Thinking of taking a trip for NYE? From Vegas to Barcelona to Cape Town, ringing in 2017 couldn’t be more fabulous than at these destinations!
Las Vegas, U.S.
If you want to party like it’s 1999 without having to stand out in the cold and snow for hours on end (a la New York’s Times Square), try heading to Vegas. It’ll still be winter, but the clubs, the parties and the fireworks exploding all over the Strip will make it worth your while. Don’t forget the NYE music gigs, too! This year includes concerts by Bruno Mars, Sting and Elton John.
Barcelona, Spain
Where better to spend NYE than in one of the most vibrant cities in Spain! You can either grab a ticketed seat at a bar, restaurant or club, or join the masses and take to the streets around La Rambla and Plaza Catalunya. The beach and the marina are the best spots to catch the fireworks. Make sure you follow the tradition of eating 12 grapes before midnight. If you do, you’ll have good luck for the coming year.
Fiji
Want something a little more relaxing and close to home? Whisk yourself away to Fiji! Most hotels and resorts will hold beachside events involving delicious feasts, live music and traditional Fijian dancing and shows. Many are family-friendly or offer specially supervised celebrations for kids.
Hong Kong
If it’s a spectacular NYE light show you’re after, get yourself to Hong Kong for the New Year. You can take in the daily Symphony of Lights show, which stems from over 40 buildings on either side of Victoria Harbour at around 8 o’clock and then stick around for the mind-blowing harbourside fireworks. For fun afterwards, head to the nightlife areas or Tsim Sha Tsui or Lan Kwai Fong.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
These days, you can easily grab a flight to Buenos Aires via Auckland and it’s a fun yet relaxed spot to welcome 2017. Situate yourself in the middle of town to make the most of the festivities and ensure you head to one of the city’s many rooftop bars before midnight for the best fireworks vistas. If you want to feast your time away, keep in mind that many restaurants (and shops, too) close for the night, so seek out something offering a special NYE dinner. If you want to dance all night, Palermo, the city’s nightlife area, will be your best bet.
Cape Town, South Africa
The stunning coastal city of Cape Town offers anything and everything you could imagine for New Year’s Eve. There’ll be restaurants and bars, dances and shows, children’s zones, live musicians, parade floats, and of course, fireworks. Moving around the city is the best way to see a little bit of everything. If you’d prefer a quieter celebration, try the picnic concert at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden or the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra performance at Nederburg Wine Farm.
Edinburgh, Scotland
With magnificent Edinburgh Castle setting the scene, it’s hard to go past New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh. The Scots refer to it as Hogmanay, the last day of the year. Live music, torch carrying down the street, citywide singing of Auld Lang Syne and fireworks make this 3-day celebration a load of fun. On New Year’s Day, the party continues with shows, a dogsledding comp and the Loony Dook