New Year's Eve in Budapest

Budapest is a great place to be at on New Year's Eve, because there are many opportunities for fun even if one is not invited by friends to a private party or doesn't want to decide and book anything in advance: countless regular and hotel restaurants organize gala dinners with special programs, and many dance clubs and pubs have parties where one can just drop in.
It's also possible to simply go out in the evening and join the crowd of strangers that celebrates the New Year at one of the three open-air locations: Oktogon, Vörösmarty Square (Vörösmarty tér) or Nyugati Square (Nyugati tér) – programs here are usually put together by the biggest local commercial radio stations, each place offering a different musical style and atmosphere, fireworks at midnight, and the possibility to dance until morning. This year Oktogon will be perfect for disco lovers, those interested in live performances of Hungarian bands can meet at the Nyugati, and foreing tourists will be awaited mostly at Vörösmarty Square, because they can see many different international artists there – here the festival will continue on the afternoon of the first day of 2010 as well, with klezmer concerts, Jewish food and kosher wine.

Those who wish to spend New Year's Eve in a fancier environment have two choices.
The Operetta Boat invites tourists on board for an unforgetable musical, gastronomic and touristic experience: a the candle-lit voyage on the Danube with an international program of excellent instrumental music, singing and dancing; 25 great artists will guarantee a truly special night of entertainment. They will be singing the most popular passages of Italian operas, Spanish songs, musicals in original languages, and performing instrumental solos as well as brilliant folk, classical and step dances in elegant costumes; guests can enjoy all this while admiring the wonderful night view of Budapest and tasting the best local dishes.
A fine Budapest tradition, the annual New Year's Ball of the State Opera House will be organized again as well: on the last nigth of 2009 participants will be invited to watch a unique gala program, eat an exclusive dinner served by the famous Gundel Restaurant, watch dance shows and listen to popular hits, try cocktails made by a world champion mixer then dance till dawn.

On the 1st of January there are two nice concerts to choose from to greet the New Year.
Instead of the light classical music customary at other venues at this time of year, the concert organized in the Palace of Arts (Művészetek Palotája), will feature Joseph Haydn's magical oratorio The Creation that has enjoyed more than two hundred years of unbroken popularity; lead by conductor Ádám Fischer, the program will be completed by three soloists, a chorus and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
The other event will be held on the same evening in the Papp László Sportaréna, where a large crowd can join famous violonist Zoltán Mága and many artists invited by him, in celebrating the beginning of 2010. Due to a prime time television broadcast the first edition of the gala has been a huge success in the country as well as abroad, so those who will be there on Friday can expect this second show to be full of surprises and guest stars too.