The holiday season is now in full swing, and before you know it, it will be the end of 2023, and you’ll be scrambling for where to go to celebrate New Year’s Eve. By then, the city will be fully booked, leaving you stuck choosing between crashing a random house party or another night of binge-watching The Real Housewives with your cats (which, frankly, sounds tempting).
Call me superstitious, but I firmly believe that the way you wrap up one year sets the tone for the next. So, how about we break the procrastination cycle and decide to take a last-minute trip for this year’s NYE? And if those plans include traveling for the holiday season, here is an itinerary for some of the best cities to ring in 2024.
London, England
Watching the fireworks show with Big Ben and the London Eye as your backdrop can feel like the only way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Book a room at the newly-opened Broadwick Soho, and take advantage of their NYE package, which includes a five-course dinner at their Dear Jackie restaurant, followed by an evening of live entertainment, Champagne, and panoramic views of the city. For the partygoers, London is world-famous for its nightlife—so keep the dance party going by heading to a nightclub that stays open until the wee hours.
Sydney, Australia
Escape the chill of the typical holiday season with a sun-soaked Aussie summer. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself Down Under for Christmas, why not extend your stay to experience one of the world’s grandest New Year’s celebrations: a six-hour light show at the Sydney Harbour? This year, the theme is “One Night: Many Ways to Celebrate,” and the event features AI-generated images and original music curated by Sydney-based artists 18YOMAN and Nooky. Rent an Airbnb with your pals (such as this stunning four-bedroom villa in Palm Beach), and, if you re not up for the entire six-hour NYE party, throw your own pre- or post-bash—complete with Aussie hors d’oeuvres, party favors, and, naturally, plenty of Champagne.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s buzziest New Year’s Eve parties usually take place in the city’s trendiest hotels, so book a stay at Hotel Nikko or the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero to take advantage of a lively ambiance. Start your night off with a dinner in Chinatown, perhaps at Michelin-starred Mister Jiu’s for their NYE tasting menu, or family-run restaurant House of Nanking. Don’t miss the midnight fireworks show overlooking the Bay Bridge and the Ferry Building. Thanks to its hills, San Francisco has plenty of high-elevation vantage points where you can view the fireworks; for a panoramic view, book a rooftop table, or take a New Year’s Eve cruise. If you have a romantic evening planned, there’s also nothing better than sharing a midnight kiss on the Embarcadero waterfront, with the fireworks display as your backdrop.
Paris, France
Le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre beckons, and in Paris, that means a feast to go with your Champagne. Brasserie favorites here include Girafe, Liza, and Ferdi, but really, it’s hard to go wrong in the City of Lights. (Kim Kardashian swears by Ferdi’s burger, but don’t leave the restaurant without trying the churros.) After dinner, watch the fireworks from the steps of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica with your amour, or head to the Arc de Triomphe, where the Champs-Elysées hosts an annual sound and light show. Elevate your Parisian experience with a room at the dreamy Château Voltaire, or channel the chicness of Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel at the iconic Ritz Paris.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio is, no question, a bucket-list-worthy NYE celebration. Don a tropical all-white outfit, and spend New Year’s Eve on Copacabana Beach. In Brazil, white is believed to bring good luck for the new year. Arrive fashionably early to secure a spot before the countdown—believe me, it gets crowded. When the clock strikes midnight, revelers leap into the ocean to pay tribute to Yemanjá, the goddess of the seas, offering white flowers and gifts; it’s also tradition to leap over seven waves, each jump accompanied by a wish for the future.
New York City, U.S.
Sure, it s a cliché, but it’s a NYC tradition. Plus, have you even lived if you haven’t seen the ball drop in Times Square? Brave souls stand outside for hours in the cold—and sometimes, in rain or snow—just to be at the heart of the action come midnight. Personally, this is a celebration I prefer to experience live on TV, but there is an argument to be made for trekking to Times Square once in your life, if only for the bragging rights.
Edinburgh, Scotland
In Scotland, there may be no more important holiday than New Year’s, known here as Hogmanay (pronounced hog-muh-nay). A family-friendly outdoor extravaganza that includes New Year’s Eve fireworks, live music, and street parties, a Hogmanay celebration is all about spontaneous fun. But it does benefit from a little planning: the Hogmanay Street Party and Torchlight Procession both require tickets, for example. For a winter wonderland-esque getaway, book a room at the luxe Gleneagles Townhouse or The Witchery by the Castle, and dine at The Secret Garden.