The 7 Best Places To Celebrate New Years In The World - TRIPPING base64Hash

The 7 Best Places To Celebrate New Years In The World

Want to go off the beaten path this New Years and explore something new? If you're the type of person that has the same routine every new year, these world destinations are the perfect places to mix it up. Besides, the way you start your new year helps determine how you spend your new year - so if you're looking for more inspiration and discovery in your life, these places are for you!

Head To These 7 Global Destinations To Celebrate New Years

Photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo/Flickr

1. Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil

On Copacabana Beach, one of the wildest and biggest New Year’s party takes place every year. On December 31st, over 2 million Rio natives dressed in white head to the 2.5-mile beach. The celebration is officially called Reveillon, and it mixes African rituals and local culture while paying homage to the goddess of the sea, Lemanja. Brazilians are known for their ability to party well into the night and for multiple days in a row, but this celebration is a one-night only event and the locals take it to heart. There are fireworks, people throwing flowers into the ocean as a symbol of renewal, and much more to see. This really is one of Rio’s biggest parties, so don’t miss out.

Photo: Bill Larkin/Flickr

2. Times Square, New York

As traditional as it may sound, Times Square is indeed one of the best places to party on New Year’s. The live ball drop is an iconic American celebration of the New Year, and what better way to experience it than to be in the heart of the action? At 6pm, the famous ball is lit and raised to the top of One Times Square and crews begin to hand out party favors including hats, glasses, and noisemakers. Viewers await the stroke of midnight while they enjoy New Year’s Eve Rocking performances starting at around 8pm. The performances usually have some big name artists, like Taylor Swift and Aerosmith. Just sixty seconds before the big moment, the ball begins to descend. At midnight, the ball’s lights are turned off and the number of the new year (i.e. 2017) is illuminated above Times Square. Confetti is released and people continue their celebration into the New Year.

Photo: Steve McCaig/Flickr

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

A massive, 3-day street party takes place every in Edinburgh, making it one of the best places to ring in the New Year. From December 30th to January 1st, the city goes all-out and celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of the next with torch lighting, a plunge into the freezing Ricer Forth, and plenty of live music to entertain party-goers. Fireworks are also a fixture in this celebrations, and traditional Scottish food and drink are staples at the festival every year. There are so many events taking place that each is ticketed separately, so make sure you grab tickets to the events you want to see.

Photo: Sam Wolff/Flickr

4. Venice, Italy

In Piazza San Marco in Venice, locals and visitors alike gather to ring in the New Year. With a breathtaking waterfront as your backdrop, the celebration in Piazza San Marco will have you wishing you had someone to share it with. If you aren’t with a loved one, have no fear; tons of party-goers take part in the midnight kiss here. Kissing among strangers is a common sight in the piazza. This New Year’s party is also BYOB, so be sure to bring something to sip on throughout the night. Enjoy the live music, fireworks display, and, of course, a midnight kiss in Venice and your New Year is bound to start off on the right foot.

Photo: Anna Gudmundsdottir/Flickr

5. Reykjavik, Iceland

Anyone’s who’s been lucky enough to have experiences New Year’s in Reykjavik knows that the fireworks show is incredible. What’s even more astonishing is that the city has no official fireworks displays; the whole night is put on by private residents! Over 500 tons of fireworks are set off every year leading up to midnight and beyond it. The clear sky, unpolluted by city lights, makes for a gorgeous backdrop for the fireworks shine. The bars and pubs continue to stay open throughout the evening, as Icelanders welcome the New Year in with libations galore.

Photo: Richard Rydge/Flickr

6. Sydney, Australia

Be one of the first in the world to see the new year begin when you spend your holiday in Sydney. In case you might have forgotten, it will be right in the middle of summer there! So if you're fighting the winter blues and need some sunshine in your life, this is the perfect place for you. The whole city gets really into New Years, and you can watch fireworks over Sydney Harbour while sipping champagne in the boat that you and your friends hired. Chances are that by the end of the night, you will make even more friends with locals.

Photo: Nattachai Noogure/Flickr

7. Bangkok, Thailand

If you're hoping to get a truly realistic experience of Thailand, coming to Bangkok for New Years is probably not the best choice. However, if you're looking forward to meeting people from all over the world and have the time of your life, this is the place to go. You can combine the fun atmosphere of the city (think great nightlife and warm weather) with relaxing activities like visiting the spa and spending time by the pool, all for a very affordable price. Take some time to start off the new year with a bang by visiting other parts of the country after the festivities are over.