s Eve events, while the Magazzini Generali is putting on a Mouli Rouge-themed show followed by a vibrant party starting just after midnight.
Ryanair’s return flights from Newcastle will see you land at 5.25pm on New Year’s Eve, and, if you can face boarding the flight home with next to no sleep, you’ll be back on the plane at 9.40am on New Year’s Day.
Flights from Scotland
For a much more relaxed getaway, the picturesque city of Cork, in Ireland, offers the perfect escape for those who want a lowkey New Year’s Eve that still feels special.
The historic city is the second largest in Ireland, and is also the food capital. Local cheeses, fresh seafood and handmade chocolate can be bought at the famous English Market, which is open until 6pm on December 30, and there are plenty of pubs and bars to visit too.
Locals recommend heading to Bell’s Field for a great view of fireworks across the city on New Year’s Eve, or, if you fancy a dance, Coughlan’s will be hosting a silent disco.
Meanwhile, you could opt to hunker down in your hotel, where you can celebrate in style with cocktails in the bar (or champagne in bed if that’s more your style!)
At the time of writing, the Imperial Hotel still has rooms available for New Year’s Eve.
Take advantage of the venue’s spa to freshen up before the big night, which features an aroma and salt grotto, tropical mist showers and treatments including facials and massages.
Of course, this luxurious stay will add considerable cost to your trip, but with return flights from Edinburgh costing as little as £44, why not treat yourself to a nice hotel?
Ryanair will fly from Edinburgh Airport at 8.35am on December 30, taking off again at 7.30am on New Year’s Day.
If you fancy a bit more of a lie-in, you can catch a flight back at 11.10am for an additional £28.
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