Holiday guide. December, January.
Where to go for New Year's Eve
One night, a dozen very different ways to spend it. Choose between the giant public show, the tradition you cannot get anywhere else, or a quiet midnight somewhere warm.
The straight answer
The best places to spend New Year's Eve are Sydney for the harbor fireworks, Edinburgh for Hogmanay, Rio de Janeiro for the beach party on Copacabana, Reykjavik for the bonfires, and New York for the Times Square ball drop.
The best places to spend New Year's Eve are the cities that turn it into their signature night: Sydney for the harbor fireworks, Edinburgh for Hogmanay, Rio de Janeiro for millions in white on Copacabana, Reykjavik for bonfires and neighborhood fireworks, and New York for the Times Square ball drop. For something calmer, Tokyo's temple bells and Vienna's New Year's waltzes are among the most memorable midnights anywhere.
New Year's Eve is a planning test. The headline events are ticketed or crowd-capped (London's Thames fireworks and Edinburgh's street party both require tickets), hotel minimum stays of three to five nights are common in Rio and Sydney, and Times Square viewing pens fill by mid afternoon with no restrooms and no re-entry. Book the key piece first, the ticket or the hotel room with a view, and build around it.
If you have flexibility, arrive a few days early and plan your return with care. The return flights on the first weekend of January are among the most crowded of the year, while flying on New Year's Day itself is often cheaper and calmer, and mid January is one of the cheapest weeks of the year for almost every destination on this list except the southern summer ones.
The world, ranked for New Year's Eve
Each pick opens its December page, with weather, crowds and what is on.
Book Sydney for New Year's Eve.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for December
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in SydneyOpens a hotel search for Sydney in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in SydneyWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in SydneyTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Sydney for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Closer to home
The US picks for this week, from a long weekend drive to a national park.
New York City
New York
Times Square for the ball drop, or the Central Park midnight run and fireworks for something easier. Hotels are at peak rates; book early.
Las Vegas
Nevada
The Strip closes to cars and fills with walkers, and fireworks launch from casino rooftops at midnight. Hotel rates are among the highest of the year.
New Orleans
Louisiana
Fireworks over the Mississippi River at the French Quarter, and college football bowl-game crowds around New Year's. Mild, highs near 62F (17C).
Nashville
Tennessee
A big free downtown concert and midnight countdown, plus live music in every bar on Broadway. Cold, so dress for standing outdoors.
Pasadena and the Rose Parade
California
Spend New Year's Eve camping on the parade route, a Pasadena tradition, then watch the Rose Parade on New Year's morning (it moves to January 2 when January 1 falls on a Sunday). Grandstand seats are sold in advance.
Hawaii
Hawaii
Fireworks over Waikiki and a warm midnight on the beach. Book early; it is peak season.
Key West
Florida
Duval Street's midnight drops, including a giant conch shell, and a warm outdoor party. Very crowded and hotels need to be booked early.
San Francisco
California
Fireworks over the Bay from the Embarcadero, with the Bay Bridge as a backdrop. Cool, highs near 57F (14C).
Skip this week
- Times Square with young kids. Viewing pens fill by mid afternoon, there are no public restrooms, and you cannot leave and return. Families do better at a neighborhood fireworks show.
- Rio without a hotel booked months ahead. Copacabana hotels often require multi-night New Year packages, and prices climb steeply by autumn.
- Europe's outdoor events without a backup plan. Edinburgh's Hogmanay and other outdoor events have been cancelled for wind and rain in some years. Have indoor plans and refundable bookings.
- Flying home on the first weekend of January. It is one of the busiest return windows of the year, with full flights and high fares. Fly home on New Year's Day itself or midweek after that weekend.
The booking playbook
- 01Secure the one thing that is scarce first: London's Thames fireworks tickets, Edinburgh's Street Party tickets, a harbor-view spot in Sydney, or a Copacabana hotel room.
- 02Book New Year's travel by late summer. Flights and hotels for the December 29 to January 2 window sell out and climb steeply in the fall.
- 03Expect multi-night minimums at hotels in Rio, Sydney, and New York.
- 04Plan transportation home after midnight. Public transit is usually extended in the big cities, but taxis and ride shares surge and are hard to find.
- 05Fly home on New Year's Day itself or midweek after the first weekend of January. Both are usually cheaper and calmer than the first Sunday of the year.
With kids in tow
- Early fireworks are a good choice with young kids: Sydney's 9pm family fireworks and many US cities' early shows let kids see fireworks before bed.
- Tokyo's New Year traditions are wonderful with kids: temple bells, shrine visits, and New Year's foods, with none of the Western party crowds.
- Homeschool families: January 2 to 10 is one of the cheapest, emptiest weeks of the year, perfect for travel after the holidays.
New Year's Eve, quick answers
Where is the best place in the world to spend New Year's Eve?
Sydney for the harbor fireworks, Edinburgh for Hogmanay, Rio for Copacabana, and New York for Times Square are the classics. Reykjavik and Tokyo are the best alternatives for something different.
Do you need tickets for New Year's Eve fireworks in London?
Yes. The official Thames fireworks viewing areas at the London Eye are ticketed, and tickets sell out quickly.
Is Times Square worth it on New Year's Eve?
It is once-in-a-lifetime for some people, but you need to arrive by mid afternoon, stand for hours with no restrooms, and you cannot leave and come back. Many visitors prefer fireworks in Central Park or Brooklyn.
Where is warm for New Year's Eve?
Sydney, Rio, Hawaii, Key West, Dubai, and Hong Kong are all warm or mild on New Year's Eve.
When should I book a New Year's Eve trip?
By late summer. The key tickets and hotel rooms sell out, and prices climb steeply after September.
What is New Year's Eve like in Japan?
Quiet and spiritual. Temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight and families visit shrines for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. Many businesses close for several days.
Other holiday weeks
Christmas Week
December
The most expensive, most crowded week of the travel year. Go somewhere Christmas is the whole point, or somewhere Christmas is not a thing at all.
Winter Break Ski Trips
December, January, February, March
Four holiday weeks, every family on the same lifts. Pick the resort by the snow and the calendar, not the brand name.
MLK Weekend
January
The first long weekend of the year lands in the dead of winter. Go chase sun, powder, or the history the holiday is named for.
Honeymoon Seasons
May, June, September, October
The right honeymoon depends less on where you want to go than on when your wedding is. Match the place to the week.
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