December 31, 2025 | 06:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than just choosing a countdown hotspot, the best places for New Year's festivities define how you wish to end the year and begin the next. While some chase fireworks and buzzing streets, others seek quiet retreats surrounded by nature and culture. Whether you are after rooftop parties, snowy escapes, or warm coastal nights, the right destination sets the tone for everything that comes after midnight.
List of the Top Places to Go for New Year's Celebrations
Once the clock winds down to the final moments of the year, sought-after destinations like Dubai, Bangkok, and New York turn into seasonal paradises you won’t want to miss. Read on for inspiration from Euronews and Conde Nast Traveler.
1. Dubai
Dubai takes New Year’s Eve to dazzling heights with skyline fireworks, laser shows, and spectacular displays around the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab. Within the opulent city, families and thrill-seekers alike can enjoy everything, from Global Village’s multi-time-zone fireworks to desert celebrations filled with live music, dune bashing, and midnight feasts.
2. New York
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in New York means immersing yourself in the legendary spirit of the city that never sleeps. While New York’s iconic Times Square Ball Drop remains the heart of New Year’s Eve, Brooklyn Bridge strolls and rooftop venues offer postcard-worthy views and lounges catering to every budget. Here, every cheer, firework, and rooftop toast blends into a celebration you’ll want to relive year after year.
3. Bangkok
With five days of countdown excitement, Bangkok easily ranks as a top destination for New Year festivities, offering nonstop parties from the riverfront to the rooftops. Countdown hubs like ICONSIAM, CentralWorld, and Khaosan Road pulse with music and lights as the city comes alive after sundown. Pair rooftop views with riverfront markets like Asiatique, and the celebrations feel limitless.
4. Sydney
Sydney remains one of the world’s earliest and most iconic places to welcome the New Year, lighting up the Harbour Bridge and Opera House with dazzling fireworks. On the last day of the year, popular free vantage points like Barangaroo Reserve and Darling Harbour draw eager crowds. Those willing to go deeper into the joy, cultural ceremonies, pylon projections, and illuminated boats are ready to enrich the celebrations with a uniquely local touch.
5. London
Thanks to fireworks over the Thames, citywide parties, and festive dining spots with sweeping views, London secures its place as one of the best places to go for New Year's celebrations. From immersive nights at the Natural History Museum to riverside cruises and classic pub gatherings, every affair finds its perfect setting. With each countdown echoing through the city’s historic streets and glittering skyline, London ensures the new year begins with rewarding flair.
6. Taipei
Taipei has swiftly established itself as one of the world’s most striking New Year destinations, with fireworks cascading down the bamboo-inspired Taipei 101 and live performances enlivening the squares around City Hall. As the tower glows and music fills the air, crowds gather to experience a once-in-a-year moment. Best of all, Daan Park hosts a midnight screening and collective “cry,” echoing a famed moment from the Taiwanese film Vive l’amour.
7. Prague
A picture-perfect European capital, Prague quietly earns its place among the world’s most memorable New Year’s Eve destinations. Celebrate aboard a Vltava River cruise with dinner and drinks, or book special NYE menus at Gallery Lounge and La Republica before heading to Cross Club for themed parties. Culture lovers can catch classical concerts, operas, and ballet shows, though Wenceslas Square can be crowded and chaotic, so stay alert.
8. Edinburgh
In Edinburgh, New Year’s Eve is an entire four-day festival, beginning with a torchlight procession on December 29 and the Night Afore concert on the 30th. More than 45,000 people join the street party on Princes Street before midnight fireworks light up Edinburgh Castle, followed by First Footin’ on January 1 to keep the festivities going into the new year.
As the final seconds of the year fade, choosing the best places to go for new year celebrations becomes more than a travel plan. Pro tip: pick a destination that sparks excitement, raise a glass to everything the year has given you, and step into the next with joy, curiosity, and a story worth retelling.
Read: 7 Hottest New Year's Eve Celebrations in NYC to Check Out
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