My favorite New Year’s Eve travel experience (that I can’t in good conscience recommend)

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In our nomad years, Drew and I had plenty of opportunities to celebrate New Year’s Eve in weird places, some of them more exciting than others. My favorite of them was our experience in Budapest in 2014, but I can’t in good conscience recommend it to you for your own travels. Of course now I have to tell you why…

A year before, we had serendipitously ended up in Budapest just in time for their “St. Stephen’s Day” in August – Hungary’s birthday. They celebrate their nation’s birthday much in the same way that we celebrate July 4th with the most massive and impressive fireworks display I’ve still ever seen in my life, right over the Danube. The fireworks easily went on for a full half hour, if not more and it was truly jaw-dropping.

St Stephens Day Fireworks in Budapest
The St. Stephen’s Day Fireworks in Budapest in August are incredible…

When we found ourselves in Budapest on New Year’s Eve the next year, we naturally just assumed they’d be doing another fabulous fireworks display over the river for New Year’s Eve. And this time, we had a room at the InterContinental Budapest with a view of the river – perfect for viewing the fireworks display we thought was sure to be happening.

InterContinental Budapest
The view from the InterContinental Budapest is perfect for viewing fireworks over the river…

But as the day went on, it became increasingly clear to us that there was no official fireworks show going on over the river that night. Even so, we joined friends and a huge crowd of strangers out by the river to ring in the New Year. Midnight arrived and while everyone cheered and the mood was full of excitement, not a single firework went off over the river.

Instead, a chaotic commotion of haphazard, amateur fireworks literally began to explode from right amongst the crowd, just behind us. No, there were no official fireworks, but all around us people began to set off their own fireworks, right there in the street.

Here’s a video to give you a better picture…

Sorry for all the screaming – it’s what I do when things start exploding in front of me I guess.

Budapest is a lovely city to visit any time of the year – New Year’s Eve or otherwise. And the InterContinental Budapest is an excellent location to be close to not only the river…but whatever shenanigans may or may not be going on alongside the river. So while I definitely recommend a visit, because this was one poorly-aimed firework away from being a disaster instead of a good time, I can’t officially recommend it for your next New Year’s Eve. Maybe try visiting for St. Stephen’s Day on August 20th instead. Or spend New Year’s Eve at one of the Ruin Pubs (like the now-famous Szimpla Kert).

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john

For best (and multiple) fireworks shows , go to Valencia for Las Fallas (March). The locals leave b/c they are fireworks shows each night and one daytime show at noon too. The nights’ times ranges from 11pm to 2am START time, when I went. The daytime is one you’ll never forget (think ear plugs) but you’ll FEEL the booms in your chest. It’s a different take on a fireworks show you won’t soon forget. No OSHA there!!

Last edited 2 days ago by john
Zebraitis

The best New Year’s Eve experience is Rio.

Go to Copacabana beach, dress in all white (part of the tradition of cleansing your sins… bring flowers to donate to the goddess of the ocean after you jump over seven waves), expect the best fireworks show you have EVER seen.

Plus, it’s summer in the southern hemisphere, so you’re not freezing your a$$ off like in NYC.

Alex

Truly the worst new years eve of my life was a few years ago in Budapest between that, having my wife’s phone pick pocketed, and spending most of the evening going between the phone company, insurance, and police.

Nathan

Great story

Michael

Your first clue that there were no fireworks is that you were able to get a room at the intercontinental overlooking the river.