The Best Destinations for New Year's Eve Celebrations • The Blonde Abroad

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!