Where to Ring in the New Year
How is the New Year celebrated around the world? Fireworks, cannons, concerts, raves on the beach, carnivals, waltzes, dips in the sea—there are a thousand and one ways to wish each other a happy new year. From Sydney to New York, Berlin to Vietnam or Rio de Janeiro, take a look at some of the world’s hottest places to be on New Year’s Eve.
Sydney
A Shower of Light
A million people in the streets, exceptional fireworks, and a mega rave the next day—as the first big city to ring in the new year, Sydney does things big. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. with a cannon shot, and the fireworks that go up at midnight over the bay are the most spectacular in the world. The explosion of lights and colors has traditionally taken place on Circular Quay, close to the iconic Sydney Opera House. And all that’s just a warm- up to a night of partying (here, it’s summer) at all the clubs, bars, and beaches
in the city. Come sunrise, the party isn’t over yet! A big rave is held on January 1, Field Day, from noon to 11 p.m. In all, Sydney offers nearly thirty- four hours of nonstop partying. A couple tips: admire the fireworks from a boat and book your hotel well in advance if you want to participate in the world’s most trendy New Year.
Berlin
More than a Mile of Street Parties
The heart of the city and symbol of the German capital, the Brandenburg Gate that opens on the famous street Unter den Linden, has always been the gathering place for Berliners. The New Year festivities (Silvester) have been held since 1995 in this place that is full of history, symbolism, and emotions. Nearly a million people gather along the Strasse des 17 Juni. This long avenue crosses the woods of the Tiergarten, connecting the Brandenburg Gate to the Siegessaüle (Victory Column). Over a length of 1.2 miles (2 km), three stages are set up, as well as several giant screens and a hundred places to eat. The evening is lit up by laser shows, musical performances, and DJ sets. It peaks at midnight with fireworks, whileBerliners clink in the New Year, toasting one another with Sekt (the local sparkling wine). Although the weather is often arctic in Berlin
on December 31, the atmosphere is warm— this is one of the biggest street parties in
Europe. Once the outdoor celebrations are over, you can take in Berlin’s thrilling nightlife, especially in the Prenzlauerberg and Kreuzberg districts, famous for their bars. For the techno scene, head east to the Friedrichshain side. Don’t forget to flip
through the city magazines beforehand to get the most up- to- date nightlife news, because the best parties are often nomadic! Two of the best are Zitty and Tip.
Vienna
Imperial
Music lovers, head to Vienna for New Year’s! Two traditional events mark the celebrations. The Emperor’s Ball (Kaiserball) will delight history buffs and fans of costume dramas—as long as they’re willing to pay the €150 ticket price. This elite ball
takes place in the ballroom of the Hofburg: Polish, waltz, quadrille, operetta. Tuxedos and ball gowns are required. More accessible, the “New Year’s Day Trail” (Silvesterpfad) is open to all in the historic center of the city. Numerous stands are put up for foodies and party- goers featuring fine food fare, waltz, operetta, pop- rock . . . there is something for everyone. Viennese dance schools offer waltz classes. The New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day concerts, given at the prestigious Musikverein concert hall, are also pillars of the Viennese New Year. These are some of the world’s best- known musical events, and they are broadcast on television in lots of countries. But beware, the seats are (very) expensive—and you need to make your reservations through a lottery held a year in advance! If you don’t get a seat, you can console yourself by attending the dress rehearsal, open to the public, on December 30 . . . or watching the show on a giant screen at a New Year’s breakfast on the Rathaus Platz.
Madrid
Fiesta!
This is no place to pull a Cinderella- style midnight goodbye: in Madrid, the party continues into the early morning. The atmosphere is, of course, especially electric in
the clubs. Everywhere, streamers and party favors brighten up the winter night. Tradition has it that friends and family meet at Puerta del Sol, the epicenter of Madrid’s festivities, to ring in the new year with joy and good humor. Shortly before midnight, the clock of the Real Casa de Correos puts on a small show before its bell sounds out twelve gongs. The tradition is to eat twelve grapes to bring good luck, echoing the twelve strokes of midnight. Eating all twelve in time is a sign of good luck for the next twelve months. As in many cities, public transportation generally stops running a little earlier than usual on December 31, and the next day, most activities pick up later than
usual. In the early hours of the morning, you can get the classic and tasty churros with
chocolate, for a morning pick- me- up, which are especially good at the San Ginés chocolate factory. And for a breath of fresh air, take a little tour of the gardens of the Retiro.
Edinburgh
A Festival for the New Year
Nicknamed “Hogmanay,” the New Year’s celebration here lasts three days. To recover,
Scots get an additional holiday on January 2! Edinburgh offers the opportunity to celebrate in a unique location: the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage city. Every December 31, starting at 9 p.m., the Hogmanay Street Party attracts more than eighty thousand people to Princes Street, West and East Princes Street Gardens, Mound Square, and St. Giles Cathedral, which swarm with people. In the city center, multiple stages are set up for bands. There is something for everyone: pop, rock, rap, techno, dance, classical, Celtic, Indian, folk— and because this is Scotland, bagpipes are in
the mix! A torchlight procession (on the 30th) leaves Parliament Square and ends at Calton Hill via Princes Street and Waterloo Place. While there is a small fireworks display after the procession, the real fireworks shows take place the next night, when several displays are launched simultaneously, at midnight of course, in different parts of the city, including the castle and Carlton Hill, illuminating the skies over Edinburgh. On January 1, a few people jump into the Forth River for the Loony Dook. Other events include live concerts, public readings, parades, and film projections.
London
Til the End of the Night
At midnight on the banks of the Thames, take in a breathtaking, blue- tinted fireworks display that is set off around and on the famous London Eye Ferris wheel as Big Ben tolls the twelve strokes of midnight, all to the delight of the crowd celebrating in nearby Trafalgar Square. With this, Londoners kick off a crazy night. The best clubs in the English capital compete to pull in New Year’s revelers, who will be out well into the early hours of January 1. The partiers with the most stamina will go to Fabric, a huge club in a former meat warehouse known for techno and drum ‘n’ bass. If that’s not your idea of a good time, all kinds of vibes and styles are catered to in this cosmopolitan city, and this eclectic atmosphere brings together young people from Europe, the United States, and Asia, especially for the New Year. There is something for all budgets
and all musical tastes, with countless ways to spend your night. On New Year’s Day, the party continues with the annual American-style parade featuring nearly ten thousand musicians, dancers, and acrobats from all over the world.
New York City
Times Square
New Year’s Eve is part of what makes New York legendary. The spectacle is known around the world, with a billion people watching the celebration on television. The ritual of the huge Waterford crystal ball (13 feet/4 m) in diameter and weighing over 1,000 pounds (485 kg) dropping at midnight has changed surprisingly little since 1904. Throughout the evening, partygoers can enjoy concerts (jazz, pop, rock), video projections, and surprise appearances by celebrities who come out to wishing the crowds a happy new year. At 11:59 p.m. a countdown is triggered on the giant screens of the square and glittering ball slowly descends on its post as revelers count down, “Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one! Happy New Year!” Fireworks burst and a literal
ton of confetti flutters over the crowd in a colorful blizzard. The best places to stake out are on Broadway, between 43rd and 50th Streets, and along 7th Avenue, up to 59th Street. Be sure to dress warmly, with a heavy parka and waterproof clothing. Also, keep in mind that once you enter the area reserved for spectators, you won’t be able to get out without losing your place! The next day, you can join the Coney Island Polar Bear Club on the boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue as they celebrate the new year by taking a dip in the super chilly Atlantic. Are you brave enough?
Rio de Janeiro
Tonight, We Give You Fire!
Here, December 31 is in the summer, and New Year’s festivities take place on the beach, in the dreamy settings of Copacabana and Ipanema. After the carnival, it’s the second- biggest party in Rio de Janeiro. Throughout the day on December 31, thousands of people throw offerings (rose petals, perfumes, jewels) to Yemanja, the
Afro- Brazilian goddess who protects fishermen and sailors. Some people light candles
on the sand. Party- goers dress in white, likewise in honor of the goddess. At dusk, cascades of lights run down the facades of the grand hotels of Copacabana. And at midnight the sky is illuminated by a gigantic twenty-minute fireworks display. On the beach, a colorful crowd of nearly two million people goes wild. The party continues with concerts given on three stages where bands and DJs perform samba, forró, and rock late into the night. In addition to the parties on the beaches of Ipanema, Leblon, Flamengo, and Barra da Tijuca, there are plenty of celebrations held in hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs.
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