Some of the best places to spend New Year's Eve are famous for their fireworks. Others are known for strange and wonderful traditions, from eating twelve grapes at midnight to running around the block with an empty suitcase. Wherever you go, seeing in the new year somewhere new is a memory that sticks.
Here are 12 of the best places in the world to travel for New Year's Eve, from the first big fireworks of the night in Sydney to quieter lantern-lit celebrations in Thailand, plus a few tips for planning your trip.
Jump to a destination:
- Sydney, Australia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Dubai, UAE
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- London, England
- Madrid, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cartagena, Colombia
- New York City, USA
- FAQs
The Best Places to Spend New Year's Eve
1. Sydney, Australia
Sydney is one of the first major cities to welcome the new year, and it does it in style. Around a million people gather around the harbor to watch fireworks explode from the Harbour Bridge and barges on the water. There is an earlier family display at 9 PM, so kids can see a show without staying up until midnight.
Tip: The best free spots, such as Mrs Macquarie's Chair and the Opera House forecourt area, fill up by the morning. Some vantage points need tickets, and you can't bring alcohol into most of them.
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2. Tokyo, Japan
New Year (Shōgatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan, and it is more spiritual than wild. On New Year's Eve, many families eat toshikoshi soba, long noodles for a long life. Just before midnight, temples ring their bells 108 times to clear away the troubles of the past year. Zōjō-ji, next to Tokyo Tower, is a popular place to hear them.
On New Year's Day, millions visit shrines for hatsumōde, the first prayer of the year. Meiji Jingu is the busiest in Tokyo. If you want a party, Shibuya Crossing usually hosts a countdown, although it can be scaled back to manage crowds.
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3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
For a gentler celebration, Chiang Mai is magical. The countdown takes place around Tha Phae Gate in the old city, with live music, food stalls, and fireworks. Many people release paper lanterns at midnight to send away bad luck, and the sky fills with tiny lights.
Tip: Lantern rules change from year to year because of fire risk, so follow local guidance and only release them in permitted areas.
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4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai goes big on New Year's Eve. The centerpiece is the fireworks and light show on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, watched by huge crowds in Downtown Dubai. Beach clubs, yacht parties, and hotel rooftops offer more exclusive ways to celebrate.
Tip: Roads around Downtown close in the afternoon, and the metro gets very busy. Arrive early or book a restaurant with a view.
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5. Edinburgh, Scotland
Hogmanay, the Scottish new year, is one of the world's great parties. Edinburgh's celebrations traditionally run over several days, with a torchlight procession, concerts, ceilidhs, a big street party, and fireworks over the castle at midnight. On 1 January, brave souls take a freezing dip in the sea at the Loony Dook.
Read our full guide to New Year's Eve in Edinburgh.
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6. London, England
London's midnight fireworks over the Thames and the London Eye are some of the most famous in the world. Tickets for the official riverside viewing areas sell out, but you can watch from hills and parks across the city, or celebrate at a rooftop party, a club night, or a pub. See our guide to New Year's Eve in London.
7. Madrid, Spain
Madrid's celebration is centered on Puerta del Sol, where crowds gather under the famous clock tower. The tradition is to eat twelve grapes at midnight, one with each chime, to bring good luck for each month of the year. It is harder than it sounds. Many people buy small cans of peeled grapes to make it easier.
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8. Berlin, Germany
Berlin's New Year's Eve, known as Silvester, is loud and chaotic. A huge party usually fills the area around the Brandenburg Gate with stages and music, and fireworks go off everywhere. Afterward, the city's legendary clubs keep going well into New Year's Day.
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9. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik doesn't have a single official fireworks show. Instead, locals buy fireworks, many of them from the volunteer search-and-rescue teams that use the money to fund their work, and let them off all over the city at midnight. The best views are from the hill around Hallgrímskirkja church or the Perlan dome. Earlier in the evening, families gather around community bonfires.
Tip: Spend New Year's Day recovering in a geothermal pool, and keep an eye out for the northern lights.
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10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Réveillon on Copacabana Beach is one of the biggest New Year's Eve parties on Earth, with crowds of around two million people. Most wear white for peace and good luck. There are stages with live music, fireworks fired from barges along the beach, and a tradition of jumping over seven waves at midnight while making seven wishes.
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11. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena's walled old town is full of street parties, live music, and fireworks over the Caribbean. Colombians have some fun traditions too: some people run around the block with an empty suitcase at midnight to bring a year of travel, and others wear yellow underwear for luck.
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12. New York City, USA
The Times Square ball drop is the classic. Be warned: the viewing areas fill up early in the afternoon, there are no toilets, and you can't leave and come back. Alternatives include the fireworks and midnight run in Central Park, fireworks in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, and countless rooftop parties.
Stay connected: USA eSIM
One eSIM, many New Years: An egoViet eSIM is easy to set up before you fly. Install it at home on Wi-Fi, and it connects when you land, so you can send midnight messages, book rides home, and share videos without roaming fees. Visiting more than one European country? The Europe eSIM covers more than 30 countries with one plan.
Tips for Traveling Over New Year's Eve
- Book early. Flights and hotels around 31 December are some of the most expensive of the year, and the best rooms go fast.
- Plan your route home. Taxis and ride apps surge after midnight. Check whether the metro runs all night, or stay within walking distance.
- Expect weak mobile signal. Networks get congested in big crowds. Save tickets and maps offline, and agree on a meeting point with friends.
- Charge your phone. Cold weather and video recording drain batteries quickly. Bring a power bank.
- Check local rules. Some cities ban glass bottles, alcohol, or bags in the celebration zones.
Not sure how much data to buy? See how much data you need when you travel.
FAQs: The Best Places to Spend New Year's Eve
Where is the best place in the world to spend New Year's Eve?
Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Edinburgh, London, Dubai, and New York are the most famous. For something different, try Reykjavik's DIY fireworks, Tokyo's temple bells, or Madrid's twelve grapes.
Which city celebrates New Year first?
The first places to reach midnight are islands in the Pacific, such as Kiribati. Among major cities, Auckland and Sydney are among the first.
What is the best place in Europe for New Year's Eve?
Edinburgh, London, Berlin, Madrid, and Reykjavik are all excellent. Edinburgh's Hogmanay is the most traditional, and Berlin is the best for an all-night party.
Will my phone work abroad on New Year's Eve?
Yes, with a travel eSIM or a roaming plan. Networks can slow down in big crowds around midnight, so download tickets and maps offline before you go.