Budget travel for the New Year. Where to go for the New Year? Do I need a visa to Finland?

New Year is a holiday full of magic, when dreams come true and all desires come true. And any traveler will say that this is also a unique opportunity to see the world, because in each country this date is celebrated differently.

And it doesn’t matter that New Year considered a family holiday. We'll just get ready for the trip with the whole family, because the list of countries where you can go with children is very long! You can go to the Mediterranean Sea or on an inexpensive tour of Europe - the choice is yours!

In this article I will answer the following questions:

1. Where can you go to the seaside on New Year's Eve?
2. Which ski holiday relevant during the New Year holidays in January?
3. Where can you have an inexpensive holiday for the New Year?
4. How can you celebrate New Year in an unfamiliar place? Scenario for a New Year's party, adapted to a specific country.

So, as one bearded old man I know in a red suit says: “Ho-Ho-Ho! Go!"

Beach holidays in Turkey

New Year's holidays in Turkey are somewhat different from the traditional beach holiday. Even though it's winter south coast soft, not everyone can swim in the sea. However this the best option, where you can inexpensively go on holiday for the New Year holidays.

Traditional destinations for winter are Kemer, Antalya and Side, where it is still quite warm. In December - January, the main flow of tourists dries up, so most hotels close. But those that operate all year round provide truly excellent service even out of season.

If you are looking for where to go for the New Year with children, especially small ones, then Turkey is an excellent option. All-inclusive meals, mini clubs, animation and heated swimming pools solve the problem of keeping your child occupied. By the way, on the eve of the holiday, all hotels organize a banquet and a colorful show.

Pros of rest

1. Holidays in Turkey for the New Year in a 4-5 star hotel necessarily include a New Year's program. Usually this is a banquet with a show that lasts from 20:00 to 02:00. Afterwards, a disco will begin for the most persistent. Children who will be visited by Father Frost or Santa will be entertained separately.
2. If you go on vacation on an all-inclusive tour, then food and alcohol will be in abundance. In fact, why else do Russian people go to Turkey for a holiday? 🙂
3. All hotels have a heated pool, so swimming remains in the holiday program no matter what.
4. Tour cost. Holidays in Turkey, even on holidays, remain budget-friendly compared to other destinations.

Disadvantages of rest

1. Weather. Tours to Turkey for the New Year holidays are rapidly losing in price precisely because the rainy season begins here. Air and water temperatures of 18°C ​​indicate that tanning and sea treatments are for the bravest!
2. Often the animation in hotels is rather weak. Those who are not used to celebrating the New Year with copious libations and gluttons are frankly bored.
3. Not a prestigious direction. Photos brought from the New Year in Turkey will surprise few people.

Prices for New Year's tours

Winter holidays in Turkey can be spent on a very budgetary basis if you plan ahead. Buy inexpensive tours for the New Year you can still in September - October under the early booking program. And, on the contrary, easy-going people will also be able to plan a vacation very, very inexpensively.

The price of a last-minute tour to Turkey for the New Year from Moscow starts from 17,000 rubles per person. If you buy tickets a little in advance, you will have to pay more.

The rest will have to shell out a tidy sum, since the usual purchase of a tour 2-3 weeks before departure means that it will cost 2 or even 3 times more, depending on the hotel.

Weather in Turkey on New Year's Day

If we talk about where in Turkey to celebrate the New Year and swim in the sea, then we are talking about its southernmost regions.

Resorts worth considering Fethiye, andSide, Alanya and Belek . Here The air temperature averages around 18 ° C, and the sea does not cool below 17 ° C.

If extreme swimming and sunbathing are not on your list of priorities, then you can stay at cultural capital Turkey - Istanbul. Judging by the reviews of tourists about the tour, there is a real holiday in this city on New Year’s Day, and you certainly won’t get bored here.

The weather at this time is quite acceptable for long walks. The main thing is not to forget to take an umbrella from the hotel, since December-January is still the rainy season in this area.

How to celebrate the New Year?

If you are wondering how the New Year is celebrated in Turkey, then practically nothing. There are no traditions regarding this holiday, since it is quite new for the local population and has been celebrated for less than 100 years. January 1 is considered a day off and this is quite enough for the indigenous people.

It's a different matter in hotels! Here a special show with the participation of artists is being prepared for guests. Be prepared to fill your glasses three times - Turkish time, 2 hours later Moscow time and Central European time (that’s when the president’s address will be shown here, because Turkey rebroadcasts Russian channels aimed at Germany). By the way, in most cases you need to book a table for a New Year's banquet immediately upon arrival. The procedure is similar to visiting an a la carte restaurant. You may have to pay extra for a banquet or alcohol, depending on the hotel's policy.

You should not explode firecrackers yourself, as this requires first obtaining permission from local authorities.

Where can you go on an inexpensive excursion to New Year holidays? All regular destinations are available without restrictions except January 1st.

Do you need a visa to Turkey?

Are you looking for where to go for the New Year without a visa? Then this is the place for you. As in most warm countries, in which tourism is put on a grand scale, Russians do not need a visa here .

Those who are going to Turkey for the New Year holidays just need to remember that their passport must be valid for at least another 4 months from the date of entry into the country.

Beach holidays in Egypt

Egypt traditionally attracts our compatriots to the New Year with a beach holiday at sea. Where else can you relax abroad with a full New Year's program, 24-hour child care and inexpensive flights? Yes, in this regard, tours to Turkey and Egypt are our everything. However, if we talk about the Christmas holidays, this “everything” is not so clear :)

Pros of rest

1. A tour to Egypt is ideal for a New Year's holiday with children. A short flight, All meals and children's animation allow you to relax not only for big tourists, but also for little ones.
2. If you buy a last minute tour or go by early booking, then this is also a relatively cheap beach holiday in New Year's Eve. There is another option to save money - to go on vacation on a vacation package that ends on December 29-31. Its price is one of the most pleasant!
3. The mild Egyptian winter will allow you to have a fun time on excursions. In any case, these are not at all the severe snowstorms and nasty slush of the domestic climate.
4. Availability of a New Year's banquet at the hotel. One way or another, there is an entertainment program everywhere and additional food and alcohol are provided in honor of the holiday. Although, most likely, you will need to pay extra for this.

Disadvantages of rest

1. A New Year's tour, the peak of which falls on the night from 31 to 1, will cost a lot of money. Even if you fly only for 3 days.
2. Most of our compatriots complain that Egyptians celebrate the New Year in a downright boring way. Although for mature married couples and parents with small children this is even an advantage :) If you and your friends are looking for where to relax during the New Year holidays with a large group, then most likely you will not be afraid of the sour mines of the local aborigines!
3. A bottle of champagne at a hotel costs about $25-60. Depending on the level of the establishment, you will receive sparkling wine of the lowest quality or an outright waste. Gourmets should bring a bottle from home.
4. Although this time is considered acceptable for the Egyptians beach holiday, you can only swim in the sea during the day, because in December the sun sets faster.

Prices for New Year's tours

Traditionally, the price of a tour to Egypt for the New Year from Moscow, and from other cities, is relatively high. On average from 38,000 rubles per person .

You can try to save money and look for a last-minute tour for the New Year holidays, but this option is not suitable for everyone.

To make it both cheap and New Year's, you should fly a little earlier than the holiday and return the day before. Such tours are really very affordable.

Weather in Egypt on New Year's Day

Reviews about the weather in Egypt for the New Year are contradictory. It all depends on the specific forecast. Usually at this time air temperature in Sheikh and Hurganda does not fall below 20 ° It's daytime, and the sea warms up to 23 ° C. Some people are comfortable in this temperature range, while others prefer it hotter☺

How to celebrate the New Year?

The action unfolds approximately the same as in Turkey. A festive banquet is usually served not in the main hotel restaurant, but on the beach or celebration hall. Everything starts at 19:00 or 20:00. New Year in ancient Egypt did not fall in December, so the enterprising Egyptians adopted the celebration traditions from the Europeans.

Glasses will be raised every hour, first in accordance with the Russian time zone, and then in local time. By the way, there may not be enough alcohol in the restaurant for the entire duration of the banquet, so the most adventurous go to celebrate in the lobby, where the bar is usually open longer (ideally around the clock). Remember, if the hotel policy does not include serving alcohol after 23:00, then you risk meeting the chimes with a children's Pina Colada (milk + pineapple syrup + whipped cream). If this is unacceptable, then maybe you should grab a bottle of something stronger from duty free?

Some hotels organize a New Year's Nile cruise for their guests with an entertainment program and a banquet.

Do you need a visa to Egypt?

Russians receive a visa automatically at the airport upon arrival. The pleasure costs $25 and allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days. So a New Year's holiday tour to Egypt is available to everyone who has a valid passport.

Ski holidays in Bulgaria

If you are looking for an inexpensive place to relax for the New Year holidays in Europe, then you can go to Bulgaria. Most of our compatriots bypass the ski resorts of the Balkan Mountains, and undeservedly. Of course, a country that has no shortage of snowy winters is hard to surprise ski slopes Bulgaria, but it’s definitely worth a trip to this picturesque region at least once.

Pros of rest

1. Availability. A visit to the ski resorts of Bulgaria will cost much less than a trip to Austria. You will be pleasantly surprised by the prices not only for the tour, but also for everything within the country. Compared to other ski resorts in Europe, you can save on everything - from food to ski passes.
2. Delicious and inexpensive cuisine. The Balkan menu is dominated by vegetables, fruits, juicy meats and, of course, local wine and rakia. All this can be tried in mechanics at a very reasonable price.
3. New Year's traditions in Bulgaria are not much different from ours, however, the inhabitants of the Balkans bring a special flavor to them. In general, there is a chance to celebrate New Year and Christmas like when you were a child with your grandmother.
4. In addition to air transportation, very common Bus tours to Europe. Even those who are afraid to fly will be able to go to Bulgaria for the New Year holidays :)

Disadvantages of rest

1. If you are looking for where to go with your children for the New Year holidays, then carefully collect information about the hotel where you plan to stay. Along with quite tolerable ones, tour operators also offer very dubious 2* and 3*, where it’s clearly not worth taking children.
2. Real winter comes to Bulgaria only in the second half of December. There is a chance there won't be enough snow. During the New Year holidays, people often “forget” to prepare the slopes, so skiing can be ruined.
3. Crowded. Not only residents of the fraternal republics come here for the winter holidays, but also Europeans who are accustomed to counting every penny. There will be queues at the lifts.

Prices for New Year's tours

Price ski tour to Bulgaria depends on the transfer. The price of a last minute air tour during the New Year holidays is approximately 39,000 rubles per person .

If you go on vacation by bus, it will be cheaper, however, you will have to spend almost two days in a crouched state (from Moscow). After January 20, trips will begin to lose a lot in price.

Weather in Bulgaria on New Year's Day

Average air temperature on the main ski resorts– Pamporovo, Vitosha and Bansko – stays around zero. Frosts at night barely reach -10 ° C .

However, starting from the second half of December mountain slopes are covered with a luxurious snow cap, so tourist reviews of New Year’s tours are generally positive.

How to celebrate the New Year?

Winter holidays here begin much earlier than ours - on December 6 (St. Nicholas Day). Then comes Kolyada (Christmas). Therefore, a festive atmosphere is in the air throughout December.

You can celebrate both in the hotel itself and in numerous kolybas and mechanas. The menu will be hearty and tasty, and the wine and rakia will flow like a river.

Rakia is a type of local vodka, or rather a distillation product of fermented grapes. If you decide to buy a real “natural product” from the local population, then be prepared for the fact that its strength can be 50 or even 60°. On New Year's Day it is customary to drink hot rakia. For a more pleasant taste, it is infused with dried fruits, spices and citruses.

Bulgarians prefer sweet, thick, viscous and often fortified wines.

Do you need a visa to Bulgaria?

Russian citizens need a tourist visa to Bulgaria , however, it is much easier to obtain than Schengen. By the way, Schengen (as well as visas from Cyprus, Croatia and Romania) allows you to freely enter the territory of Bulgaria for a period of no more than 90 days.

The issue price is approximately 60 euros. Receipt time: 2-4 days.

Ski holidays in Georgia

The idea of ​​spending New Year's holidays in Georgia is not new. Ski resorts have been welcoming athletes since the Soviet era. The oldest of them - Bakuriani - is equipped with seven lifts, and the younger (1982) and modern - Gudauri - with four.

However, people go to Georgia for the winter holidays not only for nostalgic reasons, but also for new experiences. Besides, in fact, ski slopes, tourists are attracted by the colorful architecture, delicious cuisine, unique culture and excellent alcohol.

Pros of rest

1. Depending on where you live, you can get to Georgia not only by plane, but also by car (if you drive on your own). In some areas, tour operators offer New Year's tours to ski resorts in Tbilisi by bus.
2. Inexpensive. Prices for accommodation and food are much lower than in Europe. A New Year's holiday in a hotel with a swimming pool, sauna, massage and a range of SPA services will cost approximately $100 per day.
3. There is no language barrier. Most hotels understand and speak Russian perfectly.
4. There is always a lot of snow. There are guns with artificial ones.

Disadvantages of rest

1. The apparent cheapness of the tour can be deceiving. For example, traveling from Moscow to Georgia by train for the New Year holidays is very tiring, and a 2* hotel may even look like a cheap hostel from the inside.
2. If you are planning a trip on your own, it is better to book accommodation on the spot. Often the photos posted on the booking site look much better than the real thing.
3. Low level of service, which, unfortunately, is typical for many countries former USSR. Often on New Year's Day the lifts do not work, the slopes are not prepared, and all complaints are answered with something along the lines of “there are many of you here, and I am alone.”

Prices for New Year's tours

Holidays in Georgia, even during the winter holidays, are inexpensive. A trip for one with transfer will cost approximately 30,000 rubles per person .

If you are puzzled by early booking of a tour on New Year's holiday, then you can save another 10%.

Weather in Georgia on New Year's Day

At the main ski resorts – Gudauri and Bakuriani – at the end of December the season begins. Winter here is cold, but not harsh.

Average the temperature during the day does not drop below -9 ° C , a lot of precipitation and bright winter sun. Overall, it's a pleasure to ride!

How to celebrate the New Year?

Reviews about New Year celebrations at ski resorts in Georgia are very restrained. Apart from skiing, snowboarding and hang gliding there is not much to do. Although higher class hotels have swimming pools, baths, bowling alleys and tennis courts, which, of course, are open on holidays.

Nightlife in Bakuriani is poorly represented, so you will most likely have to celebrate in the hotel restaurant, but with excellent home cooking and wine. By the way, it is better to book tables in restaurants in advance. And not only on New Year's Day.

There are several supermarkets in the towns, but their selection is rather poor. It is better to grab delicacies for the festive table from Tbilisi, where there is much more choice, and prices are one and a half to two times lower. From Gudauri to the capital it is only 2 hours by car, and from Bakuriani - about three.

Do you need a visa to Georgia?

To visit Georgia for up to 1 year no visa needed . For adults, a foreign passport is sufficient, which must be valid until the end of the trip.

However, there is one nuance due to which a vacation in Georgia (and not only on New Year’s Eve) may not take place. The passport should not contain notes about visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia. You only need to enter Georgia through the official border with the Russian Federation!

Holidays in Finland

Without any doubt, the most authentic and colorful New Year comes to the village of Joulupukki in Finland. This is where the same Santa Claus lives, who flies all over the world on Christmas Day. Earth on a team of reindeer. If your plan is to have a fun holiday with a child or a whole group of noisy kids, then Finland is perfect for this. You can rent a house or stay in a hotel – in any case you won’t be bored!

Despite the fact that it is generally quite cold here, in the northern part of the country the climate is dry, so the cold is not so bitter. Although it won't hurt to take a lot of warm clothes. If we are talking about an adult company, then you can get an adrenaline rush on an excursion in search of the northern lights, and many ski resorts in this country have good reviews.

Pros of rest

1. Despite the fact that tours to Finland for the New Year traditionally increase in price by 15-30%, in general, the holiday is characterized as inexpensive. Compared to the ski resorts of Switzerland and Austria, you can save a lot here.
2. You can rent a cottage for the New Year in Finland not only through a tour operator, but also on your own. Many hotels have their own websites, which are even fairly well translated into Russian.
3. A visit to the village of Santa Claus is relevant specifically for this calendar period. Unforgettable impressions are guaranteed for children! There are separate New Year's Day tours with accommodation in Joulupukki, both from Helsinki and from other cities.
4. Great service! Let's not forget that this is Europe with all the imaginable and inconceivable “après ski”.

Disadvantages of rest

1. Despite the fact that a tour to Finland for the New Year holidays is inexpensive, the real money-sucking begins in Joulupukki itself. There are so many bright, interesting and fabulous things here that there is simply no way to refuse a child!
2. Finns are not the most efficient people, so don’t count on getting your passport or customs control, as well as lightning-fast service at the hotel.
3. Finns are very meticulous. For this reason, it is rare to get free early check-in anywhere. It is necessary to warn the staff in advance about such “little things” by contacting the owners of the cottage or hotel via the Internet. In winter, after a flight with cold and hungry children, this can become a problem☹
4. For advanced skiers, Finnish pistes may seem too easy.
5. You can rent a good and inexpensive house in Finland for the New Year only much in advance. Usually, for those who plan everything at the last moment, the only option left is housing in cities where it is not so interesting.

Prices for New Year's tours

The price of a tour from Moscow to Lapland for the New Year is quite affordable 28,000 rubles per person .

However, this does not include excursions or transfers within the country. As you get closer to places of worship, the price of a vacation will increase. Relevant as ever early booking, starting from September-October.

Weather in Finland on New Year's Day

At this time of year, the entire country is usually covered in snow. In the north the air is a little drier than in the south, so the cold is tolerated a little easier here.

Generally, The daytime temperature ranges from -5 to -9 ° C.

It gets dark here very early, around 15:00. And beyond the Arctic Circle, the New Year generally falls on the polar night, which lasts about 50 days.

Despite the fact that a huge number of excursions to Lapland are dedicated to this rare occurrence, How northern lights, reviews from tourists about traveling to Finland on New Year's Eve clearly state that it is almost impossible to see it.

How to celebrate the New Year?

The question of where to celebrate the New Year in Finland is not worth it for me personally. Of course, in Joulupukki! This is a village near Rovaniemi where the real Santa lives. In addition to his house, there is an Arctic zoo, an amusement park for children, and a deer and dog farm.

Almost nearby is the snowy village of Lainio, where the world-famous ice hotel and pub are located.

You can choose for relaxation and small ski resort Levi, where it’s easy to go by car to visit Santa – it’s not far!

Since the tradition of celebrating New Year and Christmas has been elevated to a cult here, there is no need to be afraid that it will be boring or uninteresting! There are legends about how the New Year is celebrated in Finland ☺ By the way, the Finns themselves only fuel interest in them, mysteriously adding that their experience in New Year holidays goes back many centuries.

Those who will be celebrating the New Year in Helsinki and other big cities should book a table in a restaurant in advance. Most establishments are open a little longer than midnight, and the next day - January 1 - they will be closed.

Do you need a visa to Finland?

Holidays in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is very popular among tourists at any time of the year. Although the high season is considered to be from April to September, sightseeing tours on New Year and Christmas they sell like hot cakes at astronomical prices. In this colorful Gothic atmosphere, the New Year's tale takes on a special meaning with a touch of severe mystery from the Middle Ages.

You can celebrate by going to Prague itself or to the ski resorts of Spindleruv Mlyn, Pec pod Snezkou or Harrachov. Separately, it is worth mentioning the health resorts of Karlovy Vary and others, where you can celebrate the New Year in a measured way in warm company and enjoy the luxurious nature to the fullest.

Pros of rest

1. If you are looking for where you can celebrate the New Year with children and certainly abroad, then Prague deserves attention first of all. There are a lot of exciting entertainment events and just a huge number of shops with souvenirs and sweets. By the way, there is a luxurious soft toy museum in Prague.
2. Colorful atmosphere. Even small towns are decorated with illuminations that look like they came straight out of a Christmas card.
3. Beer! Luxurious, fresh beer brewed right in the pub. Just keep in mind that you need to drink it right away. If you want to bring a couple of bottles home, be prepared to find a small sediment at the bottom at home. Fortunately, this little nuisance does not affect the taste of the drink in any way;)
4. Compared to other European countries, a holiday in the Czech Republic will cost less.

Disadvantages of rest

1. Unfortunately, Russians are not very liked in the Czech Republic. However, this does not affect the quality of rest in any way. By the way, many Czechs speak Russian much better than English.
2. At Christmas, cities seem to die out - shops and restaurants are closed, so food and drink should be taken care of the day before.
3. If you are going on a tour to Prague on your own, then you should sort out the transport in advance. Tickets for the metro and trams are not sold everywhere, and the fines for travel are significant.
4. Czech cuisine is quite oily, which may be a disadvantage for some. Although, for me, in winter this is rather a plus :)

Prices for New Year's tours

The cost of a tour to the Czech Republic from Moscow for the New Year holidays starts from 33,000 rubles per person

New Year's holidays in the Czech Republic are a series of endless atmospheric pubs and colorful street fairs. However, it is worth remembering that by the evening everything will be closed and crowds of loitering people will pour right into the streets of the city.

Everything will be as we are used to! Slightly drunk, but very friendly Czechs (slightly less than half, the rest are tourists from Germany and Russia) will drink beer, sing songs, congratulate each other and set off fireworks.

Pickpockets are considered the most formidable representatives of the criminal world here, so on New Year's Eve (and any other) you can safely walk even through the darkest alleys.

On January 1, everything will traditionally be closed. Rare drinking establishments will open their heavy oak doors to the suffering only in the late afternoon.

If, in addition to celebrating the New Year, a cultural program is also planned, then you can visit:

• National Museum, Prague;
• Karlovy Vary;
• Picture Gallery in Prague Castle;
• Prague Zoo.

It’s simply pointless to list the colorful castles and pubs that are a must-see. There are about 2000 of the former in the Czech Republic, and even more of the latter. And they are all unique, with an indescribable atmosphere and a fascinating centuries-old history.

Do you need a visa to the Czech Republic?

Before planning a New Year's tour to Prague, you need to get Schengen visa . If you do it directly at the consulate, it will cost 35 euros (urgent - 70 euros). An intermediary company or agency will charge approximately 1,000 rubles for the work.

So where to go for New Year's holiday?

So, we found out where you can relax relatively inexpensively during the New Year holidays:

• If the purpose of the trip is to change the climate and get a little sun in the middle of winter, then Turkey and Egypt are two priority budget destinations.
• If you want a real Christmas fairy tale with “full immersion,” I recommend going to the Czech Republic or Finland. Children will be simply delighted with everything happening around them!
• For active winter holiday Bulgaria and Georgia are suitable, where ski tourism has recently again become a priority area for industry development.

To plan an inexpensive and fun New Year's getaway, be sure to pay attention to the details. Be puzzled by the availability and quality of the Internet in the hotel where you plan to stay. Download to your phone all sorts of applications that make life easier for a modern tourist, for example, Booking and Uber, and upload maps of the area to Eway.

Ideally, even before the trip, you should map the nearest large store, a dozen cafes and a medical center. Find out where you can buy the holiday attributes that are obligatory for you and your family - champagne, Olivier, firecrackers... you never know what else!

It's no secret that the New Year is considered the most important holiday of the year for Russians. They are waiting for it, preparing for it mentally and physically much in advance, and preparation is carried out everywhere: from kindergartens to the State Duma. Many people equate the New Year with the beginning of a new life, new promises and changes for the better. Everyone decides for himself how he will celebrate this grand holiday. Long holidays are coming at work and school, and this means it’s time to change the environment and visit long-planned destinations, recharge with new emotions and spiritual strength for further achievements, and just relax.

Not just to relax, but to celebrate the holiday itself in a new country - an incredible adventure and an unforgettable experience that will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture of the area, learn special traditions and become part of the holiday. Many vacationers, on the contrary, bring Russian celebration culture to the masses and introduce foreigners to Slavic identity. Such a mixture of customs as part of the New Year celebration will remain in memory for a lifetime.

It’s quite difficult to decide on a direction for the New Year, since there are actually a lot of tours. You can go to conquer the peaks at ski resorts, warmly and comfortably wander through the ancient streets of Europe and enjoy childlike joy at fairs, or you can celebrate a holiday on the beach, which in itself is exotic for a Russian person.

New Year's tours at sea

Almost the entire territory of Russia is covered with snow on New Year's Day. It's hard to imagine a holiday without frost, blizzards and white flakes outside the window. What an unforgettable experience it will be to celebrate the New Year under the scorching sun in the hot sand and gentle sea. It’s funny to see how hotels and palm trees are decorated for the New Year instead of traditional fir trees. Although, hotels in the most popular destinations still display spruce trees so as not to violate the traditions of visitors.

Thailand

Vietnam

Just like in Thailand, the New Year in Vietnam on January 1 is a significant holiday for tourists. The Vietnamese New Year (Tet) takes place here according to the lunar calendar and has floating dates. During the traditional New Year holidays, Vietnam delights vacationers with gorgeous sandy beaches, decorated with shopping centers, Santa Clauses and other holiday paraphernalia. If you are lucky enough to celebrate the New Year in Vietnam, then be sure to go to the embankment (no matter whether it is Nha Trang, Phu Coc, Phan Thiet or Mui Ne), as this is where concerts, folk festivals, dances and the countdown to the start of the new calendar year are organized.

Where to go to the beach: Nha Trang, Phu Coc, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet.

Weather: the air warms up to +27 °C, and the water to +24 °C. At this time of year, precipitation is unlikely, but quite possible. They are unlikely to ruin a holiday by the sea due to their short duration and rarity.

Other helpful information about Vietnam:

Prices for New Year tours to Vietnam: from 100,000 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to Vietnam here:

Bali

The end of December and the beginning of January is the best time for a beach holiday in Bali, as the amount of precipitation is gradually declining, but it is still possible. The Balinese celebrate the New Year in the spring, and on December 31st they hold celebrations exclusively for tourists. On holiday, you should rush to the beach, where there are big fireworks displays.

Where to go to the beach: Nusa Dua, Kuta, Denpasar, etc.

Weather: water and air warm up to approximately +29° C, water temperature - +28° C.

Other useful information about Bali:

Prices for New Year's tours in Bali: from 120,000 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to Bali here:

Sri Lanka

Cuba

New Year's celebrations in Cuba are particularly large-scale, since January 1 is also Liberation Day. Once you go outside, you simply cannot avoid the holiday. Parades, processions, and carnivals take place everywhere. Everyone dresses up in the brightest dresses, drinks rum and is wholeheartedly proud of the country.

Where to go to the beach: Havana, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Varadero.

Weather: The average air and water temperature is +25 °C - +28 °C. The rainy season is already over.

Other useful information about Cuba:

Prices for New Year's tours to Cuba: from 150,000 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to Cuba here:

Less popular due to the high cost, but no less interesting, are New Year’s tours to countries such as:

Christmas and New Year in Europe

Christmas Europe has a special, childishly magical charm. Colorful fairs in medieval squares attract millions of visitors at Christmas. You should go to Europe before December 25 in order to catch the most important holiday of the year, for which Europeans prepare with all responsibility. On Christmas, church services are held in Gothic cathedrals and ancient basilicas, the streets are filled with the smell of pine needles and cinnamon, and the festive bustle everywhere does not subside: everyone is in a bustle buying gifts for family and friends. New Year in Europe is not celebrated on the same scale as Christmas, but in any case, the winter holidays and the special atmosphere will remain in the memory forever.

Finland

Other useful information about Finland:

Prices for New Year's tours to Finland: from 55,500 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to Finland here:

Czech Republic, Prague)

Prague takes on an absolutely magical appearance during the Christmas holidays. It seems that every square meter of the city is decorated with bright light bulbs, garlands, and glass beads. A lush, elegant fir tree is installed on each square and fairs are set up around them, where you can walk endlessly. Definitely worth arranging gastronomic tour and try the local ones New Year's dishes: wine sausage, “vanochka” and “nut nests”. At every turn during the cold season they sell hot mulled wine, punch or honey, so there is no chance of freezing or catching a cold.

Where to go for New Year: Prague.

Weather: Daytime temperatures are around +2 °C.

Other useful information about the Czech Republic:

Prices for New Year's tours to the Czech Republic: from 50,500 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to the Czech Republic here:

France Paris)

One more popular destination on New Year's Day is Paris. From the beginning of December, the city plunges into a pleasant pre-holiday bustle. Thanks to illumination, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks acquire a new and vibrant image. Throughout the month, the city hosts colorful themed fairs, festivals and concerts. As a rule, Parisians go out to celebrate the New Year on the Champs Elysees. This is where the countdown takes place, and a multi-ethnic crowd of thousands of people is having fun and rejoicing. You should definitely check out the Christmas sale: the prices may pleasantly surprise you.

Where to go for Christmas: Paris.

Weather: The air in the capital warms up from 0 °C to +8 °C.

Other useful information about France:

Prices for Christmas tours to France: from 74,200 rubles*

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Italy

Just like other major European countries, Italy is immersed in bright lights and fairs throughout December. Mostly people go to Italy during the Christmas holidays for shopping. In large cities you can purchase absolutely any item at almost cost. Experienced travelers advise going to sales in Italy with empty but large suitcases. Among the Italians themselves, the Christmas tradition of throwing old things out the window has sunk into oblivion, but another one has appeared - acquiring everything new.

The New Year itself is celebrated in large cities on a grand scale. Everyone goes out to the central, richly decorated squares, music plays everywhere, New Year's strong drinks flow like a river, the countdown takes place and the fun does not subside until the morning.

Where to go: Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Pisa.

Weather: At Christmas, Italy's weather gives travelers a good gift - the air temperature averages +8 °C, and in some places it warms up to +15 °C.

Other useful information about Italy:

Prices for Christmas tours to Italy: from 57,800 rubles*

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Estonia (Tallinn)

Christmas holiday trips to Tallinn are becoming increasingly popular. The romance and European fair atmosphere is present here as in other countries, and prices for tours are much lower than, for example, to Germany. Quiet and calm Tallinn is filled with noisy tourists from different countries who want to fully experience the magical atmosphere of the holidays. Everything here is the same as in other large European cities: a fir tree is erected in the central square, tents with national treats and holiday souvenirs are set up, and restaurants and hotels offer New Year's dinners and entertainment programs in the atmosphere of the 14th century.

Where to go: Tallinn.

Weather: At Christmas the average temperature is -2°C.

Other useful information about Estonia:

Prices for Christmas tours to Estonia: from 81,000 rubles*

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Greece

A popular destination for the New Year is Greece, as it is there that the celebration is taken very seriously. Every Greek firmly believes that the coming year will bring positive changes. Since mid-December, everyone has been busy preparing for the holidays: both physical and moral. Residents of Greece flock to churches, decorate houses and streets, and on the eve prepare traditional dishes of pork, chicken and turkey, which can be tasted in any restaurant. On New Year's Eve, travelers and local residents they go out onto the city streets, dance sirtaki, drink a lot of wine and sincerely rejoice at the beginning of a new life.

Where to go: any major city.

Weather: the air warms up to +14 °C.

Other useful information about Greece:

Prices for New Year's tours to Greece: from 44,000 rubles*

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New Year “oriental style”

The East, as you know, is a delicate matter and in every eastern country New Year is celebrated on different dates and with different traditions. Even the chronology is radically different from the European one. We can say that for Asian countries the arrival of the New Year is a purely traditional holiday, but in tribute to tourists, each country organizes a secular New Year, which is celebrated on January 1.

Israel

Most popular country At this time of year, Israel is the beginning of the beginning. The New Year in Israel is celebrated several times: in accordance with religious and secular traditions. On January 1, the secular New Year comes to the country, the traditions of which were adopted from Russia. During the holidays, you should definitely go to where it all began - to the religious shrines of Christianity and make a wish at the Western Wall, walk the Way of the Cross, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and watch the sunrise at sacred mountain Zion. From Catholic to Orthodox Christmas The country hosts many social and entertainment events.

Where to go for New Year: Jerusalem, Bethlehem.

Weather: the air temperature warms up to +17 °C. Swimming is no longer comfortable, but long walks in the fresh air are unlikely to overshadow anything.

Other useful information about Israel:

• Visa - no need

Prices for New Year's tours to Israel: from 72,500 rubles*

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United Arab Emirates

To celebrate the New Year on a grand scale and have a great vacation on the beach, you should definitely go to Dubai. Secular celebrations on January 1 are not accepted on the streets here, but concerts, shows, discos and parties are sure to await you in the establishments. The exception is street fireworks, which are recognized as the best in the world in terms of beauty and scope.

Where to go for New Year: Dubai.

Weather: The average air temperature across the country does not exceed +21 °C. For evening walks A light jacket will be useful.

Other useful information about the UAE:

Prices New Year's tours in the UAE: from 51,200 rubles*

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Egypt

Currently, tours to Egyptian resorts are only available with a flight via Cairo, which negatively affects their cost. Charter flights expected to resume resort towns.

Even after the ban on flights to resort towns in Egypt, interest in it does not decrease. Each of us wanted to spend the winter holidays not in the snow, but in the sand at least once in our lives. Swimming in Egyptian resorts is no longer as comfortable as in the fall, but heated hotel pools will come to the rescue. On New Year's Day, hospitable hotel owners arrange luxurious feasts for tourists with an entertainment program, competitions and fireworks. Shopping centers are everywhere decorated with fir trees, balls and garlands. The spirit of the holiday will not leave travelers even for sandy beaches: Many tourists and locals gather at beach bars for concerts and fun celebrations of the new calendar year.

Where to go: Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada.

Weather: up to +20 °C.

Other useful information about Egypt:

• Visa (on arrival)

Prices for tours to Egypt for the New Year: from 81,500 rubles*

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China

Tunisia

An excellent opportunity to change the cold to the heat is a trip to Tunisia. Swimming in the resorts of Tunisia at this time is no longer so comfortable, but nothing will interfere with leisurely walks and celebrating the New Year in the open air. After all, Tunisia is the capital of thalassotherapy and every hotel has spa centers with heated pools. The main New Year's events take place in Sousse, Hammamet and Tunisia. Mass celebrations with fireworks, festivals, and music concerts begin in the central squares. From the streets, the celebration gradually flows into bars and restaurants. There is one very pleasant New Year's tradition in Tunisia, which tourists also follow with pleasure - eating as many sweets as possible at night in order to spend the coming year in abundance.

Where to go for New Year: Hammamet, Monastir, Sousse, Mohdia, Djerba.

Weather: up to +16 °C.

Other useful information about Tunisia:

Prices for tours to Tunisia for the New Year holidays: from 105,500 rubles*

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Japan

A trip to Japan will make the New Year exotic. From year to year everything more tourists rushing precisely to the land of the rising sun. Christmas is not celebrated here, but the arrival of the calendar year is counted from January 1st. Preparations for the holiday begin in mid-autumn: streets and houses are decorated with garlands, souvenir markets begin operating and main sales open. It’s funny to note that the preparation for the holiday is very reminiscent of the Russian one: families stock up on gifts and figurines in the form of a symbol of the coming year, do general cleaning, set a rich table on December 31, dress up in their best clothes and celebrate the arrival of the New Year. This holiday cannot be called noisy, since the Japanese are used to celebrating it quietly, calmly and with family.

As a rule, tourists and young people gather in central squares and then smoothly disperse to bars. Everything goes peacefully, quietly and without heavy alcoholic libations. On January 2, tourists have a unique opportunity to visit Imperial Palace, where they are allowed only twice a year.

Where to go for New Year: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Sapporo.

Weather: in Sapporo - up to -3 °C, in Tokyo - up to +7 °C.

Other useful information about Japan:

Prices for tours to Japan for the New Year: from 140,000 rubles*

You can select and book a tour to Japan here:

New Year "American style"

An absolutely enchanting scale of Christmas and New Year celebrations takes place in the USA. As we know from films, no one believes in miracles, Santa and new life like Americans. And indeed, what a celebration in New York is worth, where hundreds of thousands of people gather in Times Square to watch the old tradition of dropping a glass ball. The huge LED ball slowly descends down the axis and then reaches the lowest point, the lights fade out and the year board lights up, marking its beginning. You need to come to Times Square early in the morning to choose a good place, as world stars of the first magnitude celebrate the New Year with residents and guests of New York.

Absolutely everyone loves the New Year holidays: beautifully wrapped gifts, shaggy fir trees, burning garlands and fragrant tangerines - this is just a small part of the Christmas miracles. And some people consider long weekends as an opportunity to change their surroundings and relax outside the walls of their home. Where should you go? Traveling around Russia? Or head to distant countries where ? It’s tempting, but not everyone dreams of spending time on a wonderful, but often idle holiday by the sea. Some prefer to be culturally enlightened - get acquainted with famous architectural masterpieces, go to museums, theaters, etc., while others need leisure in the form of skiing. Let's discuss different options.

In Russia

To have a good rest during the New Year holidays, it is not at all necessary to opt for foreign tours and vouchers, since in Russia there are a huge number of wonderful places where you can spend an unforgettable weekend. Just a few years ago, most Russians sought to travel to other countries for the New Year, because it was not only interesting, but also prestigious.

Now the situation has changed - a weekend in Paris will not surprise anyone, and many people, due to circumstances, simply do not have the opportunity to travel outside their native country - some do not have a foreign passport, and others work in a “secret” job, having signed an agreement to become “ restricted from traveling." Progress does not stand still, which greatly affects the Russian tourism sector - today even the most discerning and comfort-loving citizens can easily find an amazing and wonderful corner where they can go to relax on New Year’s Eve. Let's consider the most interesting and unusual options.

St. Petersburg attracts tourists at any time of the year, and holidays, of course, are no exception. Guests in Northern Palmyra They come both independently and as part of special tours offered by travel companies. Without a doubt, the latter option is very convenient - you don’t need to think about choosing accommodation and tickets, and a variety of excursion entertainment is usually included in the program. However, not everyone wants to rest according to a schedule, so many cope with organizational issues on their own without any problems.

Travelers who decide to celebrate the New Year in St. Petersburg have access to an incredible amount of entertainment for every taste - you can walk along Nevsky Prospekt, shop in huge shopping centers, attend folk festivals, watch performances by world-famous stars, go to the Mariinsky Theater, a concert or a museum. Weekends spent in the cultural capital of Russia, in January-December, when garlands shine on every window and elegant Christmas trees delight the eye, will be remembered for a long time.

• -4 / -9 °C. It should be noted that the weather in St. Petersburg is usually windy and the humidity is quite high, which together does not give the most pleasant effect. Therefore, when going on vacation, do not neglect warm clothes, hats and scarves - all this will certainly come in handy.
• Cost of living: double Standart room You can book a hotel located in the center of St. Petersburg quite inexpensively – from 3,000 rubles per night. It is logical that the price will directly depend on the needs of tourists. Those who plan budget holiday, prefer to stay in a hostel.
• How to get there: by car, train or plane. It is worth considering that it is best to purchase plane or train tickets in advance, as they may simply run out towards the end of December.

The capital's New Year holidays are an excellent choice for those who want to get into a real winter fairy tale, the scale of which will amaze the imagination of any Russian. Moscow will delight its guests with an incredible number of shining Christmas trees installed in every district of the city. However, the Kremlin Christmas tree on Red Square is deservedly the most popular. It is there, on the main Christmas tree of the country, that thousands of people gather on a festive night, wanting to collectively celebrate the New Year with the chimes and wonderful fireworks.

The list could go on for a long time. Of course, you should think through your pastime based on your hobbies and desires. For example, guests of Moscow will most likely like something from the following list:

• Do you love stores and dream of buying everything you need and not so much? Then you need to visit the colorful and beautiful holiday fairs in the Hermitage Garden, on Red Square and VDNKh. And the open spaces and splendor of the Central Department Store will probably not leave anyone indifferent.
• For theatergoers, Moscow is simply paradise. Sensational theatrical productions, where you can see live stars who have long been familiar to everyone from Russian cinema. A nice bonus is New Year's discounts, which are usually offered by most theaters.
• Tourists with children will be delighted to visit the aquarium. There are several of them in Moscow, and the most popular is the one located at VDNKh.
• Fans of active recreation will have fun going to the skating rink or skiing down the snow slides.

• Average temperature in January:-5 / -10 °C.
• Cost of living: A double standard room in hotels located a few kilometers from Red Square costs from 4,100 rubles per day.

Karelia in winter is a real miracle: mountains, lakes, waterfalls, a huge number of nature reserves and beautiful nature. As a rule, tourists who want to celebrate the New Year in the land of the Karelians opt for the capital of the republic - Petrozavodsk. While walking around the city, be sure to visit the embankment of Lake Onega - an extraordinary and fabulous view opens from there, and along the street you can see the famous Tree of Wishes, a monument to Peter the Great, as well as other interesting sculptures and compositions that were presented to Petrozavodsk by its sister cities.

Where else can you go? The choice is truly huge... Museums, theaters, parks, ski and sports complexes and even a philharmonic for music lovers. However, you shouldn’t spend all the holidays in the city - there is an abyss outside of it in Karelia exciting entertainment. Particularly popular among tourists is the excursion program to the Arctic Circle, which includes fishing, dog riding and snowmobiling. You can stay on the shore White Sea(at a modern and comfortable recreation center).

• Average temperature in January:-7 / -13 °C.
• Cost of living: a double standard in hotels located near the city center costs from 3,000 rubles per day.
• How to get there: plane tickets Moscow–Petrozavodsk–Moscow New Year's dates cost from 10,600 rubles per person; round-trip train tickets - from 5,100 rubles per person.

New Year's holidays in Sochi will appeal to those who want to spend a weekend on the sea coast without leaving Russia. Good weather, a riot of colors, salty wind and modern infrastructure of the city will delight even the most fastidious travelers.

Thinking through cultural program, pay attention to the following list of possible entertainments:

• Sochi Park is a themed and beautiful amusement park, striking in its scale. An incredible roller coaster that will take your breath away, and a majestic Ferris wheel that allows you to see Sochi from a bird's eye view. And... many other attractions that delight both adults and children. If you still have time and energy, it’s worth visiting the dolphinarium in Sochi Park.
• The oceanarium is the choice of those who love not only to eat fish, but also to look at it. The Sochi Oceanarium is beautiful - thousands of species of unique inhabitants of the deep sea, which can be observed in real time and at arm's length. The specially equipped outdoor pond with yellow fish is especially popular among guests. And why? It’s simple - they are allowed to feed (food is purchased from a machine located nearby). Visitors to the aquarium have another incredible bonus - a diving excursion. Just imagine - diving among turtles and sharks swimming in the wreckage of pirate ships.
• Olympic Park – travelers can admire all the structures built for the 2014 Olympics.
• Park "Southern Cultures" is a dendrological garden and park ensemble with a system of ponds, located in the Adler district of Sochi. If you are planning to take a walk and breathe in the eucalyptus air, take some bread with you to feed the beautiful white swans swimming in the pond.
• Water park “AquaLoo” - it’s hard to imagine an active holiday on the seashore without visiting the dizzying slides. “AquaLoo” also operates in winter, attracting tourists all year round.
• Krasnaya Polyana, Rosa Khutor - a modern ski resort, cable car and tons of sparkling snow.

• Average temperature in January:+10 / +3 °C.
• Cost of living:
• How to get there: Moscow–Adler–Moscow plane tickets for holidays cost from 9,500 rubles per person; round-trip train tickets - from 6,900 rubles per person.

In the capital of Tatarstan, Tatar and Russian customs and traditions are intricately combined. The combination of cultures of different nations makes Kazan amazing city, where antiquity harmoniously coexists with modernity. As a rule, winters in Kazan are quite comfortable, but no one can insure travelers against possible frost of thirty degrees. On New Year's Eve in the Millennium Park in Kazan, various and interesting events– round dances around a Christmas tree shining with lights, performances by musical groups, a festive show with Santa Claus and his granddaughter, fireworks and, of course, dancing.

If you don't know where to go in Kazan holidays, then visit:

• Ice town near the Ekiyat puppet theater - the creation of ice sculptures near the puppet theater is a unique Kazan tradition. Slides, attractions, heroes of Russian fairy tales and oriental characters - citizens and guests of the city every year have the opportunity to get into a real winter fairy tale, embodied with the help of “ice” art.
• The Nefis skating rink near the Kazan Arena stadium has many, many square meters of sparkling ice. The largest ice arena under open air.
• Kazan Kremlin - architectural monument, which includes museums and ancient buildings.
• Equipped snow slopes - cheesecake skiing and skiing are rightfully considered one of the most popular winter activities.
• Restaurants with Tatar cuisine - Kazan for some people becomes a kind of gastronomic favorite, because national Tatar dishes are simply an extravaganza of taste. Don't you want Olivier and jellied meat, which are eaten in every home on New Year's Eve? Then restaurants in Kazan are your choice. Horse sausage, pies with unusual fillings, chak-chak and an endless number of delicacies will probably cause increased salivation in any traveler.

• Average temperature in January:-8 / -15 °C.
• Cost of living: A double standard room in hotels located near the city center costs from 3,500 rubles per night.
• How to get there: plane tickets from Moscow to Kazan and back on holidays cost from 5,500 rubles per person; round-trip train tickets - from 3,900 rubles per person.

Since 1999, Veliky Ustyug has been recognized as the official homeland of Father Frost, so New Year's Eve celebrations here are usually large-scale, fun and full of sparkle. This kind of vacation is especially popular with families with children, since the latter are unbridledly delighted to meet Father Frost, the Snow Maiden and other fairy-tale characters. Veliky Ustyug is the oldest city in which the amazing flavor of the Middle Ages and the Russian North still reigns.

The cultural program can include:

• Visit to the Cathedral Courtyard, which includes the famous Assumption Cathedral.
• Shopping in specialized souvenir shops - tourists bring wonderful things from Veliky Ustyug: souvenir bast shoes, linen tablecloths and towels, birch bark boxes, medicinal herbal balms and tinctures, real felt boots and, of course, jewelry made from blackened silver.
• Excursion to the Veliky Ustyug Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve. Particularly popular is the permanent exhibition – the Museum of New Year and Christmas Toys.
• Sending a letter with the personal stamp of a fairy-tale wizard to relatives and friends through Father Frost's Post Office, located in Oktyabrsky Lane. It is here that hundreds of thousands of letters written by our little compatriots are delivered.

Undoubtedly, the main goal of most travelers is to meet Father Frost, but it is worth considering that he owns not one, but two residences in Veliky Ustyug. The first can be found on Sovetsky Prospekt, and the second is located about ten kilometers from the city.

• Average temperature in January:-10 / -17 °C.
• Cost of living: A double standard room in hotels located near the city center costs from 3,000 rubles per night.
• How to get there: plane tickets Moscow–Cherepovets–Veliky Ustyug and back on holidays cost from 22,000 rubles per person (the plane flies with a transfer in Cherepovets). If we talk about the railway version, then the only train going to Veliky Ustyug is the “Winter Express”, departing in Moscow from the Yaroslavl station during the New Year holidays. Tickets can be purchased along with the tour from travel agencies. The average price of a three-day trip to the homeland of Father Frost is from 20,000 rubles per person.

Do you think that the Crimean peninsula attracts tourists only in the summer? You are wrong. Every year thousands of people come to Crimea to celebrate the New Year. For those who decide to choose Yalta, there is a lot of entertainment available - concerts, fireworks, holiday fairs. Fans of outdoor activities and snow can go to the windiest place in Crimea - Mount Ai-Petri, which offers stunning views.

During the holidays, guests of the peninsula are usually offered a huge number of excursion programs - bird home, Genoese fortress, Count's pier, Bakhchisarai palace... the list is almost endless.

• Average temperature in January:+6 / +4 °C. The weather in Crimea is varied - it differs quite a lot depending on the climatic subzone (steppe, mountains, southern coast).
• Cost of living: housing prices vary - rooms in guest houses in the private sector cost from 600 rubles per day, and hotels with two or three stars - from 3,000 rubles. It is best to choose where to stay in advance and book a hotel or house.
• How to get there: plane tickets from Moscow to Simferopol and back cost from 11,000 rubles per person; the price of train tickets Moscow–Novorossiysk–Moscow starts from 6,500 rubles per person.

If you want to celebrate the New Year in an unusual and active way, then a trip to Gorno-Altaisk is an excellent solution. What to do in the snowy mountains? You can ride cheesecakes with the breeze, glide along the sparkling slopes on skis, organize reckless snowmobile races, or just simply admire the beauty of nature, and warm up in a real Russian bathhouse on dark evenings.

Today the city is famous for its many comfortable and modern bases recreation for tourists - you can easily find a shelter to take a break from the bustle of the city and breathe in the extraordinary mountain air.

• Average temperature in January:-14 / -17 °C. January is considered the coldest month.
• Cost of living: housing prices are quite affordable - it’s easy to find hotels from 1,400 rubles per night for a double room.
• How to get there: plane tickets from Moscow to Gorno-Altaisk and back cost from 25,000 rubles per person; railway tickets - from 13,000 rubles round trip per person (the train runs from Moscow to Biysk, from which it is easy to get to Gorno-Altaisk by taxi).

Kaliningrad is the westernmost point of our country. This is where those who love European holidays, but for some reason are forced to stay in Russia, most often go to celebrate the New Year. Narrow cobbled streets, churches and unusual houses are an amazing setting for celebration and relaxation. On the first day of the New Year, guests and city residents gather at Victory Square, where the central place is occupied by a traditional forest beauty, decorated with original toys and bright illumination. Performances by musical groups and artists, dance programs, fairs and competitions - all this continues almost without interruption and ends with New Year's fireworks.

Where to go in Kaliningrad? Stroll around the square located near the Cathedral, visit the zoo, theater or amber museum. Or go ice skating - the frozen Upper Pond in Yunost Park is considered excellent platform. There are apparently no restaurants and cafes in the city, most of which are oriented towards the Middle Ages - the spacious halls are stylized ancient castles, and the menu offers dishes prepared according to centuries-old recipes. The entertainment program in such establishments is usually very extensive during the New Year holidays: for example, knightly tournaments and theatrical performances where artists walk on glass or easily swallow knives.

• Average temperature in January: 0 / -5 °C.
• Cost of living: housing prices start from 3,000 rubles per day for a double room.
• How to get there: most convenient way- plane or train. Round-trip tickets for one person cost: for a plane from Moscow - from 10,500 rubles, for a train from Moscow - from 4,000 rubles. Residents of St. Petersburg have the opportunity to choose a romantic travel option - a ferry.

This one is old and beautiful city, founded, according to legend, by Vladimir Monomakh, is located on the banks of the Klyazma River and is part of the Golden Ring. If you like the unique flavor of the outback, then the New Year celebrated in Vladimir will be 100% memorable. The holiday can be celebrated both outdoors, admiring the city at night, illuminations and fireworks, and in a restaurant - most of them organize large-scale entertainment, accompanied by a special menu pleasing the eye and stomach with delicacies and gastronomic delights. Be sure to try the mead and meat pies, which in Vladimir are baked according to an old recipe.

Where to go in New Year's Vladimir in your free time? There are many options, below is a list of interesting and different ones:

• An evening tour of the city - look at Cathedral Square, which looks fabulous and beautiful thanks to the illumination of monuments dating back to the twelfth century. Stroll to the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals and don't miss the Golden Gate, one of the city's main attractions.
• Visit to the planetarium, located in the building of the St. Nicholas Kremlin Church. Models of artificial Earth satellites, unusual and rare dioramas, starry skies, planets and meteorites - all this fascinates even the most unscientific visitors.
• Ice skating – there are about two dozen skating rinks in Vladimir, so you won’t have any problems choosing.

• Average temperature in January:-7 / -13 °C.
• Cost of living: There are a lot of hotels in the city - it’s easy to find something to suit every taste and budget. Prices start from 2000 for a double room. Tours cost from 18,000 rubles for three days per person.
• How to get there: Vladimir is located 175 kilometers east of Moscow and is easily accessible by car or bus.

Vyborg is often called little Russian Scandinavia. A compact, well-groomed and beautiful city, where thousands of tourists come on New Year’s Day, dreaming of celebrating the holiday in the unique Viking style and in the romantic atmosphere of the Middle Ages. What to do in Vyborg during the winter holidays?

Go to the Christmas market, which is organized on Market Square, or visit the Varangian Dvor estate, which is a reconstructed Viking settlement and museum. There, city guests are offered an interesting entertainment program - you can learn how to throw an ax skillfully (or not so skillfully, depending on your luck), try yourself as a shooter armed with a bow, or even try to storm a Scandinavian fortress.

• Average temperature in January:-5 / -10 °C.
• Cost of living: price double room in a two or three star hotel - from 2300 rubles per day.
• How to get there: by bus from St. Petersburg (ticket price from 250 rubles, travel time - about two hours); by car; by train.

The city is located in the southeast of Sakhalin Island. Not everyone will want to celebrate the New Year there, because the flight is quite long and expensive, but people who are not constrained by financial means and have seen many different countries and cities may well decide to take a crazy, but not devoid of magnetism, trip to the island.

The cultural program of tourists usually includes a visit to the Sakhalin regional local history and art museums; The doors of the Chekhov Drama Theater are open for lovers of Melpomene. Be sure to try the local cuisine, in which the main role is deservedly given to seafood. Red caviar, shrimp, crabs are fresh and delicious to such an extent that you will most likely want to bring something home as delicious New Year's gifts for loved ones.

If you prefer an active holiday, then you should visit the world-famous ski resort called “Mountain Air”. It is well equipped and delights guests with all the benefits of civilization - the slopes are equipped with artificial light, which allows you to ski along the snow-white slopes until late in the evening.

• Average temperature in January:-7 / -18 °C.
• Cost of living: the price of a double room in a hotel is from 2500 rubles per day.
• How to get there: plane tickets from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back cost from 22,000 rubles per person (the flight takes just over 8 hours).

Do you dream of seeing not the banal fireworks, but the northern lights on New Year's Day? Then the Kola Peninsula, located beyond the Arctic Circle, - perfect place for relaxation on holidays. A few years ago, the film “Leviathan” by Zvyagintsev was released, which was filmed on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Many people wanted to see these beauties in person, and tourists flocked to Murmansk region. Where else is there so much snow, northern lights, waterfalls, cemeteries of sunken ships, reindeer and blue-eyed huskies?

Gourmets often travel to Murmansk because there is a huge variety of seafood available here - fresh salmon and aromatic trout dishes are on the menu of every restaurant and cafe. And no one will refuse hot and rosy pancakes with caviar... Residents and guests of the city usually spend New Year's Eve at Five Corners Square, where they admire the huge Christmas tree and take part in the festive entertainment program.

• Average temperature in January:-7 / -14 °C.
• Cost of living: the price of a double room in a hotel is from 2800 rubles per day.
• How to get there: Airplane tickets from Moscow to Murmansk and back on New Year's dates cost from 14,700 rubles per person.

The city, depicted on the thousand-ruble banknote and belonging to the Golden Ring of Russia, most often attracts tourists who want to celebrate the New Year in an interesting and not too expensive way.

Many people choose Yaroslavl, which is often called the “pearl of Russia”. What to do in the city and where to go? There are many options:

• Planetarium named after Valentina Tereshkova - usually on holidays, special entertainment and educational events are organized here that will be of interest to both adults and children.
• The Fyodor Volkov Theater is distinguished by modern productions and a superbly selected troupe.
• Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is famous for the fact that during research on its territory the “Tale of Igor’s Host” was found.

The city is famous for its restaurants offering dishes prepared according to ancient Volga recipes - tender and rich fish soup, delicious pancakes with caviar, smoked fish, hot kulebyaki and pies with aromatic filling. And after having a delicious dinner, be sure to take a walk along the Yaroslavl embankment, where you can see beautiful view to Kotorosl, a river flowing into the Volga.

• Average temperature in January:-4 / -7 °C.
• Cost of living: the price of a double room in a hotel is from 2400 rubles per day.
• How to get there: by train, train, car or bus (Yaroslavl is located 270 kilometers from Moscow).

An ancient city where architectural structures, built back in the eighteenth century in the unusual Siberian Baroque style. Irkutsk is wonderfully suitable for celebrating the New Year - modernity here is surprisingly combined with the atmosphere of antiquity. The city has everything for a great holiday - museums, restaurants, clubs, skating rinks, real Russian baths, decorated Christmas trees, but what attracts tourists the most is located outside of Irkutsk. Of course, we are talking about Lake Baikal - amazing and unusual, which probably most Russians dream of seeing.

Where to go during your vacation? For example, in the park named after Kirov - this is where the main christmas tree and organize mass celebrations on the festive night. Here you can also see ice town, which looks incredibly beautiful at night thanks to neon lighting. During all holidays, the residence of Father Frost operates in the park, where competitions and games with gifts are held.

• Average temperature in January:-14 / -23 °C.
• Cost of living: the price of a double room in a hotel is from 2,700 rubles per day.
• How to get there: plane tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk and back cost from 19,300 rubles per person (fly about 6 hours).

Abroad

A New Year's holiday abroad is the cherished dream of many Russians. If you are planning to celebrate a holiday in another country, then you should take care of choosing a tour in advance in order to have time to arrange Required documents. Here is a list of cities where thousands of tourists from different countries come to visit on the eve of the winter holidays.

There is a popular stereotype that the British are prim and somewhat boring, however... London, sparkling New Year's garlands and bright shop windows, completely refutes this myth. If you want to be in the center of events, then when choosing a hotel, you should give preference to those that are located nearby Trafalgar Square, since it is there, in the heart of London, that all the mass festivities dedicated to the New Year take place. Fireworks, comic parades and the loud ringing of the Big Ben clock tower will make the holiday unique.

In London you can walk along Piccadilly Circus, visit the Natural History Museum, go to the famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, look at Buckingham Palace or take a cruise along the Thames, admiring nature and Tower Bridge.

Hemingway said that “Paris is a holiday that is always with you.” So why not celebrate the New Year in France? Romance, elegant French speech and the beauty of Parisian architecture. Who doesn't dream of seeing the famous Notre Dame or admiring the masterpieces in the Louvre?

On New Year's Eve, city residents and tourists gather at Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees - this is where the official celebration of the change of year takes place. Many people prefer to go to Eiffel Tower or stroll around the square in Montmartre. And someone wants something unusual and memorable and goes on a cruise along the Seine. The pleasure is not cheap, but the impressions are great. More precisely a river.

New Year's Eve in Italian city“on seven hills” will appeal to those who love noisy and cheerful holidays. Folk festivities on the main night of the year are organized in Piazza del Popolo - citizens and guests of Rome drink champagne straight from the bottle, admire fireworks and dance, and extreme sports enthusiasts even jump the Tiber River.

What interesting things to see in Rome during the winter holidays? Of course, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. And also, for example, St. Peter's Basilica, sports complex, built by Benito Mussolini, or the Trevi Fountain, which is recognized as the most beautiful turtle fountain in the world.

New Year's Prague is like a fairy tale illustration come to life - white snow and many Christmas trees decorated with colorful balls and garlands. You will find the main Christmas tree on the Old Town Square, and fireworks are best viewed from the Petřín Tower or Prague Castle.

While vacationing in the Czech Republic, be sure to try the famous Czech herbal liqueur “Becherovka”, which is produced in Karlovy Vary according to the recipe of a pharmacist of German origin, Joseph Becher. This drink is often jokingly equated to the fourteenth mineral spring Karlovy Vary (there are officially thirteen of them).

The capital of Finland during the Christmas and New Year holidays is full of miracles - original illuminations, elegant fir trees and alluring shop windows that promise dizzying winter sales. Ceremonial and entertainment events usually take place on Senate Square on December 31, and on January 1, residents of Helsinki prefer to relax - most institutions and restaurants are closed, but no one forbids just walking around the city, seeing the sights - for example, the Assumption Cathedral or Cathedral Lutheran Church.

Travelers come to Helsinki for the unique atmosphere of a fairy tale - if you want to meet the Finnish Father Frost, you can visit the Joulupukki residence, which is located in Lapland.

Winter holidays in Berlin are an opportunity not only to celebrate the New Year in an unusual way, but also to enjoy the unique history and beauty of the German capital. On the night of January 1, residents and guests of the city gather on the square at the Brandenburg Gate to watch fireworks, listen to performances by musical groups, light sparklers and warm up with aromatic mulled wine or punch.

Particularly romantic souls can choose the Spandau fortress to celebrate the New Year - there a real knightly tournament is organized for guests, after which everyone goes to a luxurious meal, and then to a ball in a medieval style.

New Year is loved in Greece just like in Russia, only the main thing is actor This is not Santa Claus, but Saint Basil. You can celebrate the holiday together with the residents of the city, who on New Year's Eve come to Syntagma Square, located in the very center of Athens, to dance and watch fireworks. The townspeople also have a local holiday tradition - breaking a pomegranate against a wall, and the scattered seeds symbolize lots and lots of happiness.

If you want the year to be successful, then buy vasilopita at any confectionery or bakery. This is a Greek New Year's cake with orange zest and juice, where traditionally a coin is placed before baking. The person who receives a piece with a surprise will live happily and prosperously throughout the next year.

In Cyprus, the New Year is celebrated on a grand scale - the townspeople dress in carnival costumes, sing songs and dance in circles. And the holiday cannot be imagined without the traditional Greek folk sirtaki - any native resident is sure that he simply must learn this dance.

On the eve of the holidays, the streets are decorated with elegant Christmas trees, and the houses are decorated with olive branches. In Cyprus, dramatizations of biblical scenes are popular, which can be seen in large squares. The weather usually pleases tourists, and daredevils even swim in the sea. Most hotels have heated pools, so all travelers can swim in warm water if they wish.

The weather in Dubai in winter is excellent - there is no sweltering heat like in summer, but it is quite warm to lie on the beach or swim. It is customary to celebrate New Year in the city in hotels, restaurants and clubs, since alcoholic drinks are allowed only on the premises of such establishments.

What to see and where? There are many interesting things in the UAE - singing fountains, a zoo, a water park, Sheikh Saeed Palace and the Gold Souk are very popular among tourists celebrating the New Year in Dubai. Ski lovers can head to the ski resort.

A small but dazzlingly beautiful island in Indonesia is a paradise where it’s so pleasant to spend your winter holidays, hiding from the cold and snow. Just imagine - a warm sea, rainforests, banana groves and bamboo thickets... And the extraordinary taste of local food - nasi goreng (fried rice covered with fried eggs), tofu (cottage cheese made from soybeans), sate (minced fish or meat, skewered on kebab sticks and cooked over the fire) and many other dishes - often completely unfamiliar to Russians, but very tasty.

There are many attractions in Bali - a botanical garden in the crater of a volcano, a monkey forest, the Hindu temple of Pura Besakih, volcanoes Batur and Agung and about one hundred and thirty picturesque waterfalls that you want to look at endlessly.

Let's sum it up

New Year is a wonderful holiday that many people want to celebrate in an unusual and fun way. Change the environment, climate, familiar food, look at other cities and countries. What could be better, especially if you have the financial ability to travel?

However, it is worth keeping in mind that it is better to plan the winter holidays in advance in order to have time to purchase tickets and prepare the necessary documents. If you are going abroad, then after choosing the desired travel destination, it will not hurt to study information about the weather, culture, customs and traditions of the country where you are trying to go.

 

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