New Year's Eve is a unique time of year no matter where you find yourself celebrating the midnight hour. It's hard to beat a small, intimate gathering of friends and family for Champagne, sparklers and party hats, but then again, maybe it's not so hard to beat.
Las Vegas Celebrate the New Year in the entertainment capital of the world. The entire strip, from Mandalay Bay to Stratosphere, closes to traffic to make way for tens of thousands of partiers. Head to Fremont Street for New Year's Eve America's Party, a nine-hour party with multiple stages, featuring Papa Roach, Blues Traveler and more great entertainment. Fireworks fill the sky over Las Vegas while clubs and casinos offer their own star-studded parties like hip-hop legend Snoop Dog's Roaring "20s-style Snoopdelic Caberet at TAO Nightclub and Hyde Bellagio's celebration, featuring guest DJ Paris Hilton.
Sydney Thrilling air shows, fire tug water displays, firework barges, the Harbor of Light Parade and spectacular lighting effects from Sydney Harbor Bridge, all leave little doubt as to why Sydney's 2014 NYE celebration is themed "Inspire." The hottest seats in town are at the Sydney Opera House where you'll take in pre-show dinner, enjoy one of two performances and then conclude the year with the SOH Midnight Party. If the estimated 1.6 million visitors to Sydney Harbor is not your style, view the show from the golden sands of iconic Bondi Beach, or take the family to Manly for swimming, dining and sightseeing without all the hassle.
London Across the pond, Big Ben "bongs" in the New Year as fireworks paint the sky over the river Thames and the London Eye. The best view in town is from The Shard, Western Europe's tallest building, offering 360-degree city view and hours of partying. London's long list of ice rinks, like Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, are a New Year's Eve must before the parties begin. Then start 2015 with some culture by touring London's finest museums, galleries and attractions, including the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Kensington Palace, all open for business on Jan. 1.
New York City New Year's Eve is synonymous with New York City. No matter where you party, you've seen the ball drop in Times Square…on television. So why not go there, join the nearly 1 million other partygoers and see it for real? Not your style? Head to Brooklyn and spend the evening in Prospect Park for hot cocoa, fireworks and holiday fun. Then round out the celebrations, as an observer or a participant, with the Coney Island Polar Bear Club's Annual New Year's Day Swim. Or go to St. Mark's in-the-Bowery for the Annual New Year's Day Marathon Reading Benefit where 140 of the city's best poets and performers recite their work.
Edinburgh Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party is one of the world's largest outdoor celebrations and a New Year's gathering you simply cannot miss. The towering walls of Edinburgh Castle oversee this Scottish spectacle of live music, numerous fireworks displays and unforgettable festivities attended by visitors from more than 60 countries. Join thousands for the Torchlight Procession, alongside a host of Vikings, drums and bagpipes, through the city center to the explosive grand finale. Witness traditional Scottish music, drink and food as you dance the year away at The Keilidh. Or trade the busy city center for the tranquility of the Candlelit Concert and St. Giles" Cathedral Choir.
Paris Whether you're cruising down the Seine at sunset, joining the street party crowds on the Champs-Elysees, or savoring dinner and a show at the Moulin Rouge, Paris for New Year's Eve is a no-brainer. Bonne année et bonne santé is French for good year and good health, and good health begins with traditional oysters and Champagne along the Rue de Montparnasse. From there, it's off to the Trocadéro gardens for a romantic view of the Eiffel Tower light show. There are typically no municipal firework displays in Paris, but frequent and often random private shows fill the streets and skyline throughout the night.
Hawaii Hau"oli Makahiki Hou is Happy New Year in Hawaiian, but it also means warm weather and tropical scenery no matter what island you choose. The biggest NYE party happens at Kaka"ako Waterfront Park and comes loaded with carnival rides, food trucks, live music and hourly firework shows. Aloha Tower Marketplace's famous Block Party in Honolulu offers eight stages and more than 50 performers including musicians, magicians and dance crews. For the best fireworks displays on Oahu, kick back along Waikiki Beach; on the big island, head to Kaunaoa Bay beachfront; and for quiet unobstructed views, set sail on one of many New Year's Eve cruises.
Reykjavik To access the mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs of Iceland, start in Reykjavik. See the ice fields and sand deserts. Ride through the countryside on horseback and witness waterfalls and geysers. Then hurry back to Iceland's capital city in time to celebrate with people who know how to party. In Reykjavik, New Year's Eve is full of tradition that begins with great food and crescendos with bonfires and what can only be described as a barrage of fireworks throughout the city. Afterwards, the nightlife and pubs celebrate long into the morning hours. And if you're lucky, you might even witness the majestic northern lights.
Barcelona Barcelona is party central for a Catalonia la nochevieja. Go ahead and ring in the New Year with the bustling crowds at Placa de Catalunya in the heart of the city, stroll the masses at La Rambla, or witness the lights and music of the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, but when the clock strikes 12, follow the locals and make for the clubs. Razzmatazz offers five different music rooms; Harlem Jazz Club is the place for tropical rhythms; and the W Hotel is a skyscraper on the beach. Meanwhile, as you make your way between clubs, endless firework displays will light the city and dance over the Mediterranean.
Rio de Janeiro New Year's Eve in Rio attracts nearly 2 million visitors, and most can be found at Copacabana Beach awaiting the midnight display of offshore fireworks. New Year's Eve is midsummer in Brazil, so rather than sweat the night away in a club, take the party to the streets. Tons of street dances and parties fill the city, while beachside events and open-air concerts color the night. If you must party indoors, join the luxurious festivities of Copacabana Palace. The next morning, enjoy a traditional Brazilian first breakfast of lentil soup at Ipanema Beach before you nap the day away to the sound of breaking waves.
