2 nights, 3 daysCappadocia Tour
Ihlara Valley, Derinkuyu Underground City, Uçhisar Castle, Pigeon Valley
In the winter months, the snow-covered fairy chimneys and valleys make this one of the most popular routes in Türkiye over New Year.
2026 – 2027
New Year holiday
Routes in Türkiye and abroad that fit New Year week: from snowy Cappadocia and Uludağ to Europe with its Christmas markets, and from Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival to mild Dubai and Egypt.
Calendar
1–3 January 2027: a three-day weekend
31 December 2026 is a Thursday, and 1 January 2027 is a Friday. 1 January is a public holiday; 31 December is not. Short tours departing on Thursday evening fit this calendar.
- Thu31DecemberNew Year's Eve
- Fri1JanuaryPublic holiday
- Sat2JanuaryWeekend
- Sun3JanuaryWeekend
New Year does not coincide with the school holidays. According to the MEB (Ministry of National Education) calendar, the mid-year break runs from 25 January to 5 February 2027; this is the winter holiday option for families. Ski holiday routes
In Türkiye
Routes in Türkiye for New Year
Short-distance programmes that fit into the 1–3 January weekend.
2 nights, 3 days
Day trip or 2 daysUludağ Ski Tour
Uludağ Ski and Leisure Centre, Cumalıkızık, Bursa Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb
New Year is one of the busiest times of the ski season on Uludağ; a short-distance option for snow and winter activities.
Day trip or 2 daysKartepe Ski Tour
Kartepe Ski Resort, Maşukiye, Lake Sapanca
A ski resort close to Istanbul; when snow conditions allow, it offers a day trip or one-night winter break during New Year week.
1 night, 2 daysEskişehir Tour
Sazova Park and the Fairy Tale Castle, Odunpazarı, the Kurşunlu Complex, the Atlıhan Bazaar
A short-distance city break whose 1-night, 2-day format fits the long New Year weekend.
2 nights, 3 daysSafranbolu and Amasra Tour
Safranbolu bazaar, Hıdırlık Hill, the Kaymakamlar House, Cinci Han
A route on which you can explore Safranbolu's historic mansions in a winter atmosphere, and whose 2-night, 3-day format suits the 1–3 January weekend.
Abroad
International routes for New Year
Christmas markets, New Year celebrations and a mild winter climate. For countries that require a visa, plan your application early.
2 nights, 3 daysBalkan Trio Tour
Kavala, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Sofia
A route whose short format (2 nights, 3 days) fits the long 1–3 January weekend, with a winter atmosphere in Sofia and Thessaloniki. A Schengen visa is required for Greece and Bulgaria.
13 nights, 14 daysGrand Europe Tour
Thessaloniki, Rome, Pisa, Florence
Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Brussels and Amsterdam on the route are known for their Christmas markets in December.
5 nights, 6 daysBenelux, Paris and Germany Tour
Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Cologne
Cologne's Christmas markets and the New Year decorations in Paris and Brussels suit the winter season; the Altstadt and Rheinauhafen markets are open until early January.
7 nights, 8 daysGreat Britain Tour
London, Edinburgh, Wales, Northern Ireland
Edinburgh's Hogmanay New Year festival (a torchlight procession, a street party and midnight fireworks over the castle) is the best-known New Year event on the route.
New route3 nights, 4 daysDubai and Abu Dhabi Tour
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai Creek and the abra crossing, the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
One of the popular New Year routes, thanks to its mild winter climate and the fireworks and light shows around the Burj Khalifa on New Year's Eve.
New route3 nights, 4 daysGeorgia Tour: Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Kazbegi
Tbilisi old town and Narikala Fortress, the Abanotubani sulphur baths, Mtskheta (Jvari and Svetitskhoveli), Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) and Gergeti Trinity Church
Tbilisi, reached visa-free on a short flight, stands out at New Year with the decorated Rustaveli Avenue and Christmas markets running from mid-December into January; Kazbegi offers snowy mountain views in winter.
New route5 nights, 6 daysEgypt Tour: Cairo and Luxor
The Giza Pyramids, the Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Kings, historic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili
The mild winter weather makes it easy to visit the pyramids and the Luxor temples without the summer heat.
3 nights, 4 days · 4 nights, 5 daysSharm El Sheikh Tour
Sharm El Sheikh, the Red Sea, South Sinai
Suitable for those who want a short holiday on the Red Sea coast in a mild climate over New Year.
New route6 nights, 8 daysJapan Tour: Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka
Tokyo, Mount Fuji (Fujisan), Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha
During New Year (Oshogatsu), Japan's most important holiday, traditions such as the midnight bell ceremony at temples and the first shrine visit of the year (hatsumode) take place; however, many museums and businesses are closed from 31 December to 3 January.
What's on at New Year
Winter events along the routes
Dates are based on information published by the organisers and may change.
Vienna Christmas markets
Vienna's best-known Christmas market, the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, will run from 13 November to 26 December in 2026. While most markets close between 23 and 26 December, the Schönbrunn Palace market, the Riesenradplatz winter market and the ice rink on Rathausplatz (Wiener Eistraum) are open until 6 January 2027.
Source: wien.infoPrague Christmas markets
The Christmas markets on Prague's Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) and Wenceslas Square usually open at the end of November and run until 6 January (2025–2026 season: 25 November to 6 January). The 2026–2027 dates will be officially announced separately.
Source: loudavymkrokem.czBudapest Christmas markets
The Christmas Fair on Budapest's Vörösmarty Square opens in mid-November and runs until 31 December (2025: 14 November to 31 December); the market in front of St Stephen's Basilica stayed open until 1 January.
Source: budapestbylocals.comCologne Christmas markets
The Christmas market in front of Cologne Cathedral is open from 16 November to 23 December in 2026; the Altstadt market runs until 10 January 2027 and the Rheinauhafen harbour market until 3 January 2027.
Source: koeln.deEdinburgh Hogmanay
Edinburgh's New Year festival, Hogmanay, runs over four days in 2026–2027: a torchlight procession on 29 December, a party in Princes Street Gardens on 30 December, a street party and midnight fireworks over Edinburgh Castle on 31 December, and a free music trail (First Footin') on 1 January.
Source: edwinterfest.comNew Year's Eve in Dubai (Burj Khalifa)
The New Year celebration in Downtown Dubai features fireworks and light shows on the Burj Khalifa and water and music shows at the Dubai Fountain; the event brings together hundreds of thousands of people. The show format and viewing areas are announced by Emaar each year.
Source: gulfnews.comWinter and balloon flights in Cappadocia
Cappadocia offers a different landscape under snow in winter; in early January 2026, after snow fell on New Year's Eve, balloons flew over the snow-covered valleys. In the winter months, balloon flights may be cancelled due to fog and wind; flights take place with the permission of the SHGM (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and when the weather allows. Local tourism operators report that occupancy at Cappadocia's hotels is very high during Christmas week and over New Year, so early planning is important.
Source: turkgun.comNew Year and Orthodox Christmas in Tbilisi
In Georgia, New Year's Eve is welcomed with big celebrations; in Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue is decorated with a different theme each year, and Christmas markets are set up from mid-December into January. Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on 7 January, the day of the Alilo procession.
Source: georgiatoday.geNew Year in Japan (Oshogatsu)
In Japan, New Year is celebrated from 31 December to 3 January: at midnight, temple bells are rung 108 times (Joya no Kane), and the first shrine visit of the year (hatsumode) takes place on 1–3 January. Many businesses and museums are closed during this period.
Source: jrpass.com
Frequently asked questions about New Year holidays
When do New Year tours fill up, and why is booking early important?
New Year is a holiday period with heavy demand over a short time; hotel occupancy in popular areas such as Cappadocia and Uludağ is reported to be very high during Christmas week and New Year. Because places are limited, planning early gives you more flexibility with both dates and hotel options; you can get a quote from our team for current availability and dates.
Is a New Year's Eve programme or gala dinner included in the tour?
This depends on the tour and the hotel. The New Year's Eve programme, gala dinner and included services are clearly stated in the quote you receive.
When should I apply for a visa for a New Year tour of Europe?
A Schengen visa application can be made no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before travel. The standard processing time is 15 days, which may be extended to 45 days in some cases; because appointments are in high demand over New Year, we recommend planning your application early. Georgia is among the routes that do not require a visa; the general situation for other countries is shown in the country tables on the tour pages.
What should I wear on a winter tour?
Cold and snowy weather is possible in Central Europe, Cappadocia, Uludağ and the Caucasus in December and January: we recommend dressing in layers and bringing a waterproof jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf and comfortable shoes with non-slip soles. On milder routes such as Dubai and Egypt, light clothing is enough during the day, but a thin cardigan is useful for the evenings. Check the weather forecast for your destination before you travel.
Get a quote
Get a quote for New Year
Tell us the route, group size and dates, and we will prepare a quote together with the included services, such as the New Year's Eve programme.
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