Switzerland is ready to rock in 2024 with old traditions and exciting new ways to celebrate. Expats, digital nomads, and tourists spending the holiday abroad who are used to popping corks and ball drops will find the celebrations unique in Switzerland. Here’s a little of what to expect on New Year’s from Zurich to Davos.
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New Year’s Traditions
Every country has its own New Year’s traditions, but the one thing they all have in common is making noise to ward off evil spirits. For centuries, it was thought that evil entered the cosmos between December 25 and January 26 every year.
Switzerland has the most diverse New Year customs of any other European country. They celebrate the holiday twice—on December 31 and January 1 and again on January 13 and 14 in keeping with the ancient Julian calendar. Like the rest of the world, the Swiss make plenty of noise in cities, towns, and villages.
Ceremonies are held across the country to chase away evil and bring luck in keeping with old traditions tied to religion. In the village of Appenzell, altar boys fill the streets carrying smoking barrels and burning frankincense to rid the town of demons and bless the residents.
In the Bernese mountains near Bern, drummers and bellringers march through villages beginning on Christmas to chase the demons away. They end on New Year’s Eve when the groups join each other in the town of Meiringen for one last “demon killing.”.
Like the rest of the modern world, the Swiss celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31 with live music, DJs, and fireworks. Unlike most of the Occident, they dine with family and friends and exchange gifts on January 13.
Where to Celebrate New Year in Switzerland
What makes the New Year in Switzerland different is that celebrations and traditions are unique from city to city and village to village. Take a look.
Zurich
Just as you would expect, Switzerland’s largest city has a long list of amazing New Year’s Eve celebrations all around the city from live music performances to a huge fireworks display over Lake Zurich. The lake is where most of the New Year action takes place. People begin gathering around 8 p.m. for the midnight fireworks show.
Lake Zurich is also host to the Silvesterzauber celebration featuring dancing, live entertainment, delicious food, and lots of wine.
The Old Town is also a popular gathering place for New Year’s revelers. They dress warmly and bring champagne and glasses to hear the Grossmünster bells ring in the new year. After the ringing, the fireworks begin over Lake Zurich. Pubs and restaurants with high vantage points afford a view of the fireworks while you stay warm and toasty while eating and drinking.
Other ways to celebrate the New Year in Zurich include attending a gala at one of the many hotels. Others celebrate at home or snuggle inside blankets from a rooftop terrace to see the fireworks.
Geneva
Geneva is one of the top spots in Europe for fireworks, and people come from near and far for the spectacular show. The city stands out for having a new theme for its celebration each year. The crowds gather at Quais du Mont Blanc (Botanical Park) for free concerts and dancing and the fireworks over the Geneva Harbor.
Some years, the Plainpalais neighborhood contributes to the city’s celebration with food trucks, carnival rides, live music, and a short fireworks display.
But this year, Geneva’s big New Year’s Eve party is planned for the Quais Gustave-Ador where partygoers will see the sparkle of fireworks reflected in the Jet d’ Eau along with live music on two stages, food trucks, and bars.
Lucerne
Ring in the new year in Lucerne amid a picturesque frosty world of lakes and snowy views. The city will host several festivities and events including Great Gatsby parties, ball drops, dancing, fireworks, dawn celebrations, and more. You’ll find plenty of places to party hardy all around the city, shows to go to, and performances to attend.
You can also book a New Year’s Eve cruise on Lake Lucerne. Dine on traditional Swiss cuisine like Alpine macaroni with Swiss mountain cheese and sip cocktails as you watch the grand fireworks display.
Interlaken
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Interlaken has an especially lively New Year’s celebration with parties, music, fireworks, and festivities that don’t end on January 1. The fabulous fireworks show is held at Hohematte Park along with an open-air concert featuring well-known Swiss performers at the popular Touch the Mountain concert. Food tents offering delicious food and drink will be set up on Interlaken’s waterfront.
If one of Switzerland’s legendary traditions of chasing away evil spirits is fascinating to you, Interlaken is the place to be on January 2.
On this day each year, the city is haunted by the masked Hardermann, the spirit of the Harder Kulm mountain, his wife, and his followers, the Potschen, who run through the streets shouting and scaring the crowds. The terror is followed by meeting the Potschen in bars for drinks and laughs.
Zermatt
Zermatt’s après ski experience is sure to be a lively one on New Year’s Eve. The ski town that won the World Snow Awards greets revelers with 35 bard and 9 nightclubs doling out plenty of champagne, but only after the crowds wait by the church for the strike of one past midnight to start the festivities.
If you want to choose one or two great spots rather than bar hop, go with the Unique Hotel Post featuring live music and 5 dance floors with live music on one and electro, Latin, mainstream, and oldies on the others. Hennu Stall throws a good party with music and a DJ.
Saint Moritz
Spice your New Year plans in Switzerland up with activities like horse racing on ice, polo, cricket, and more. It’s a unique way to spend the holiday in one of Switzerland’s most luxurious resort towns and the two-time host of the Winter Olympics.
After an active day, welcome in the New Year with food, wine, and shots at a party in the wine cellar of the Cava Bar. Or choose a gala dinner with a “she-devil” theme at the Diavolezza New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner hosted by Berghaus Restaurant. Get there in a cable car underneath the starry night sky.
Lugano
You can’t go wrong with spending New Year’s Eve in a town called the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland.” Lugano is a winter wonderland all through the December holidays with lots of decorations and lights. Bundle up and head to the Piazza Della Riforma for an exciting open-air event.
Party-goers by the thousands will be there as the town throws on one of Switzerland’s biggest New Year parties with a light show, live music, and other entertainment. A huge banquet is held on the shores of Lake Lugano.
Lugano’s Christmas market will still be open for you to stroll through, and the town has a New Year’s Day parade that leaves from the Piazza della Riforma and goes to Palazzi dei Congressi. The parade begins at 11 a.m.
Basel
Celebrate the new year by the Rhine River in Basel near the borders of France and Germany. The city has an old-world charm that makes the city’s festivities unique and peaceful from serene church services to fireworks and free mulled wine by the Rhine.
The fireworks traditionally begin at half past midnight on January 1. The city bells will ring in honor of the first day of the year. Event organizers will serve mugs of warm mulled wine in Kleinbasel at the Cafe Spitz near the middle bridge and at the Cargo Bar near the Johanniter Bridge. Find out more on the city’s website.
Before or after the fireworks celebration, join the friendly crowd at the Mr. Pickwick Pub, Basel’s favorite pub for delicious pub food and on-tap beers.
For a fancier New Year celebration in Basel, book your attendance at the gala dinner given by the Grand Hotel Les Trois on New Year’s Eve. The exquisite six-course menu includes a champagne aperitif, wine, and free admission to a private party in the bar.
Davos
With its 320-kilometer ski area and ideal snow conditions this time of the year, Davos is the perfect place to celebrate the new year with a ski holiday. Along with skiing, you’ll find plenty of New Year’s Eve parties and events to attend.
There’s the Spangler Cup ice hockey tournament, the Big Bang Music Festival featuring international hip-hop artists, and masquerade parties and balls at Davos’ hotels.
Located up on Jakobshorn Mountain, the Chalet Guggle throws a great party. The gondola runs late to get partygoers there. And don’t miss the annual piglet race in Klosters held on New Year’s Day. It’s loads of fun and only a 20-minute train ride from Davos.
