On Silvesterabend (New Year’s Eve) the whole of Munich becomes a party zone. Nearly every restaurant offers pricey five-course dinners and entertainment, and club parties that last well into the new year. Firework displays can be found in every corner of the city, just make sure to find a sheltered viewing place as in addition to the community sponsored displays, citizens tend to stockpile these fireworks of mass destruction and fire them off haphazardly at the stroke of twelve. It’s also amusing to watch the prim and proper quickly losing their table manners as they guzzle champagne straight from the bottle and ditch their environmental awareness as they smash bottle after bottle on the street. The next morning the town looks like it’s met with a nuclear disaster. A warm winter coat, heavy-duty shoes (with sturdy soles), and most importantly red underwear are a must. Local tradition dictates that wearing new red underwear ensures a happy love life in the new year.

Fireworks
The city fireworks display over Old Town can be viewed from nearly every vantage point in the city centre. Favourite viewing areas are Marienplatz, the Olympic hill in Olympia Park, the Hofgarten on Odeonsplatz and the Maximilianeum parliament building on Maximiliansplatz.

Tollwood Winter Festival New Year’s Events
The biggest New Year’s party in Munich with 5 huge areas enclosed in tents with a wide range of live bands and DJs.
www.tollwood.de

On Dec 24, 25, 26 and 31 and Jan 1 transport is as per normal until 01:00 when the night lines start.

Shop, restaurants and museums
Shops close at 12:00 or 14:00 on Dec 24 and 31. All shops are shut on Dec 25 & 26, and Jan 1. Restaurants remain open except on Dec 24. Nearly all museums close on Dec 24 & 31.