25 Best Places To Celebrate The New Year

Let us start out with a city where millions of people come to celebrate New Year´s Eve every year. With the biggest crowd gathered at Times Square, New York City hosts one of the most spectacular New Year´s celebrations in the world. At midnight, a huge pyrotechnic show begins accompanied by the iconic ball drop and massive paper confetti explosions.

On New Year´s Eve, The City of Lights really lives up to its nickname. It is the iconic Eiffel Tower itself where the breathtaking firework display takes place. After the light show, you can visit one of the local renowned bars, clubs and restaurants or take a boat cruise along the River Seine. As Paris also attracts millions of visitors on the holiday, make an early reservation to get a good deal in hotels.

Vienna is famous for hosting one of the world´s most popular and visited Christmas markets but shortly after Christmas, the picturesque streets of this beautiful city get crowded again as people come here to celebrate New Year´s Eve. The Hofburg Palace, the iconic Wiener Prater and the city hall are places where the main celebrations fueled by mulled wine are held.

There are two good reasons why Sydney should be your New Year´s holiday destination this year. First, its unique location – Sydney is the first big city to welcome the New Year. And second, the largest Australian city boasts world´s biggest firework display. Launched over the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House, the firework is something you absolutely must see.

The third largest island of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is a great destination for those who want to make the old year last as long as possible. Spending the New Year´s Eve in warm weather with astonishing tropical sceneries all around you is something that more and more people have been looking for. In downtown Honolulu, the Aloha Tower New Year’s Eve party begins at 7 pm and goes until 2 am, featuring live music, dancing, and fireworks.

Las Vegas is famous for its wild parties and shows almost all year round so it comes as no surprise that this city ranks among the most popular New Year´s holiday spots in the US. On New Year´s Eve, the city´s main boulevard is shut down for traffic, turning itself into a gigantic dance floor for hundreds of thousands of people who come to the city. At midnight, local casinos launch a choreographed fireworks display.

Another city that attracts crowds of both American and international tourists in order to say goodbye to the old year, Los Angeles has something for everybody. From rowdy pub crawls and dance parties to live concerts, art exhibitions and digital shows on the city hall walls´, the largest city in California just knows how to celebrate.

When it comes to celebrating the New Year, Toronto, the most populous city of Canada, can boldly compete with Los Angeles, New York City and other major US cities. The city even has an equivalent to the famous Times Square Ball that is held as a part of the annually CityTv’s celebration at the Nathan Square where celebrities gather for the countdown to midnight and huge fireworks.

The Hungarians love to celebrate, eat and drink well, which makes Budapest another great spot to welcome the New Year. If you pick this city as your New Year´s holiday destination, you can choose from a variety of festive programs ranging from balls and dance parties to concerts and romantic Danube river cruises.

When you think of Rio de Janeiro, the first association that comes to your mind is probably the carnival. However, New Years celebrations are almost as magnificent and intense as the carnival. Come to Copacabana, the most famous Brazilian beach, to watch the spectacular firework display launched from barges floating on the ocean. To merge with the locals, don’t forget to dress only in white as it is believed to bring you good luck in the New Year.

If you like New Year celebrations on ice, head out to Oslo. The capital of Norway hosts numerous parties, festivities as well as a huge firework that is launched from a platform in the harbor by City Hall. However, the Norwegians love having their own light shows at their backyards so at midnight, the entire city is lit up by thousands of small fireworks.

The Big Easy does everything its way and the New Year celebration is no exception. If you happen to be in the largest city of Louisiana on New Year´s Eve, head down to Jackson Square where the biggest crowds gather to count down the time until the New Year arrives. But don’t expect any New Year´s ball drop – in New Orleans, Baby New Year drops from its perch on the top of Jax Brewery followed by a magnificent fireworks show over the Mississippi River.

One of the smallest cities on the list, Valletta is officially only home to about 6,500 people but when it comes to welcoming the New Year, it offers a surprisingly wide range of activities and events to choose from. From dance parties and pub crawls to live concerts, children animation programs and the ultimate music-synchronized firework display over the Grand Harbor, the capital of Malta will satisfy everybody´s taste.

In Japan, New Year´s celebrations are different from those in the western world. The Japanese like to part with the old year at home, watching popular TV shows and visiting a shrine or temple at midnight. Yet, large cities host gigantic celebrations and parties on New Year´s Eve. In Tokyo, the best place to be is the Shibuya crossing where crowds gather at midnight to watch the spectacular fireworks and release balloons in the annual countdown ceremony.

For families with children, spending the New Year´s Eve in one of the Walt Disney World theme parks is a dream come true. Open until 1 am, the parks offer all types of fun activities, attractions, performances, live music etc. all day long. At midnight, impressive fireworks, light shows and massive confetti explosions will keep visitors of all ages entertained.

For many people, New Year´s holiday is also a perfect opportunity to enjoy some great skiing. If you are one of them, Aspen, Colorado, might be the right choice for you.  Perched at an elevation of just below 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above the sea level, Aspen is considered the crowning jewel of the Rocky Mountains. Ski or board the day away before celebrating the New Year with your friends at one of the local bars.

Prague is famous for its lively and loud New Year celebrations but if you prefer something more discreet, you can choose from a variety of undisturbed, cozy restaurants or take a romantic river cruise. At midnight, the city’s skyline is lit up with numerous firework shows launched by both – professionals as well as local residents and tourists. To have the best view of the spectacle, head down to one of the main squares or take a boat cruise along the river.

As Dubai is a synonym for an opulent and lavish travel destination, it comes as no surprise that the New Year celebrations are extremely pompous and showy. With Burj Khalifa, the world´s tallest building, as the backdrop, the midnight firework display is an unforgettable experience attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world.

In Goa, a little state located in western India, the New Year celebrations top off the festive period that starts as early as before Christmas. On New Year´s Eve, the whole state is beautifully decorated, brimming with people in a party mood. Join the singing and drinking crowds in a city, try delicious, local food or just chill out at a beach before watching the midnight fireworks.

London is famous for organizing tremendous New Year celebrations enjoyed by large crowds. The Londoners ring in the New Year using their iconic clock – the Big Ben. Every year, tens of thousands gather on the banks of the Thames River to begin the countdown and watch the elaborate light show and the firework display over the London Eye. Celebrating the New Year in this metropolis got so popular that tickets are required to many areas.

Intensified by the winter wonderland atmosphere that is almost guaranteed, New Year´s Eve in Moscow is truly a remarkable experience. Fueled by vodka, the Russian national drink, crowds of people turn the iconic Red Square into a giant party site. Illuminated by the monstrous midnight fireworks, the famous Moscow landmarks like the Kremlin and St. Basil Cathedral look amazing.

One of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice is another great spot to welcome the New Year. After a delicious dinner in one of many renowned local restaurants, head down to the Piazza San Marco where the main celebration and fireworks take place. If you look for a less packed place to enjoy the festivities and views of the fireworks, go to Punta della Dogana, a highly recommended location to enjoy panoramic views from across the water.

Seoul is one of the Asian metropolises that can boast brilliant New Year celebrations and light shows. The main pyrotechnic display takes place right above the river with people from all over the world watching it from nearby islands. The celebration events are centered in the city´s Times Square which is filled with a numerous entertainment venues, performances, restaurants, shops, hotels etc.

If you like giant open-air parties with hundreds of thousands of party fellows, Berlin is the place for you. On New Year´s Eve, more than a million people gather around the iconic Brandenburg Gate to enjoy spectacular laser shows, dancing parties featuring world´s top DJs, enormous midnight fireworks and tons of Champagnes to keep them warm.

In Copenhagen, streets remain relatively quiet during the last day of the year as people usually spend their time with their families and listen to the Queen´s New Year´s Speech that is on TV at 6 pm but then, the city turns into one big party. Before midnight, the crowds gather at the Town Hall Square to start the countdown and watch the spectacular firework show. Denmark is one of the most expensive countries in the world but if you book in advance, you can get good deals on accommodations.