2022 New Year’s Eve: 20 Best Destinations for the Holidays

(CNN) — From world-famous cities to lesser-known places, these are the best places on the planet to ring in the New Year, with everything from spectacular firework displays and late-night parties to spectacular sights and cultural festivals.

For many countries, this year marks a return to the wild celebrations of the pre-Covid years — so raise a glass and start 2023 with a bang!

Dubai

Last year, billions of people flocked to the Burj Khalifa to watch the spectacular fireworks and light show, said Imar, the company’s developer. This year, organizers plan to break new records and the building will feature the world’s largest laser display accompanied by fireworks and a water show created from the nearby Dubai Fountain.

Taipei, Taiwan

NYE will see Taipei 101, the world’s 10th tallest building, light up with one of the most spectacular fireworks displays on the planet. This year’s theme is “Taipei is the Future,” and 16,000 fireworks are set off over a five-minute period. The show will be backed by laser lights and music, with A-list local celebrities and actors on the countdown.

Barcelona

Boasting some of the best nightlife and festivals in Europe, the city is a sure-fire destination for New Year’s Eve. Crowds gather at Placa d’Espanya to watch the main fireworks display, and head to Placa Catalunya to sample the local tradition. .

Cape Town

Two years after Covid restrictions put a damper on NYE celebrations, the city’s V&A Waterfront will be lit up with pyrotechnics and partying on December 31. Live entertainment starts at 7pm with Table Mountain providing a fantastic backdrop to the festivities. The Cape Malay Choir Parade will provide music and dance, and the Grand Parade will start at 9.30pm in Darling Street.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

New York City

The quintessential New Year’s Eve venue, Times Square in New York is packed with people that day, and the event is streamed online for anyone to see. The main event is the traditional ball drop. Since 1907, a large crystal-covered ball placed on the roof of Times Square descends on the flagpole at the last minute of the year, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Kiribati

The Pacific island nation of Kiribati is one of the first places in the world to ring in the New Year, because it is so close to the International Date Line. Some of the islands lie in the longest time zone on Earth: UTC+14. Traditional festivals and events are celebrated throughout the islands, with the possibility of the biggest party happening in Kiribati, the largest of the Kiribati Islands.

American Samoa

This unincorporated American territory, 3,000 miles (4,830 km) northeast of New Zealand, is one of the last inhabited places on Earth to ring in the New Year. If you have the stamina and can find a way to travel on January 1, you can first celebrate New Year’s in Samoa – an isolated country about 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the west – and then travel here and do it all over again. the next day.

Rio de Janeiro

It’s hard to imagine a more exciting outdoor New Year’s party that takes place every year on Copacabana Beach in Rio. Millions of people, many dressed in white, descend on the 2.5-mile beach to kick back the summer weather and enjoy music and food. Then, at midnight, all eyes go up to watch a huge fireworks display – but in a city famous for partying, this marks the start of the festivities.

Reykjavik

Iceland’s capital’s fireworks display is actually one of a kind: instead of the city putting on an official display, citizens are encouraged to buy their own from local search and rescue groups as part of their biggest fundraising effort of the year. So, before midnight, the city lights up with thousands of microscopes.

Paris

Nicknamed the “City of Lights,” the centerpiece event takes place on the Champs-Élysées. This year’s show returns after a two-year hiatus and will see the Arc de Triomphe once again covered in 3D projections from 11am.

Sydney

Sydney’s New Year celebrations are one of the most famous in the world, framed by the backdrop of the beautiful harbor and Opera House. This year there are double fireworks: the first display starts at 9pm, inspired by sea, land and sky and is part of a celebration of indigenous culture, while the main event starts around midnight, with pyrotechnics set off from Sydney. Harbor Bridge, Opera House and ferries.

Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos is the epicenter of the New Year celebration in Nigeria, which is characterized by cultural and religious diversity. This year’s New Year’s Eve will see the city’s skies light up with a midnight fireworks display and all-night partying at venues on the city’s Victoria Island. At the island’s NOK, you can have a three-course dinner at the Alara restaurant with the theme “Oppleons of Africa” ​​starting at 11pm.

Istanbul

On New Year’s Eve, fireworks light up the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul’s 19-mile (30-kilometer) waterway, and can be viewed from an evening river cruise or beaches. However, most people congregate in and around the hub of tourism and nightlife, Taksim Square, and many of the city’s neighborhoods host their own street parties and fireworks.

Edinburgh

London

The famous fireworks display over the London Eye marks its return this year, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Only those who managed to score one of the 100,000 tickets will be in attendance, but many others will be watching from around the world. The display starts at midnight, and is accompanied by Big Ben to celebrate the arrival of 2023.

Venice

Las Vegas

Koh Phangan, Thailand

This island on the Gulf of Thailand is famous for its monthly full moon party, and New Year’s Eve offers a no-holds-barred, high-paying version. Hat Rin beach lights up with fireworks and traditional fire displays, the music is blaring non-stop from early afternoon and into the next day. But many clubs in the area will be more than happy to keep the party going longer.

Tokyo

Shibuya’s world-famous cross street is often the Tokyo New Year’s Eve equivalent of Times Square, but the 2022 festivities have been cancelled. Instead, for a more spiritual approach, you can visit a temple to pray for a happy new year or participate in the ringing of bells in a temple. And if you want to fit in with the locals, admire the New Year’s Day sunrise over the Tokyo Bay waterfront.