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New Year · 31 December

Where to spend New Year’s Eve

The chimes in the Puerta del Sol, fireworks over the Thames, the ball drop in Times Square or Copacabana’s Réveillon dressed in white. The best cities to see out the year and what each one offers.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

In Spain

In Europe

  • London
    United Kingdom

    London

    The London Eye fireworks over the Thames, among the most famous in the world. You need a ticket for the riverside viewing areas.

    What to see in London
  • Edinburgh
    United Kingdom

    Edinburgh

    Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year: several days of celebrations, a torchlight procession and fireworks over the castle.

    What to see in Edinburgh
  • Berlin
    Germany

    Berlin

    A huge open-air party in front of the Brandenburg Gate and fireworks all over the city.

    What to see in Berlin
  • Vienna
    Austria

    Vienna

    The Silvesterpfad, a trail of parties through the centre, and on 1 January, the Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert.

    What to see in Vienna
  • Paris
    France

    Paris

    Projections on the Arc de Triomphe and a buzz along the Champs-Élysées.

    What to see in Paris
  • Rome
    Italy

    Rome

    Concerts and fireworks in squares and by monuments, and the first day of the year in a calm city.

    What to see in Rome
  • Amsterdam
    Netherlands

    Amsterdam

    Fireworks in every neighbourhood and along the canals, and oliebollen, the New Year doughnuts.

    What to see in Amsterdam
  • Madeira
    Portugal

    Madeira

    The Funchal fireworks over the bay once held the Guinness world record for the largest fireworks display.

    What to see in Madeira
  • Reykjavik
    Iceland

    Reykjavik

    Neighbourhood bonfires and a whole city setting off fireworks, with Hallgrímskirkja church as a lookout.

    What to see in Reykjavik

Further afield

  • New York
    United States

    New York

    The ball drop in Times Square at midnight, with a million people in the streets.

    What to see in New York
  • Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil

    Rio de Janeiro

    Copacabana’s Réveillon: millions of people dressed in white, offerings to the sea and fireworks over the beach.

    What to see in Rio de Janeiro
  • Sydney
    Australia

    Sydney

    The harbour fireworks, with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, among the first in the world to welcome the new year.

    What to see in Sydney

Frequently asked questions

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Europe?

London for its fireworks over the Thames, Edinburgh for Hogmanay, Berlin for the party at the Brandenburg Gate, Vienna for its atmosphere and the New Year’s Concert, and Madeira for its fireworks over the bay.

Do you need a ticket for the London fireworks?

Yes: since 2014 you need a ticket for the areas along the Thames from which you can see the fireworks. They sell out quickly.

What is Hogmanay?

The Scottish New Year, with several days of celebrations in Edinburgh: a torchlight procession, street concerts and fireworks over the castle.

Why do people wear white in Rio on New Year’s Eve?

It’s the tradition of Copacabana’s Réveillon: white brings peace and luck for the new year, and many people jump seven waves or leave flowers in the sea.

Where to see in the New Year somewhere warm in Spain?

In the Canary Islands: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife have street parties and fireworks by the sea, with spring-like temperatures.

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Reviewed 19 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Cover photo: Greenpark79 (CC BY 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.