Updated: December 2022
Whether that means fun parties, hangovers, or a cozy, quiet night in setting New Year’s resolutions, New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. If you are looking for a particularly epic celebration for ringing in the New Year, these cities are known for taking things to the next level.
Here are the best destinations to celebrate New Year’s Eve around the world!
New York, USA
Brave the crowds and ring in the New Year in New York’s world-famous Times Square to watch the ball drop. The evening will keep you entertained with performances from top artists, fireworks, and tons of confetti!
Read More: Tips for Celebrating New Years Eve in NYC
The Ultimate New York City Travel Guide
Sydney, Australia
Sydney Harbour is definitely THE place to be for NYE in Australia. Not only are the views of the harbor incredible but they put on a fantastic fireworks show! There are also plenty of hotels and restaurants overlooking the harbor that offer something for everyone.
Read More: The Ultimate Sydney Travel Guide
Hong Kong
Because Hong Kong is home to a mix of cultures and traditions, they actually celebrate New Year twice! The New Year’s celebration on December 31st includes a spectacular firework show over HK Victoria Harbor. Regardless of where you are in the city, the party goes on all night long!
Read More: 10 Tips for Your First Trip to Hong Kong
Taipei, Taiwan
While it’s true most cities have an incredible fireworks display for NYE, Taipei is probably the most unique. Taipei 101 (at one point the tallest building in the world) begins the countdown and the building itself lights up floor by floor from the bottom to the top, making Taipei 101 the biggest New Year’s Eve countdown clock in the world! After that, the actual building sets off fireworks along with a light show that is seriously unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After Carnival, New Year’s Eve is Rio de Janeiro’s biggest party of the year. There are several free festivals during the day and many people gather at the beach to place candles and flowers in the ocean to honor Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of water. At night, DJs and bands kick off the official stages along Copacabana Beach. Let it be said, the Brazilians know how to party!
Read More: The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Rio in a Weekend
Reykjavik, Iceland
This celebration is all about the lights! Reykjavik host some serious fireworks displays. On top of that, almost every family in the city buys up fireworks and builds bonfires on the streets. If you’re really lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. The sunset starts around 4 PM here so there is plenty of time to watch the sky light up in celebration.
Read More: The Ultimate Iceland Travel Guide
London, England
Grab a pint and head over to the Thames River where rafts, as well as the base of the London Eye, set off fireworks. And, as always with London, their famous clubs are not to be missed. If you’re in decent shape the next day, be sure to catch the famous New Year’s Day parade, one of London’s biggest events of the year!
Read More: The Ultimate London Travel Guide
10 Things To Do in London (That Aren’t Big Ben)
Where are you celebrating New Year’s Eve this year?!
You have to check out New Years in Naples, Italy. There is not, to my knowledge, any organized fireworks show. It isn’t needed. The people of Naples buy many tons of fireworks and set them off themselves, often right from the balcony of their own apartments. It is absolutely the most amazing thing I have ever seen. If you have a friend who has an apartment from which you can view most of Naples and the gulf, or if you can find a spot in the hills above Naples, that would be ideal.
There are two things to keep in mind though if watching from in town as the Neapolitan concept of safety is not that of Americans, or most western Europeans for that matter. If you drive to the location, park well away from any apartment buildings. For one, the debris from the fireworks could damage the vehicle, but more importantly, Neapolitans take quite seriously the saying “Out with the old, in with the new,” and they practice that at midnight on New Years, as the fireworks are going off. It is not unusual to see large pieces of furniture or appliances laying in the street which have been tossed from balconies.
I know that, perhaps especially to Anglo ears, that sounds very strange and chaotic. It is. But it is just one more aspect of the beauty that is Naples and it’s people. And, it is something you will never forget.
Wow! Thanks for sharing that. What a unique way to ring it in. I was in Naples over the summer and could tell immediately that the culture there was unique to other parts of Italy. Hopefully some readers find inspiration from your story!
I’m not a big fan of new years eve because I feel like there’s so much pressure on this evening to be a good one! It’s always a bit disappointing to me, because you expect so much of it haha, BUT I’d love to go to New York one day for New Years Eve 🙂