Let’s face it. How long has it been since
you got away from home over New Year’s? How long since you left home, packed
your bags and headed to an exotic locale to celebrate that one unique day which
comes once a year? 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? This year, do something
different. Try and take in the New Year from a different city, with different
people. Say bye to your local watering hole and the same old beer and the same
old distant TV. Head to one of these exotic locales and you’ll never ever
celebrate NYE at home again!
1. Valparaiso, Chile
How about spending NYE at exotic, hilly Valparaiso
where the hill slopes down dramatically to the Pacific Ocean? The city’s narrow
streets and staircases light up during the New Year’s Eve fireworks. All night
people are out, dancing, drinking and celebrating to the nines as only Latin
people can.
2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro pulls out all stops during
NYE. Whether you celebrate on a beach, or join the NYE parade, it’s fun all the
way. For 30 full minutes, Rio is lit up with an impressive fireworks display
that’s worth your ticket price. At night, join the locals to make an offering
to Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé Goddess of the sea.
3. Dubai, UAE
There’s no place like Dubai over NYE. The
city’s top Michelin-starred chefs put on enviable dinners at hotels such as the
At.Mosphere. Fireworks and laser shows light up the skies from the Burj
Khalifa, the Burj al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and other places. There’s partying
and celebrating all over the city all night long. Have a New Year party in Dubai
this year and you’ll be back every year.
4. South Beach, Miami Florida
In South Beach, the whole of Ocean Drive
transforms into a mile-long party. Restaurants, bars and party avenues line one
side, while the ocean roars on the other. Streamers and balloons festoon every
corner, and at night, the incredible fireworks spectacular grabs all eyeballs.
5. Paris, France
The City of Lights is one great party on
NYE. Watch the fireworks spectacular over the Arc de Triomphe with thousands of
others celebrating NY. The bridges over the River Seine are lit with lovely
lamps, the lights playing beautifully on the water. It’s an exhilarating city,
full of romance and beautiful sights.
6. Edinburgh, Scotland
NY’s celebrations, also known as Hogmanay
in Scotland, lasts for three full days, not one day. On December 30th,
there’s a Torchlight Procession where people line up on the streets holding lit
flame torches, wearing fantastic costumes. Then on NYE there’s a massive street
parade and various Ceilidhs (musical fests) held apart from fireworks going off
every hour from 9 P.M.
7. Bratislava, Slovakia
On NYE, Bratislava city center turns into a
party zone, with epic parties in Hviezdoslavovo Square and Main Square.
Vehicles are banned, and bars and restaurants overflow with people drinking and
celebrating all night. Fireworks explode over the Danube River at midnight.
There’s additional noise from the Rehtacka, which are wooden noisemakers used
to chase away the previous year’s bad vibes.
8. Berlin, Germany
Televised versions of Berlin’s NY don’t do
justice to the real celebrations. While the Party Mile Silvester celebration
near Brandenburg Gate draws thousands along with some prime rock bands, there’s
also a pancake race where runners flip pancakes as they run. There’s also the annual
free 4K New Year’s Day race, where people burn off the drinks they imbibe
overnight. The party goes on till noon on NY.
9. The Bahamas
Join the boisterous Junkanoo parades on the
streets of Alice Town, Nassau, Freeport and other cities. It’s like the Mardi
Gras this time of year. Outrageous costumes rule, as the people gyrate to Soca
music and dance on the streets. There are innumerable beach parties, so be sure
to check out a few. Fireworks go off all over the islands at midnight.
10. Cape Town, South Africa
Atop Cape Town’s Table Mountain, you can
party away on NYE, enjoying the fireworks as they explode over the water below.
Continue with the revelry into New Year’s Day, when the Cape Town Minstrel
Carnival Parade takes place. Join over 10,000 people wearing painted faces dancing
their way through Cape Town to welcome 2019.
11. Koh Phangan Island,
Thailand
On NYE, this breathtakingly beautiful
island with its emerald waters and thick palm trees comes alive with the most
intense New Year’s party ever. It’s a daylong celebration from sunset on NYE
till afternoon on NY. Head over to Haad Rin Beach where you’ll have the most
fun. Do some bar hopping and try your hand at fire limbo, fire rope jumping and
other fire activities. The fireworks at midnight on NYE over the waters is
worth visiting this island.
12. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik enjoys sunlight in the winter
only for a few hours during the day. You’ll find fires light in every park,
home and public place for warmth. New Year’s festivities begin a little before
4pm; there are wild bonfire parties meant to burn away negative vibes. There
are public and private fireworks shows everywhere. There’s the massive national
fireworks spectacular exploding in mega colours over the city at midnight. If
you get to see the Northern Lights as well, all the better!
Conclusion
Do visit one of these 12 destinations over
NY and let us know your experience! We’d love to hear about the wild parties,
the costumes, the drinking and more than anything, the fireworks spectaculars
and what you liked best. Here’s wishing you a fabulous New Year and an even
more fabulous year ahead!
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