Top five places to celebrate New Year’s around the world
It’s coming up to that time of the year again - saying goodbye to one year and welcoming in the next with style. If you’re travelling this year, then why not take this opportunity to head to some of the world’s best spots to celebrate? Volunteering in South America? Start making your way to Brazil for some serious partying. Working in Australia? Head to Sydney for one of the best fireworks displays you’ll ever see. Backpacking through Asia? Go to Koh Phangan, renowned for being Thailand’s party island. Au-pairing in America? Head for New York’s iconic Time’s Square celebrations. Or if you’re stuck at home waiting to start your gap year then why not take a short break to Edinburgh?
Sydney Harbour
Sydney is the place we all watch with envy on our TV screens each year, the city that celebrates first. So, this year why not be the envy of everyone else and head to watch one of the world’s most impressive fireworks displays. What could be more magical than watching the fireworks over the Sydney Opera House or Harbour Bridge? Get yourself to one of the city’s beautiful vantage points to watch the festivities. Sydney even has its own New Year’s website dedicated to showing you where the best spots on the harbour are.
Time’s Square, New York
The celebrations at New York’s Times Square have to be some of the world’s most iconic New Year’s parties, the ones that we’ve seen a thousand times in movies and on TV. This year experience the anticipation and dazzling lights with over a million others at Time’s Square and watch the famous New Year’s Eve ball descend from the flag pole at midnight, followed by a torrent of fireworks.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s legendary New Year’s celebration, Hogmanay is not one to be missed, so don’t worry if you’re not going anywhere exotic this year. What’s more, the city’s festivities don’t just last for one night; they begin on 30 December and don’t finish until the evening of the 1 January! Start by watching the Torchlight Procession through the town culminating in a fireworks display on the 30th, then join the UK’s biggest street party on the 31st with live stages set up all over the city. On the 1st get over your hangover by taking part in the Loony Dook, a communal splash in the ice cold River Forth to raise money for charity.
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
If you’re looking for an exotic city to celebrate New Year’s that really knows how to party, then you couldn’t do much better than Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. There’s no wrapping up in the three layers and stamping your feet until the fireworks begin here - put on your summer dress or shorts and t-shirts (but remember, they must be white) and head for the beach. Watch the amazing fireworks displays over the water at midnight, splash champagne into the sky, toss flowers into the sea and party like you’ve never partied before.
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Experience the ultimate Full Moon Party on this idyllic Thai island by celebrating on New Year’s Eve. This double celebration is the definitive beach party, it’s exotic, it’s heady and it’s crazy. This one’s not for the fainthearted. The night club on the sand is certainly one way to see in the New Year. Have fun, but remember to stay safe and you’ll have a New Year’s that you’ll never forget.
