Fireworks, music, parties, light shows… Here are the cities that know how to celebrate New Year in style. Choose one of these cities as your destination to celebrate the New Year 2017 and you will never forget it!
Prague
To celebrate the New Year in one of Europe’s most beautiful city centers is, of course, a special experience. Bars and restaurants stay open all night so it is easy to stroll around and drop in here and there. As the clock approaches midnight, it becomes increasingly crowded and at midnight the city explodes in fireworks and light shows. If you want to be right where the magic happens you should remain close to the Charles Bridge in the Old Town. The best views are from the Prague Castle.
New York
The most famous and popular tradition in New York during the New Year celebration is watching the big shiny crystal ball that slides down the mast above the Times Square. This has been happening at midnight at every New Year’s night for more than 100 years. This year, over a million people will come to Times Square where besides the sliding globe, you can see fireworks and feel confetti falling over you. If you find it too crowded at Time Square there will be celebration at several other locations in New York, for example, in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. As a bonus, you can take a romantic walk across the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge after the fireworks.
London
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in London is best by staying close to the London Eye, this is where the magic happens. Music, ten-minute fireworks and crowd singing the traditional New Year’s song Auld Lang Syne. Since “only” 180,000 people can fit in the party area, it soon becomes full. So either you have to be there in time, or find another place to experience the New Year party. One tip is the river Thames, on the west side, between Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge, but even here you have to be in time.
Rio de Janeiro
New Year in Rio de Janeiro brings together more than two million people to Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to party together. Music and entertainment are offered, and all the restaurants and bars at the beaches are open and decorated with lights. Powerful and impressive 30-minute fireworks from barges in the water start at midnight.
Sydney
Be ready for New Year’s gunpowder if you are celebrating in Sydney. The party begins at one o’clock in the afternoon when thousands of people gather at Sydney Harbour to enjoy the festivities. Entertainment, music concerts and a parade of lights with over 50 decorated ships are always on schedule. Usually two large fireworks are organized, a family fireworks at 9 pm and one at midnight.
Berlin
Over a million people go to Berlin on New Year’s Eve. The reason is that the German New Year’s party “Silvester” is one of the largest in the world. If you ask city residents, the biggest celebration is at the Brandenburg Gate and, at midnight, the Straße des 17. From the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column a two kilometer long and 80 000 square meters large party room is located with catering tents, DJs, concert stages, live music and lots of people. The fireworks at midnight on December 31st are Europe’s best.
Las Vegas
Neon lights and signs in Las Vegas get a fierce competition by the huge fireworks at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Before the new year enters there is a big street party on the city’s most famous street, The Strip. The street is closed for the traffic and hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating with champagne while the shows go on as usual at the hotels and theaters around.
