10 Best Places to go for New Year’s Eve!
Happy New Year. May it be better than your last.
I learned something that blew my mind the other day. I learned that I may wish you a happy and prosperous New Year but I can not welcome you to the new decade. This new year, despite being 2020, is technically not the beginning of the new decade. Apparently, 2021 is the start of the new decade. Though there is debate and disbelief about this opinion/fact.
In light of this, I thought I might post where you might travel next year to ring in the new decade (I’m still not sure I believe). Here are the 10 best places to travel for New Year’s Eve.
Sydney
Sydney is one of the first major cities to ring in the new year (sorry, Auckland). The Opera House and Harbour Bridge create an amazing backdrop when Sydney Harbour is lit up with an amazing firework display. See the sight from a boat on the water or from one of the nearby parks or islands.
Remember that New Year’s Eve in Sydney is the start of their summer season, so it is sure to get warm there. You can spend the rest of your trip taking in the sun and sand.
Rio De Janeiro
Rio De Janeiro is another place you can go to; if you want to ring in the new year with some sun, sand, and warm weather.
The main event is a white party that happens at Copacabana Beach and can be crowded with upwards of 2 million other people wishing to celebrate the new year.
South Pacific
If you want to be the first to celebrate the new year and don’t mind not having a large celebration head to the South Pacific.
Kiritimati (or Christmas Island) is part of the Kiribati chain of islands and is the first place to ring in the New Year, along with Samoa. They celebrate hours before the global celebrations begin at Sydney Harbour.
If you want to be the last to ring in the New Year stay in the South Pacific. Head to American Samoa. You could also try for the longest celebration by starting in Samoa and ending in American Samoa 25 hours later. However, the ferry only runs once a week so check before you plan.
Dubai
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. With that fact behind it, it’s no wonder it also put on an amazing firework display. It has a lot of space to do it.
Before heading outside to take in the fireworks, take in the Dubai Mall at the base of the tower. This mall is so large it even has an ice rink in one area.
Tokyo
In Japan, New Year’s Eve can be a bit quieter than in other cities. You can join in the Japanese tradition of Haatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. People visit local shrines to ring in the New Year or head to larger shrines, like Meiji Jingu or Zojo-Ji. You will gather with thousands of others to listen to the bell ring 108 times, representing a cleansing of the 108 worldly desires that must be overcome. You can also, buy your fortune for the next year and pray for yourself and loved ones.
If you want to find a New Year’s Eve party head to Roppongi district. This is where you can normally find Tokyo’s ex-pat community. For New Year’s Eve, there will be any number of countdown parties to spend time at.
Reykjavik
Iceland normally has a ban on fireworks but during the week around New Year’s Eve the ban is lifted and everyone over 16 can buy from little pop-up shops. These pop-up shops are run the Iceland’s Search and Rescue as a fundraiser for the associations. That means that there are displays almost everywhere there are people in Iceland.
If you want to find a large gathering of people head to HallgrÃmskirkja church. People will gather together in front of the church and let off their fireworks at midnight.
If you want to enjoy New Year’s Eve inside where it is warm, be sure to book in advance (like weeks to months in advance) if you want a good spot.
London
London has a variety of ways that you can ring in the new year and take in the fireworks. One option is to find a party hosted in a sky bar near the London Eye.
You can take a boat and ride the Thames River. Enjoy the sights from the less crowded vantage of the boat.
There are a great many hills and parks that allow people to gather and watch the fireworks as well.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh starts their New Year’s Celebrations, the Hogmanay, on December 30th with a Viking procession. You can take part in this event but need a ticket so book early. There are street parties, concerts, bonfires and other events on the 30th and 31st.
Midnight on the 31st is when the fireworks are let off over Edinburgh castle. In the morning you can take part in the Loony Dook, a swim in fancy or crazy outfits.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is always busy. The lights of the strip are always on. On New Year’s Eve, the busy street is closed to traffic and the people take over, filling the streets. At midnight many of the casinos set off firework displays from their rooftops to ring in the New Year and wow the crowds below.
If the weather doesn’t suit staying outdoors on the strip there are clubs and casinos that are happy to help you celebrate. There is also Freemont Street. A canopy that doubles as a display screen covers the street. This 5-block stretch of Las Vegas protects you from inclement weather and provides a light show.
New York
New York and specifically Times Square have been on my go-to list for many years. I used to watch Dick Clark and the Ball Drop with my family to ring in the new year. If you want to see this in person arrive early to claim a good spot.
Even if you don’t feel like celebrating with about 1 million other people (not even an exaggeration), you can find any number of other celebrations happening around the city.
