New Year’s Celebrations Around the World You’ll Want to Take Part In

This blog post was updated on December 29, 2021.

Does your ideal New Year’s Eve involve sticking your toes in the sand on the beach or gliding across a ballroom to the sounds of a Viennese waltz? Every country has its own way to welcome the new year, bringing joy, good wishes, and, yes, plenty of par-tays around the world. So come on, pack your luggage and say goodbye to the bad stuff the last 365 days brought to your life by traveling to any of these 17 destinations to celebrate New Year’s Eve!

London, England

One of the world’s largest shows of fireworks, live music, and street performances takes place in London every New Year’s Eve. Some of the best places to be when the party begins include the riverfront at Victoria Embankment, Westminster Abbey, and the Waterloo Bridge. To many, on the other hand, nothing compares to enjoying the memorable spectacle right next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. So, if you intend to score some cheap flights for New Year’s, know that you have plenty of options to choose from!

The Bahamas

Get away to the islands of the Bahamas to enjoy their world-famous parades! Junkanoo is one of the best examples of this. You’ll get to experience a Bahamian Mardi Gras of sorts filled with all kinds of elaborate costumes, live bands, street performers, and plenty of merrymaking. These parades lead to the beach just in time for midnight fireworks, prolonging the celebrations throughout most of January 1st.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is an awesome destination for revelers looking to dance the night away and ring the New Year in raucous style, which makes it one of the hottest party capitals of Europe. Festivities around the Brandenburg Gate draw up to a million people on New Year’s Eve. Many claim it to be the biggest street party not just in Germany but across the whole continent.

Cape Town, South Africa

With majestic Table Mountain as the perfect backdrop, Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is quite a fine setting to rock in the New Year. Lots of locals also like to actually party atop this peak to enjoy the twinkling lights and massive midnight fireworks from a lofty perch. January 2nd, locally known as Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year), sees the annual Cape Town Minstrel Carnival parade — or Klaapse Klopse — that showcases thousands of performers, honoring a tradition that dates back to the 19th century.

Edinburgh, Scotland

In the grand Scottish city of Edinburgh, New Year’s Eve means Hogmanay (the Scots’ word for “last day of the year”) for the throngs of folks from near and far that take the party to the streets. Believe it or not, you’ll actually need two nights to enjoy it to its fullest! Hogmanay festivities kick off on the 30th, with a torchlight procession through town that culminates with a giant fireworks display. On the following night, New Year’s Eve celebrations are focused on Princes Street with more fireworks, street parties, and outdoor concerts.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s famed New Year’s Eve fireworks show gets bigger and bigger every year but still culminates with a dragon dancing above Victoria Harbor’s sky. Savvy locals know that the best opportunities to see great views of the city’s skyline are by hopping into one of the boats in the harbor or attending a rooftop party. Many others, though, prefer to go to the Time Square shopping mall to see a recreation of the world-famous New York ball drop!

Las Vegas, Nevada

Looking for a party? You’re in the right place! Practically every club, casino, hotel, resort, restaurant, and bar in Las Vegas (and there are a lot of each of these!) throws its own special bash on New Year’s Eve. Plus, they all have tons of concerts and shows to get you revved up for midnight. The Downtown Countdown at the Fremont Street Experience is, of course, among one of the best outdoor areas to welcome in the new year and see the city’s fireworks.

Madrid, Spain

Celebrating New Years’s Eve (or Nochevieja, as it’s known to Spaniards) in Spain’s capital is such a memorable experience. Just head to Puerta del Sol a few hours before midnight and join the crowds. But be sure to bring a dozen grapes with you; you’ll want to partake in the country’s tradition of eating 12 grapes for each month of the year as the clock strikes 12. It’s harder than it sounds, especially after you’ve had a few glasses of cava!

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Miami, Florida

As if you needed an excuse to party in Miami! The club scene, the Latin rhythms, and the beach all add up to a hot NYE in this sizzling South Florida destination. Downtown official celebrations kick off around 8 pm with live entertainment, dancing, and, of course, fireworks. Over at Miami Beach, Lummus Park is the scene of an all-night outdoor party lasting well into the wee hours of the morning.

New Orleans, Louisiana

If ever there was a city designed to party, it’s NOLA, y’all! The French Quarter’s the place to be for the rowdiest goings-on, but restaurants and bars throughout the city play host to revelers of all sorts.

New York, New York

Thousands of people attend the famous ball drop at Times Square with millions more watching from their homes across the globe. Of course, there’s a lot more to the Big Apple than Midtown Manhattan if you want to celebrate with an urban flair. Many locals cross the Hudson River admire the fireworks from Hoboken, in New Jersey. Another popular (and completely free!) option is to go to the Brooklyn Bridge. But be warned, it’s going to be cold out there!

Niagara Falls

Head to this beautiful resort town and get an amazing view of the New Year’s fireworks over the falls.  You’ll see an early display at 9 pm followed by a light show at midnight, which includes plenty of live entertainment and festivities in between!

Orlando, Florida

It’s hard to beat Disney World for the sheer scale of its NYE entertainment, especially for families with small children and kids of all ages. The park stays open until 1 a.m. after ringing in the New Year with a large parade, fireworks, Cirque du Soleil performances, and more!

Paris, France

An Eiffel Tower light show with a firework backdrop? C’est magnifique! You can get the best views from the Montmartre and Trocadero areas, as well as near the fabulous Champs-Élysées. Just be there early enough to ensure you’re not staring at the back of someone’s head!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The beach at Copacabana is the place to go in Rio for New Year’s Eve. Close to a million Brazilians come to dance the samba and enjoy live music while watching the city’s stunning fireworks display every year. When you go, do as the locals do: wear white for good luck and cast flowers into the sea to honor the Yoruba goddess, Yemanjá.

Sydney, Australia

Fun fact: Sydney is the first major city to usher in the New Year in the entire world due to its proximity to the International Date Line. And, they do it with style. Sydney displays a lavish and expensive fireworks show every year that completely lights up the night sky above the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Vienna, Austria

If you’re looking for a more elegant NYE celebration, historic Vienna sets the bar really high. The New Year’s Eve Grand Ball at Hofburg Palace offers a black-tie opportunity to kick up your heels in gala fashion. There’s plenty of fun for the more casually dressed though, with events and festivities held throughout town. This includes a New Year’s Path starting at Sylvesterpfad that begins in the Old City with waltzing and drinking. But nothing screams New Years’s like the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert in the Large Hall of the Musikverein, a tradition that dates back to 1939. No ticket? Don’t worry. Many locals and visitors have just as much fun watching the concert on a giant screen outside the Rathaus (City Hall).

Think we missed an international New Year’s Eve celebration worth visiting? Let us know in the comments section below!