The Best Cities to Celebrate New Year's Eve Around the World
The Best Cities to Celebrate New Year's Eve Around the World
Say goodbye to 2019 during one of the many global celebrations taking place on New Year's Eve. Whether you want to join the masses in goofy hats and glasses in Times Square or toast each other with Champagne in the City of Light, you won't be lacking for festive options. Here are the best cities around the world to ring in 2018.
1) Chicago — Illinois
You won't be lacking for choice in Chicago when it comes to New Year's Eve celebrations. Check out the family-friendly offerings at Navy Pier, which include rides, entertainment, and fireworks — perfectly synchronized to music — over Lake Michigan. Bars, restaurants, and hotels, such as the Drake, also have rocking New Year’s Eve parties.
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2) San Miguel de Allende — Mexico
Enjoy a festive New Year's Eve celebration in San Miguel de Allende, which last year topped Travel & Leisure's World's Best Cities List. The action is centered around El Jardin, the Mexican city's main plaza. Expect a large stage, featuring DJs, mariachi bands, and food and drink vendors. It culminates with fireworks and bell-ringing at midnight.
3) Copenhagen — Denmark
Put on your party hat and celebrate a Scandinavian New Year at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens. At this historic amusement park, you can have a festive dinner with glogg (spiced mulled wine), go on the rides, then watch as the night sky explodes with fireworks at midnight. There are also festivities taking place around City Hall.
4) New York — New York
Where else? This iconic New Year's Eve celebration takes place at the Crossroads of the World — Times Square. Don hats, blow horns, and wait for the crystal ball to drop. You may not want to do it every year, but you should definitely join this frigid NYC street party at least once.
5) Paris — France
The City of Light truly sparkles during its New Year's Eve celebrations, with stunning fireworks over a glittery Eiffel Tower, but before the big display, revelers can enjoy scenic cruises along the Seine River or dine in gourmet restaurants, with caviar and Champagne on the menu.
6) New Orleans — Louisiana
Not surprisingly, the party town of New Orleans has become one of the top spots in the country to ring in the New Year. Its Crescent City Countdown is a festive celebration featuring a lighted fleur-de-lis (the city's symbol) dropping from the top of Jax Brewery and a massive fireworks display over the Mississippi River.
7) Hong Kong — China
Hong Kong goes big for New Year's Eve, especially when it comes to fireworks. HK's pyrotechnic display over Victoria Harbour is one of the world's most thrilling spectacles. Stake out a prime viewing spot in a rooftop bar in high-rise hotels like The Ritz-Carlton, or see the dazzling display from a high-end dinner cruise on the harbor.
8) Sydney — Australia
While Australia won't be the first country to celebrate New Year's — that honor goes to Tonga — Sydney will be the first major city to ring in 2020 (along with Auckland, New Zealand). Join fellow revelers to watch fabulous fireworks lighting up the sky above Sydney Harbour, with the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as iconic backdrops.
9) Berlin — Germany
More than one million people are expected to ring in the New Year at an enormous open-air street party on a stretch of Strasse des 17 Juni between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. The celebration kicks off at 7 p.m., and it includes live musical performances, a light and laser show, DJ sets, and, of course, fireworks at midnight.
10) Singapore
Singapore has been one of the most popular cities to visit in the past few years thanks to the success of Crazy Rich Asians. But those in the know are already aware that the city goes all out for New Year's Eve, with countdown parties in beautiful rooftop bars and restaurants, where you can watch the dazzling fireworks display over Marina Bay.
11) Las Vegas — Nevada
There will be plenty of New Year's Eve excitement in Sin City, especially along The Strip, which is closed to traffic and becomes one big block party. All of the casinos offer New Year's Eve packages, parties, and celebrations (expect lots of Champagne) — and when the clock strikes midnight, check out the pyrotechnic display.
12) London — England
Ring in the new decade in London, where New Year's Eve celebrations include festive parties overlooking the midnight fireworks above the Thames River. Last year's top events included Southbank Centre's A Vintage New Year's Eve Party and London Sky Bar's New Year's Party, both of which feature food, drinks, and dancing till the wee hours.
13) Buenos Aires — Argentina
New Year's in Buenos Aires is all about the nightlife. See a tango show, dance at a trendy club, and see fireworks in the port area. Many of the city's hotels have special packages, such as Palo Santo Hotel, a stylish boutique in Palermo, which last year offered a three-night stay in a deluxe room, a bottle of bubbly, a steakhouse dinner, and VIP entry to a local club.
14) Disney World — Orlando
Disney World is magical year-round, but it really goes all-out for New Year's Eve, with events taking place throughout the park. Book festive dinners at restaurants like Chef Mickey and Il Mulino or hit up one of the DJ dance parties in Epcot, followed by the Magic Kingdom's Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks.
15) Cape Town — South Africa
Cape Town's fireworks take place at the Victoria & Albert Waterfront — many opt to see them from the top of iconic Table Mountain (reached via cable car). Elsewhere in the South African city, there are concert venues, comedy clubs, breweries, restaurants, and bars that all get into the celebratory spirit with festive parties.
16) Aspen — Colorado
This glamorous ski resort in the Colorado Rockies bids adieu to 2019 in style. After a day of skiing, indulge in multicourse dinners with Champagne toasts in local restaurants, concerts, and parties in top hotels like the St. Regis. At midnight, watch the fireworks over Aspen Mountain.
17) Edinburgh — Scotland
Did you know Auld Lang Syne was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns? You'll be singing quite a bit of that tune during the city's famous three-day Hogmanay celebration, which features a torchlit parade and culminates with an open-air party on Princes Street and midnight fireworks over 12th-century Edinburgh Castle.
18) Rio de Janeiro — Brazil
Rio is one of the world's great party cities, especially during Carnival, so it's no surprise that it goes full-stop for New Year's Eve. Join the white-clad crowds at famed Copacabana Beach (white is meant to bring luck in the new year), who spend the night drinking caipirinhas, dancing the samba, and being dazzled by the fireworks.
19) Dubai — United Arab Emirates
Dubai, with its opulent hotels and man-made islands, has multiple New Year's Eve fireworks shows — and each year they get bigger and more spectacular. The main one takes place downtown at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and there are also illuminating displays at the super swanky Burj Al Arab and Atlantis resorts.
20) Jost Van Dyke — British Virgin Islands
Expect the New Year's Eve celebration at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke to be even bigger when it comes time to ring in 2020. The party attracts thousands of revelers, from college students to yachties.
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