So you’re tired of the NYC scene for your New Year’s Eve celebration? We get it. You’ve seen Times Square, you’ve checked out all of the local bars and you’re ready to venture outwards. Well, you’re in luck.
We’ve compiled a list of the cities with the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world. But don’t get too mad at us New Yorkers, the Big Apple will always be in our hearts.
Best Cities that Throw the Biggest NYE Celebrations
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Miami
Every night in Miami is a party, so it should be no surprise that, when it comes to New Year’s Eve, Miami is going to be one of the best places to be. From South Beach to Coconut Grove, the entire city is filled with fluorescent lights, tons of drinking and, as far as we are concerned, a really damn good time. Did we mention that, come the next day, you’ll still probably be able to get yourself a decent tan? Yeah, it’s that warm there in December.
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Nassau
The amount of street parades put on by the locals in this island paradise is something that you will not usually find in places with such a small population. But, hey, island living is good and these people know how to do New Year’s Eve right. Bonus: Christmas cruises through this area tend to be a pretty good deal…
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San Francisco
Californians are famous for their amazing parties… Well, sometimes. But when it comes to New Year’s Eve, you’d be hard pressed to beat downtown San Francisco. With an endless line of bars, pubs and happy Giants fans, this place will be a spectacle for the ages.
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Edinburgh
Odd fact about Edinburgh: they actually have a 4-day long celebration for New Year’s called Hogmanay. Street parties, concerts, torches… If it’s weirdly Medieval and celebratory, then this Scottish city will have it for your enjoyment. And, why, you ask, do they party so hard here? Well, one of their countrymen wrote “Auld Lang Syne.” That’s a good enough reason for us!
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Sydney
This one might actually beat New York at its own game… Don’t call us blasphemous! Sydney is the first major city to ring in the New Year and it has a waterfront firework show where more than a million people show up to party, drink and get crazy.
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Las Vegas
Concerts, shows, parties, booze and crazy clubs… Okay, that’s a normal day in Vegas, but now imagine that same scenario multiplied by 11. Seven different sets of fireworks are ignited on the strip at the strike of midnight… That’s actually probably a really big fire hazard.
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New Orleans
Bourbon Street didn’t get its name for not having lots of establishments that serve alcohol. The best part about New Orleans during New Year’s is that there are tons of other like-minded individuals frequenting the city for the 2nd biggest celebration of the year (sorry, Mardi Gras still rules this place). So if you’re a little shy, let the friendly people of this fine city show you the way to self-expression!
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Niagra Falls
Okay, so we know that the thought of going to Canada in the dead of winter is probably not the most appealing idea, but there is no other place where you can get the party of the year being celebrated above one of the world’s coolest natural attractions. These crazy Canucks fire off more than 2,000 pounds of fireworks and put up a light show that uses more than 3 million lights. Not too shabby!
