Are you looking for exciting New Year’s Eve events in breathtaking destinations all around the world? Then we have 5 recommendations for you! Sydney, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Las Vegas all offer great parties you mustn’t miss. Which is the best for you? Find it out in this article!

5 Best New Year’s Eve Destinations and Events

You may have your New Year’s resolutions ready, but do you know where to celebrate the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025? We’ve selected some of the best New Year’s Eve locations in the world, each thrilling with parties and traditions. Let’s look at them now!

Sydney

What’s Sydney mostly known for? Its iconic landmarks, such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera. Why does it matter? Because these are the places where the fireworks are set during New Year’s Eve!

Sydney is a great New Year’s Eve destination as it includes both traditional celebrations, such as outdoor concerts and fireworks, along with some local ones. The event in the Sydney Harbor starts at 7.30 p.m., featuring a Smoking Ceremony organized by the Tribal Warrior Association and many other smaller happenings prepared based on aboriginal traditions. You just have to see them with your own eyes!

Rome, Italy

Rome is undoubtedly one of the most iconic European cities, offering a wild mix of attractions. It is featured on global street art maps, respected for its ancient Roman architecture, and known as one of the most lively cities in Europe. It’s also one of the best New Year’s Eve destinations. Why?

  • Street parties take place on almost every piazza, allowing you to enjoy New Year’s Eve with the locals.
  • There’s a great New Year’s Eve event in the Circus Maximus, featuring multiple concerts and gorgeous fireworks.
  • Italy is known for cenone—a special New Year’s Eve menu consisting of 13 dishes, most of which include seafood. You can get it in almost every restaurant!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is known for its amazing parties at any time of the year, so when New Year’s Eve comes around, it gets wild there. The best New Year’s Eve events are undoubtedly on Copacabana Beach, known for lots of fireworks, dancing, costumes, and fancy cocktails.

If you’re looking for interesting traditions, you’ll also find it here. After the countdown, people in Copacabana jump seven waves, making seven wishes, one for each jump. And if it gets too wild for your liking, you can always book a table at a nearby restaurant with a sea view and enjoy the fun from a distance!

Tokyo

Tokyo is a special city when it comes to New Year’s Eve—you don’t want to visit it for a single event but rather for its almost week-long celebrations.

The New Year’s madness starts as early as December 29, with the celebrations typically ending on January 4. Some of the places you need to visit include:

  • Shibuya,
  • Asakusa,
  • Akihabara,
  • Sensō-ji Temple,
  • Shozoku Inari Jinja Shrine.

Tokyo is also a great city to indulge in local cuisine. Need recommendations? Consult your fellow food lovers and see the Tokyo Foodie Map!

Las Vegas

Finally, there is Las Vegas. Though this city might be a bit overrated in general, you don’t want to miss its New Year’s Eve events! The iconic Strip is filled with people partying, and the city is known for one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the US. Plus, other attractions include:

  • big-name concerts,
  • celebrity-hosted parties,
  • excellent restaurants.

The Takeaway

The above are, in our opinion, the 5 best New Year’s Eve destinations around the world. If you want to learn more about these cities, explore the available maps in our social mapping app—YouMap. We’ve also created a special map of these five destinations and all the attractions just for you—it’ll make it much easier to plan your trip!