Munich (dpa) - New Year's Eve is a busy time for celebrating with champagne and fireworks. But there are a few people who like to get away from the noise and excitement. If you're thinking of planning a more relaxed start to 2008, you don't have to go to the extreme of visiting the Maldives to have a peaceful time.

Travelling for the New Year's holiday usually involves a city break, according to Professor Peter Voigt from the tourism faculty at Munich Polytechnic.

Voigt also points out that it's no longer considered mandatory to let the celebrations go overboard or consume huge portions of caviar.

"There's a trend towards more peace and quiet," says Voigt. If you're not a fan of lively parties, then consider a more relaxed holiday combined with a wellness spa.

Austria is a popular destination in the run-up to January 1, with many visitors deciding to mark the beginning of the New Year there, says Klaus Stephan from the Austrian tourist office in Frankfurt.

New Year's Eve marks the climax of the season in Austria's ski resorts, but not everywhere is in a raucous mood.

"It's quieter in the family oriented ski areas such as the Dachstein-Tauern region," says Stephan. "But Lienz in east Tyrol and Ramsau in the state of Styria are also quiet."

The most ideal way to ring in the New Year is in a mountain chalet. "You've got snow all around you and you can look down at the fireworks in the valley."

Switzerland is another popular destination in December. Zurich has a great party atmosphere, but if you want to avoid that you don't have to travel very far.

"It's a lot quieter in the small towns and villages such as Engadin," says Marcelline Kuonen from Swiss Tourism.

Switzerland has a wide variety of local traditions that mark the New Year. Around Berne there are the "Trychler" who literally ring in the New Year with cowbells.

In Britain, the Lake District and Yorkshire are two spots where fireworks are few and far between.

"Most people have a fancy meal, visit a pub with friends or stay at home in front of the fire," says Regine Zibell from the Visit Britain tourist office.

Scotland is famous for its Hogmanay celebration. Many towns have bonfires such as the one in Stonehaven near Aberdeen which also has a fireball wielding display.

Another good candidate for a relaxed start to 2008 is Denmark where fireworks are banned on the beaches.

"The further north you go, the quieter it gets. Thy am Limfjord is a good example," says Visit Denmark spokesman, Reiner Buchtmann.

It's also easier to find rented accommodation along the more remote beaches.

Another very quiet alternative are the thatched roof holiday homes at Vester Husby at Nissum Fjord. The only place quieter than this is the eastern coastline of Jutland.

Generally speaking, Norway is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of New Year as wintertime is the off-season holiday period.

"But there are a lot of holidaymakers who come here at Christmas and stay until the New Year," says Hilke von Hoerschelmann, spokeswoman from Innovation Norway in Hamburg.

"Most of them spend New Year's Eve in chalets with a fireplace and a sauna which are nearly always near a cross-country ski trail."

Southern Norway has a number of destinations attractive to skiers such as Hemsedal between Bergen and Oslo.

The further north you go, however, the fewer activities and entertainment you'll find.

"It's quiet dark in northern Norway during the winter," says von Hoerschelmann - and very cold. "But you might get a glimpse of the northern lights."