The world is full of incredible and exciting destinations to explore all year round. But what about celebrating the end of one year and the start of another? New Year's celebrations all over the planet are quite similar, as people from all cultures have many shared traditions when commemorating what is for many nations, one of the biggest parties of the year.
However, some New Year celebrations are more distinct than others, whether it’s from iconic firework displays, fun or crazy traditions, or, a combination of local factors that make a destination stand out for its unique approach. Let’s look at some of the best places to celebrate New Year's around the world.
Sydney, Australia
Celebrations in Sydney to welcome in the New Year are special for many reasons, but being one of the first major cities to celebrate as the clock strikes midnight, the party in the land down under has always captured attention from all over the world. The iconic fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House is an awe-inspiring spectacle attended by tens of thousands of people every year and watched by millions more worldwide.
The crowds gather at vantage points like Circular Quay and Mrs Macquarie’s Point to secure the best possible views. Cruises around the harbour offer front-row seats to the fireworks, complete with gourmet dining, live music, and an unbeatable atmosphere of a warm summer’s night. Beyond the fireworks, Sydney’s festive vibe extends to its numerous beaches and parks. Bondi Beach, one of the city’s most famous surf and sun spots, hosts its own New Year’s celebrations, blending beach party vibes and barbecues together to bring in the new year.
Marrakesh, Morocco
In Marrakesh, New Year’s Eve feels like stepping into a tale from One Thousand And One Arabian Nights. The city’s rooftop terraces come alive with celebratory dinners featuring classic staples of Moroccan cuisine such as tagines, couscous, and sweet pastries. Traditional Berber music and dancers create an enchanting atmosphere amid the gentle glow of lanterns that illuminate almost every corner of the city.
Marrakesh offers an enticing mix of modern glamour and tradition, with luxury hotels hosting grand galas that merge global and Moroccan styles. Whilst the best way to experience the delights of the city during New Year, is potentially from a private road in the city, luxury desert camps outside the city provide stargazing opportunities alongside bonfires and traditional performances.
Dubai, UAE
New Year’s in Dubai can be quite the spectacle. The fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa currently holds the world records for both the tallest fireworks display in the world and, the most amount of fireworks released per minute (a dazzling 79,941 per minute) creating a breathtaking display. Meanwhile, at the Dubai Fountain, visitors can watch as it quite literally, dances to synchronised music. There are multiple parties to attend across the city's many luxury hotel properties and resorts, with each trying to outdo the other every year.
For a more laid-back approach to events, Dubai’s beaches, such as Kite Beach and JBR, offer more relaxed settings from which to watch the fireworks, although there will still be plenty happening around them during the evening. Alternatively, a journey into the desert, whether it be by Camelback or dune buggy, provides a very different setting to watch the celebrations from afar and enjoy welcoming the start of a new year under the desert stars.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Few places celebrate New Year’s Eve with as much passion and energy as Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana Beach is famous around the world and is the epicentre of festivities, where millions dressed in white – symbolising peace – gather to dance, sing, and embrace the joyful spirit of the occasion. The highlight of the festivities is the breathtaking 20-minute fireworks display as the clock strikes midnight, accompanied by local samba bands and troops of dancers, keeping the party going until the early hours.
Beyond the beach, Rio’s Afro-Brazilian traditions add depth to the celebration. Many attendees throw flowers and offerings into the sea as tributes to Yemanjá, the ocean goddess, seeking blessings for the year ahead. For those looking to escape the crowds, Sugarloaf Mountain offers a panoramic view of the festivities from above, but not far enough to escape the brilliant sound of samba and excitement as Rio welcomes the start of a New Year below.
Vienna, Austria
There are not many places in the world that are as romantic as Vienna. The city oozes majesty and sophistication with its incredible architecture, which is bathed in festive lights during the run-up to New Year's and sets the stage for the Silvesterpfa, a day-long event featuring live music, food stalls, and dancing. With a rich cultural heritage that encompasses everything from art and history to food and beer, visitors can easily extend a weekend into an entire week in this city.
Classical music lovers will find Vienna particularly enchanting. With special concerts at the prestigious Vienna State Opera and the Golden Hall on offer to attend on New Year’s Eve, visitors can embrace one of Vienna’s most famous traditional exports. Speaking of traditions, dancing the Viennese waltz at midnight through the city’s public squares adds a touch of timeless romance to the celebrations, with hundreds taking to the streets throughout the night, in what makes for a charming spectacle to gracefully welcome the start of the new year.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s New Year’s Eve is a captivating blend of traditional celebrations and the modern energy of the big city. At Shibuya Crossing, countdown parties rival Times Square in their intensity. Bars, clubs, and themed parties in districts like Roppongi and Shinjuku ensure the final hours in the run-up to the end of the year are pulsating, lending a distinctly dystopian flair that makes Tokyo almost feel like Los Angeles in the cult sci-fi film, Blade Runner.
Alternatively, Tokyo’s deep-rooted cultural practices bring a much more conservative and, contemplative approach to New Year's. Zojoji Temple, near Tokyo Tower, hosts the "Joya no Kane" bell-ringing ceremony, a solemn ritual that cleanses the spirit by tolling the bell 108 times. Visitors often follow this with hatsumode – the first shrine visit of the year – at iconic Tokyo landmarks like the Meiji Shrine. Combine either of these approaches with the excellent gastronomy that Japan is celebrated for, and you have a truly special destination to celebrate the start of the new year.
No matter where you are in the world, New Year’s is the perfect opportunity to celebrate both the end of the current year and the promising new beginnings that come with the next one. Choosing to spend New Year’s in any of these destinations is a fantastic way to celebrate new traditions, new places, and new experiences to mark a new chapter and set a high bar for everything to follow after.
