It’s easy to sneer at New Year’s Eve: too expensive, too crowded, too much pressure to have the greatest night of your life. OK, you could hunker down at home – or you could make it really memorable by hitting up one of the best New Year’s Eve parties in the world. From fireworks blasting across breathtaking backdrops to raucous street parties in cool capitals and all-night raves on blissed-out beaches, there’s no shortage of amazing ways to ring in a new year. If you’re set to be closer to home, see our guide on how to spend New Year’s Eve in London.
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8213erikaParis, France
The main event: If you’ve got someone special to share a midnight kiss with, there’s no better place to spend New Year’s Eve than the city of romance. The centre of the action is undoubtedly the firework display on Champs-Élysées, but if you’re hoping to soak up the atmosphere without being packed shoulder-to-shoulder, the street parties in hilly Sacré-Cœur offer a cinematic – and slightly calmer – view over the festivities. Avoid disappointment and skip the Eiffel Tower entirely; fireworks are only set off here on Bastille Day, and you can see it lit up any night of the year with slightly fewer crowds to battle.
Local view: Traditionally, the French mark New Year’s Eve with a supper known as le réveillon – usually an indulgent feast of delicacies such as oysters, caviar, escargot and foie gras. Michelin-starred restaurant La Tour d’Argent does a set menu of exceptional dishes (and even more exceptional views over the city), though you may need to start saving in January to afford it. For a more budget-friendly option, the roof terrace of cool club Wanderlust is the ideal restaurant in Paris to watch the fireworks over the Seine.
Where to stay: Start the year off with a flourish in the palatial Le Meurice, a creative haven that’s housed both Dali and Picasso, with interiors by designer Philippe Starck. Or check into one Paris’ beautiful Airbnbs, scoping out the best street-side cafés for your hangover espresso. For more options, see our pick of the best Paris hotels.
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Getty ImagesEdinburgh, Scotland
The main event: The Scottish capital’s famed three-day Hogmanay extravaganza usually kicks off on 30 December, with a Viking-style torchlight procession along the Royal Mile. The big night itself features a Scottish music programme including Dougie McLean, Eddi Reader and Breabach, which wraps in time for gig-goers to catch unequalled views of midnight fireworks over Edinburgh Castle. Celebrations continue on New Year’s Day with the traditional fancy-dress dip in the freezing Firth of Forth (known as ‘the Loony Dook’). For more information on the many events that normally take place, visit edinburghshogmanay.com.
The local view: You probably won’t spot many Edinburgh natives at official Hogmanay festivities for one, entirely rational, reason: they know to be sceptical about the weather. Instead, find the Scots hedging their bets with indoor jollities before bagging a free spot to watch the castle’s midnight display. Smart, boho Stockbridge has a wealth of great pubs: stop off for a wee dram or two and folk music at basement joint The Bailie Bar, followed by a trip to Inverleith Park, which offers the best free view of the countdown fireworks in the city.
Where to stay: The Balmoral is the grandest hotel in Edinburgh, and the most comfortable place to recover from Hogmanay celebrations. For something more affordable but no less down to earth, Eden Locke, in a New Town Georgian townhouse, offers a perfect storm of millennial pink and Elephant’s Breath, brass detailing, wicker chairs and tropical plants. For a private stay, takeover this grand yet cosy loft Airbnb with a spectacular location that overlooks the Royal Mile.
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Getty ImagesReykjavik, Iceland
The main event: The Icelandic capital’s midnight fireworks are a community effort: everyone buys their own from ICE-SAR, the national search-and-rescue unit, in what is its most lucrative fundraising project of the year. The result: when the clock strikes 12, the sky explodes with hundreds of mini firework displays, lighting up the entire city. It’s a spectacular sight, but listen out for the sounds, too: fire engines and ships docked in the harbour all ring their bells and blow their horns to welcome the New Year.
The local view: Revelries ramp up long before the countdown, with community bonfires kicking off all over town from 4pm (a bonus of those long winter nights). A large crowd of locals gathers at landmark Hallgrímskirkja Church to launch fireworks and watch the display at midnight – offering a great vantage from its perch on Skólavörðuholt hill.
Where to stay: Reykjavik Edition is one of the smartest hotels in Iceland right now, with its rooftop terrace for viewing the northern lights, a cushy speakeasy-style bar and rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the fjord and Mt. Esja or downtown Reykjavik.
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Getty ImagesNew York City, USA
The main event: Sure, Times Square isn’t the most original recommendation, but it is the archetypal NYE in NYC. If you’re going to do it, do it from the Renaissance Hotel’s R Lounge – the bar windows offer peerless views of the famous One Times Square building due south, where the ball drops.
The local view: Make like a real New Yorker and swap Manhattan for Brooklyn. There’s free fireworks and live music at Prospect Park, and Brooklyn Bridge is a spectacular spot to take in the sky-side show.
Where to stay: As one of the newest hotels in New York and Aman’s first urban outpost in the US, Aman New York has raised the bar when it comes to Midtown – all rooms are generous in size, well sound-proofed and have working fireplaces. Also in Midtown, Pendry Manhattan West embraces a relaxed West Coast vibe and has floor-to-ceiling windows in all of its 30 sprawling suites.
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Getty ImagesLisbon, Portugal
The main event: The big blowout in Europe’s new capital of cool is at Praça do Comércio, the main square right on the Tagus River. In typically Portuguese fashion, the fiesta runs late: live music starts up at around 10pm and continues after the midnight fireworks. Plenty of locals – armed with their own fizz and plastic cups – can be found drinking and dancing in the heart of the action, so it doesn’t feel like a tourist trap.
The local view: Lisbon’s central Bairro Alto district is always a party locale – thank the lax open-container laws – and NYE here is no exception. Partygoers often head here after the Praça do Comércio fireworks, and the neighbourhood is also home to some outstanding fado houses, where you can watch traditional Portuguese music with dinner. Popular spots include O Faia and Cafe Luso – but they’re not cheap.
Where to stay: The Lumiares is perfectly placed in Bairro Alto with a maze of bars and nightlife nearby. Once the revelry is over, the hotel is designed to feel like a home away from home – the self-contained studios come with fully-equipped kitchens. Nearby, Bairro Alto Hotel is beloved for its buzzing atmosphere and quality soundproofing. See our guide to the best Lisbon hotels for more.
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Getty ImagesKoh Phangan, Thailand
The main event: There are parties on the beaches of Thailand’s islands all year round, but the wildest of them all is New Year’s Eve on Koh Phangan, home to the world’s most famous full-moon party. Revolving around Sunrise Beach in Haad Rin, the maelstrom starts as soon as it gets dark and romps on well beyond sunrise and into the following afternoon.
The local view: Go for cocktails and a dinner of freshly caught and grilled fish over on the sunset side of the island, and don’t even think of joining the party until just before midnight. Then head back to Sunset Beach for a dawn swim.
Where to stay: The stylish Anantara resort is halfway up the east coast of Koh Phangan, some distance from the party, but the journey home, on a boat through turquoise waters as the sun is coming up, might possibly be the greatest taxi ride you’ve ever taken.
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AwakeningVenice, Italy
The main event: Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s crowded. But something is enchanting about Venice at New Year’s Eve, all the same, the anticipatory thrill of counting down to midnight in the packed St Marco’s Square more than worth the wait. (And there’ll be a wait – get here at least a few hours in advance if you want a good spot to see the fireworks).
The local view: One of the best views of Venice’s fireworks isn’t actually on the main island; catch the Vaporetto (water bus) over to Giudecca and watch the show from across the lagoon. There are several Italian New Year’s Eve traditions you can join in with. It’s good luck to be wearing red underwear as the year turns over, while lentils, also believed to bring good luck, are an essential part of any New Year’s Eve dinner. Plus, try out more modern practices, such as the chilly New Year’s Day swim in the Lido.
Where to stay: Of all of the hotels in Venice, the most sought-after view is from the garden at The St Regis, which overlooks the Grand Canal. For a party atmosphere, Il Palazzo Experimental hosts one of the best aperitivo hours in town.
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Getty ImagesBarcelona, Spain
The main event: Barcelona is a city of night owls, so the revelry doesn’t really start gearing up until about 11pm. That’s when crowds gather at Plaça d’Espanya to watch the midnight pyrotechnics on Montjuïc, the hill just above. A few yards from here, Poble Espanyol, the open-air architectural museum, hosts a huge dance party until 6am.
The local view: One of the stranger traditions – other than eating a grape for each chime at midnight (seriously, everyone does it) – takes place at Plaça de Catalunya, in the city centre. As soon as the new year has been rung in, the assembled thousands throw their Cava bottles into the middle of the square. If that sounds slightly frightening, head instead for the most popular club bashes: Pacha rages all night.
Where to stay: Check in to The Hoxton, Pobelnou, a beloved local hangout with a rooftop pool and taqueria. For an unbeatable location, ME Barcelona is a short stroll from the city’s central square, Plaça de Catalunya.
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Getty ImagesCape Town, South Africa
The main event: The mother of all celebrations in the Mother City usually takes place on the V&A Waterfront, where there’s everything you could possibly require in one handy spot: dinner, live music, dancing, fireworks. Plus, there are views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic shore. It’s spectacular – but if you want a party with a more local flavour, you have to head for the sand.
The local view: A sunset picnic on Clifton 4th Beach, a gorgeous cove in the affluent Clifton neighbourhood, is a popular choice for Capetonians. Then it’s time to hit one of the city’s many glam beach clubs. The hottest ticket? Pacha’s elite soirée at Grand Africa, on the Grand’s private beach, facing Robben Island.
Where to stay: Sitting atop the V&A Waterfront’s much-feted Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, The Silo is the very definition of a destination hotel. Rooms are a happy marriage of vibrant silks and velvets in deep purple and bottle green, while the ballroom-worthy bathrooms are lit by Egyptian-crystal chandeliers. See our edit of the best hotels in Cape Town for more options.
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Getty ImagesBerlin, Germany
The main event: Berlin’s anything-goes energy is well and truly buzzing at this massive open-air party between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. One of Europe’s largest outdoor celebrations, this jamboree sees around a million people gathering along the event’s 1.6-mile stretch. Better still, it’s free of charge and keeps pumping until 3am. Expect live music, DJs, laser shows, food and, of course, fireworks.
The local view: Berlin’s not short of world-class clubs, but the rooftop garden at House of Weekend comes into its own on New Year’s Eve, offering astonishing views of the pyrotechnics and the city’s skyline. Plus, you don’t have to worry about that infamous Berghain bouncer.
Where to stay: For a stay close to the nightlife along the banks of the Spree, AMANO East Side sits in the vibrant, edgy Friedrichshain neighbourhood. The ground level’s bar is a lively spot to kick the night off, while rooms here are like sexy little hideaways. For more recommendations, see our edit of the best hotels in Berlin.
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Getty ImagesAmsterdam, Netherlands
The main event: Conveniently compact and always-down-to-party, Amsterdam is an amalgam of impromptu street frolics on 31 December, but if there’s one reliable place to be at midnight, it’s the Magere Brug (‘Skinny Bridge’). Here, merrymakers gather to watch countdown fireworks bursting over the River Amstel, then continue their festivities all across town. Nieuwmarkt (Chinatown), in particular, is known for its rambunctious atmosphere.
The local view: Amsterdam’s EDM heads usually go to the Awakenings party at the Gashouder, an epic rave in an industrial gas holder built in 1902.
Where to stay: There are plenty of smart addresses here – The Hoxton, Soho House, Pulitzer. For a unique stay, Sweets Hotel has a one-of-a-kind location within a bridge house once used by operators to open and close the drawbridges. Naturally, the views of the canals are the standout, while interiors pick up on the period. For more, see our picks of the best hotels in Amsterdam.
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Getty ImagesSydney, Australia
The main event: Sydney Harbour’s firework extravaganza is usually watched by more than a million people gathered along the foreshore. To get amongst it, join the boatfuls of revellers bobbing in the water by hiring out a boat, bring your own bubbles and start the countdown early. Landlubbers might prefer to reserve an outside table at one of the waterfront restaurants by Sydney Harbour Bridge for a front-row seat.
The local view: Alternatively, motor out to Cockatoo Island and set up a moonlit picnic in preparation for the show; you can even camp or glamp there for the night, as long as you book a spot in advance. New Year’s Eve without the end-of-night battle for a taxi? Yes, please.
Where to stay: All about the pyrotechnics? The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney overlooks Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. For a more local feel, book the new Paramount House Hotel in inner-city foodie hub Surry Hills. An industrial concrete-and-copper aesthetic meets furniture, bathroom products – and beer – by independent Aussie makers.
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Getty ImagesBeirut, Lebanon
The main event: Beirut’s legendary party scene makes for a memorable outing any night of the year, but in 2017/2018 the city elected to put on an official shindig in its streets, and immediately landed on various ‘best of’ lists – prompting it to go even bigger in the following years. Place de l’Etoile is packed with merrymakers, as live bands, DJs and fireworks ring in the next decade, and a spectacular light show beams out of the square’s 1933 Art Deco clocktower. This being Beirut, things don’t typically wind down until after dawn.
The local view: The city’s nightlife scene has more than its fair share of bling-bling clubs, but to get among the Beiruti in-crowd, bar hopping in hip Gemmayzeh and neighbouring Mar Mikhael is where it’s at. The latter’s Anise is a firm favourite, where craft cocktails are concocted with Lebanese spirit arak and locally foraged herbs.
Where to stay: The Albergo – by Relais & Châteaux – is steeped in old-world charm, from its antique-furnished rooms to the orange juice in a Murano glass jug and macarons brought to your room when you arrive.
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Getty ImagesCopenhagen, Denmark
The main event: When the clock strikes 12, the ordinarily restrained Danes gather at Town Hall Square for a rowdy, BYO bacchanal of popping champagne corks, whooshing rockets and fizzing Roman candles. For a slightly more orderly take, twinkly Tivoli Gardens lights up the sky with its own Firework Festival; its restaurants are all serving New Year’s dinners; and the roller coasters are open – plus, plenty of glögg stalls serve liquid courage.
The local view: Watch how Copenhageners abandon hygge for hedonism on New Year’s Eve as thousands of merry folk take to the streets to light their own fireworks just after midnight. A favoured local spot to watch the mayhem – which is loud, raucous and just a tad nerve-wracking – is Queen Louise’s Bridge, which stretches across The Lakes, in the heart of the city.
Where to stay: Hotel Sanders, on a quiet street just a short walk from ever-lively Nyhavn, is enchanting. Style-wise, it combines Danish mid-century modern and British Colonial (wickerwork here and there, palms in pots), and there’s a fifth-floor conservatory with views over the city.
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f11photoNew Orleans, USA
The main event: Missed out on Mardi Gras? These New Year’s Eve celebrations capture the same riotous spirit, glittering extravagance, and explosive sense of fun that makes New Orleans so special. The city was, rightfully so, one of our top destinations to visit in 2022, and will still be right up until the stroke of midnight on 31 December. Spend the afternoon at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade, which is as festive and festooned as you’d expect, before heading down to Jackson Square to watch the Fleur De Lis drop (the city’s answer to NYC’s ball drop) and the fireworks over the Mississippi.
The local view: Combine two long-standing New Orleans traditions – jazz bands and balcony parties – with a trip to the French Quarter. Bag a ticket to one of the exclusive events held in Bourbon Street’s bars and restaurants and spend the night dining, drinking and dancing high above the crowds.
Where to stay: The city is groaning with quirky hotels and Airbnbs; for one-of-a-kind rooms and colourful decor right by the French Quarter, make a reservation at The Eliza Jane. If your New Year’s Day hangover demands a little peace and quiet, hole up in one of the private Audubon Cottages, where a butler will deliver breakfast to your door.