New Year in Spain

On New Year's Eve it is a tradition in Barcelona to get together with your family and friends and have dinner. Some people meet at home, while others prefer to go to a restaurant in Barcelona. There are restaurants with special offers and performances on that night, which include after-dinner parties. To me, however, is nicer to gather at home and prepare dinner together as well as buying the grapes for your guests. After dinner, it's time to watch TV and eat the twelve grapes of luck. If you want to be lucky in the upcoming year, you must eat twelve grapes while the bell tower strokes twelve at midnight. One grape per stroke, don't go neither faster nor slower.

If you want to eat your grapes in the street, you must go to Plaza Catalunya. It is nearly the only place in Barcelona where you will find people in the street before midnight. It is also very nice to go to the spectacular lights show of Agbar Tower which gets illuminated at the same time the bell tower strokes twelve at midnight. (you can watch it on TV3, the official TV channel of Catalonia)

After midnight, it's time to party in Barcelona. While some people prefer to go to private parties, others go to clubs or macro-parties. There are lots of Barcelona New Year's Eve parties you can attend. Nevertheless, I'd like to warn you they are quite expensive, so you'd better book your ticket in advance you can get a much cheaper price.
Every year there is a macro-party in the Poble Espanyol in Montjuic, which is very popular. Also, international djs usually participate in a great New Year event on Playa Forum.
You can opt to go to one of the trendiest clubs in Barcelona. You can choose a beach club, such as Sotavento, Shoko or Opium; or maybe a club in the city center such as those in the Plaça Reial near Las Ramblas. Another option is not to enter any club or party and spend the night at the beach.

Here is a selection of apartments in Barcelona which are ideal to spend New Year's Eve. They have a good price and high quality and are located near the best restaurants and places to go on New Year's Eve in the city.

Apartment Santa Clara I
Apartment with a balcony located in Barceloneta district close to the port nightlife area. Near the best beach restaurants in Barcelona and the greatest New Year's parties at the beach. Bedrooms: 1 double. Price: from 23 euros/night.

Apartment Prim
Apartment near the Park del Forum and Forum beach. Well-communicated by metro Line 4, Maresme-Forum stop and Tram T4 Forum. Bedrooms: 1 double and two single. Price: from 15 euros/night

Apartment Olivera
Cozy apartment with 12 m2 private terrace and air conditioning very close to Plaza Espanya and Poble Espanyol. Bedrooms: 1 double. Price: from 32 euros/night

Apartment Rull
Nice apartment for 5 people with balcony in the Raval, very close to Las Ramblas. Bedrooms: 2 double + sofa bed. Price: from 23 euros/night

For more apartments to spend New Year in Barcelona, check this Web-site on accommodation in Barcelona.

In Madrid, it's also traditional to have dinner together with family and friends and eat twelve grapes at midnight. You can choose to stay at home or go a restaurant in Madrid. Take into account that restaurant prices on New Year are quite high, so you'd better book in advance.

The most advisable thing to do in Madrid on New Year, however, is to go to Plaza del Sol before midnight. Hundreds of people go to the Plaza del Sol and have the grapes there. The clock on top of the Casa de Correos at that square is famous all over Spain because it is the one responsible for the twelve strucks which announce the end of the year and the start of the New Year. Most people from other parts of Spain watch live the ambiance of Plaza del Sol and join them when eating the twelve grapes.
So, unlike Barcelona, there are lots of people in the street before midnight and Plaza del Sol gets absolutely crowded.

After midnight, you can stay at Plaza del Sol where party continues or go to one of the clubs in Madrid in the city center, such as Joy Eslava and Serrano 41. Some of them offer dinner, like Bangaloo and Shoko. Unfortunately, there is no beach in Madrid, but there is a lively ambiance and great drinks.

Here is a selection of apartments in Madrid which are ideal to spend New Year's Eve. They have a good price and high quality and are located near the best restaurants and places to go on New Year's Eve in the city.

Apartment Fuencarral II
Apartment with a balcony located in Sol district close to Puerta del Sol. Near the best restaurants in Madrid and the greatest New Year's parties. Bedrooms: 1 double + single sofa bed. Price: from 43 euros/night.

Studio Valverde
Cozy studio very close to Puerta del Sol with balcony and lots of natural light. Bedrooms: 1 double sofa bed and bunk bed. Price: from 30 euros/night

Plaza Mayor
Apartment for 6 people with free internet next to Plaza Mayor and its beautiful Christmas market. Bedrooms: 2 double + sofa beds. Price: from 50 euros/night

Apartment San Miguel
Apartment for 6 people next to Market San Miguel, market of tapas. Bedrooms: 2 double + 1 sofa bed. Price: from 30 euros/night

For more apartments to spend New Year in Madrid, check this Web-site on Madrid apartments

If you prefer to spend New Year in a least crowded place at the beach, you can go to Sitges or to any town on the Costa Brava. There are nice apartments in Sitges and great apartments on Costa Brava where you can have your New Year dinner, eat the twelve grapes while watching the Plaza de Sol strokes or the lightshow of the Agbar Tower. Then you can choose either to party at the beach or go to a club; for example, there are nice New Year's Eve parties in the Carrer del Pecat (Sin Street) in Sitges.

Here is a selection of apartments in Costa Brava which are ideal to spend New Year's Eve. They have a good price and high quality and are located near the best restaurants and places to go on New Year's Eve in the city.

Apartment Platja d'Aro Resort IV
Apartment in private resort with restaurant, supermarket, reception and entertainment. Bedrooms: 1 with 2 beds + sofa bed + folding bed. Price: from 25%u20AC/night

Villa Lloret de Mar Clavell II
Quite villa in Lloret de Mar with private swimming pool and parking. Bedrooms: 1 double + 2 with two beds.

For more apartments to spend New Year in Costa Brava, check this Web-site on Costa Brava apartments

Here is a selection of apartments in Sitges which are ideal to spend New Year's Eve. They have a good price and high quality and are located near the best restaurants and places to go on New Year's Eve in the city.

Apartment Santa Tecla
Apartment in the center of Sitges with terrace and air conditioning. Bedrooms: 1 double + sofa bed Price: from 18euros/night

Apartment Estacio
Apartment in the center of Sitges with private terrace. Bedrooms: 1 double + 1 with two beds. Price: from 26 euros/night.

For more apartments to spend New Year in Sitges, check this Web-site on Sitges apartments.