We’re on the brink of 2025, and soon, you’ll need to decide where you’ll be once midnight comes along. While Europe sounds like a great plan, don’t overlook the cities that lie farther afield. Mark 2025 earlier than most people in quaint mountain settings like Queenstown, New Zealand, or celebrating alongside the cool college kids and after-work drinkers in Tokyo’s mysterious bar districts like Golden Gai.
To put it bluntly, you’ll be lucky to find accommodation in any of the main European cities that crush New Year’s. Even if you do, you’ll most likely be stuck in a run-down guesthouse an hour’s train ride away. Just expand your horizons a little, and you could be screaming, ‘3, 2, 1 Happy NYE’ on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. And we all know nowhere else brings a party like Brazil.
These five places are living proof why you should skip Europe and ring in the New Year globally.
Be One of the First to Step Into 2025 in Queenstown, New Zealand
New Zealand will be one of the first countries to enter 2025, and can you think of anywhere better to do it than stunning Queenstown? This mountainous settlement in the country’s south island is where all the fun is going to be at on December 31st.
Join the thousands of other Kiwis and tourists by the waterfront for the celebration; there’s going to be a whopping fireworks display and on-stage performances, and all the main bars and restaurants will be open for service. Things are said to kick off in Earnslaw Park at about 2 pm with some stands for kids to get their faces painted and fun street performers. Around 9 pm, the DJs will begin their sets at Marine Parade, followed by a spectacular light show illuminating Lake Wakatipu.
If you know anything about Queenstown, you can bank on some wild parties happening across the main venues here. The great spots to add to your list include Winnies, the Ballarat, Zephyr, Habana, Birdy, and 1876. One word of advice I can give you about the bars in Queenstown is to get there early, and whenever you secure a table, you’re better off staying put because it will be hard to find one somewhere else. Queenstown is small, and everyone knows the best places to drink, so you’ll be competing with others, especially because it’s New Year’s Eve.
On New Year’s Day, if the head isn’t too sore, consider heading off to do the Ben Lomond hike. It’s not an easy one; the return distance is about 11 km, and you’ll be on the trail for at least 6 to 8 hours, but the landscapes you’ll witness are truly magnificent. The weather tends to be favorable towards hikers this time of year, but just keep an eye on the forecast before heading out because it can get cloudy up there within the blink of an eye.
Have Your Pick of New Year Events in Tokyo, Japan
Buzzing districts like Shibuya, cozy ramen bars, and tucked-away traditional izakayas on every corner, Tokyo is exactly where you want to be come New Year’s Eve.
Don’t waste any time; jump right into the celebrations as soon as you land, and you know what that means? It’s time to eat! Tokyo is a foodies’ paradise, but New Year’s Eve dinners are also a big tradition anyways, so you’ll have to find somewhere to chow down in. For an authentic dining experience, I suggest you check out Teppan Baby to try some of their Okonomiyaki, a famous Japanese specialty. You can sit at the bar and watch them cook it right in front of you, and the chefs put on a little funky performance throughout; you’ll find it hilarious.
Visiting a temple on the last night of December to ring a bell is a major tradition among Japanese people; it’s known as ‘Joya-no-kane.’ They do it for good luck and to wash out all the bad karma for the year ahead. It won’t be difficult to find a temple, but try to go to Meiji Shrine; this is one of the most famous in the city, and it will stay open all night on the 31st.
After you’ve had your fair share of Japanese customs, the next thing on the agenda should be swinging by one of the many events happening across the city. Take your pick: Womb Tokyo New Year Countdown has a mega lineup with Sven Väth and DJ Hito (tickets between JPY 5,000 (€30.87) and JPY 8,000 (€49.39)), or catch some of the only fireworks at the Yokosuka Countdown 2025 for free.
One big advantage of coming to Japan this time of year is that you can escape the extreme humidity that the capital is known for and enjoy the cold temperatures. Just be sure to wrap up with your hat and woolly gloves.
Scream Out Happy NYE in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
New Year’s Eve in Rio is wild; fireworks are on Copacabana Beach, and street parties are everywhere. It’s going to be just as crazy this year as it is every other.
Something will be happening in all corners of Rio on NYE, but nothing will beat the open-air party at Copacabana Beach. This is where the main fireworks display is held, and it sure won’t disappoint. At about 7 pm, a bunch of live music performances will commence with bands, singers, and DJs taking to the three main stages. But there are usually some small ones by Leme and the Copacabana Fortress, so keep an eye out. There’s no entry fee to get onto the beach, but it fills up hours before any entertainment begins.
In Brazil, wearing white on New Year’s is a long-standing tradition. It’s meant to be a sign of purification and a way to invite good fortune for the upcoming year. Mixing white with another color on your outfit is fine, but avoid wearing black as it will attract the opposite. You may also notice many people walking around with white flowers, handing them out as gifts to Iemanja, the Queen of the Sea. Don’t be surprised if someone hands you some; it’s customary.
Hoping to find a party for the evening? You’ll have a variety of options to choose from. Réveillon do Alto Vidigal Brasil is a private samba event on a rooftop bar providing panoramic views of where the fireworks will take place on Copacabana Beach. Tickets cost BRL 715 (€111.11), but you get access to an open, delicious buffet and, not to forget, front-row seats to the pyrotechnic display from above without the crowds. Reveillon Vista 2025 is another exciting get-together planned in Marina da Gloria; ticket holders can dig into an open bar with premium drinks and savor as much chow as they like. Admission fees vary based on gender; ladies will pay BRL 895 (€138.72), while gents have to fork out slightly more at BRL 995 (€154.22).
Get To the Marina Bay Sands Before Midnight for the Countdown in Singapore
Singapore is the focal point of New Year’s celebrations in Southeast Asia, primarily because of the renowned Marina Bay countdown. It has long been regarded as one of the finest worldwide, and it’s returning for this year’s festivities to mark its 20th anniversary. A whopping four rounds of fireworks are on the program, with the first round planned to go off around 11 pm. As you can guess, the biggest of all will be at 12 pm; don’t miss out!
In the build-up to the big event, the famous Illumi light show (NYE entry SGD 40 (€28.20)) is already in full swing, featuring a handful of vibrant, glowing spaces like the Dune Palace, Jurassic Kingdom, and many more. In addition, over at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre and Esplanade Concourse, an initiative called Come Together is running for the entire month of December. A roster of musical acts will play, including the Midnight Suns and Daniel Sid, who’s rumored to sound exactly like James Bay, and the greatest part is attendees don’t have to pay anything.
It’s worth highlighting that the countdown events won’t be solely focused around Marina Bay; there are also many planned in other locations in Singapore, like Marine Parade, Sentosa, Bishan, Bukit Panjang, and Punggo. One event you might want to keep an eye out for is the Singapore Sports Hub NYE celebration. From around 5 pm, various activities for people of all ages will be held, from face painting to street magicians and the longest countdown in Singapore to end the night.
Singapore’s abundance of rooftop bars and restaurants are going to be rammed on December 31st as everyone will want to get the first look at colors lighting up the sky at 12. It’s still worth a shot trying to reserve a table at the lovely CÉ LA VI; they’re opening the restaurant for meal service and hosting an NYE party with tickets for SGD 48 (€33.84). LAVO Italian Restaurant & Bar also has a cocktail canape party penciled in; entry fees are on the higher end of the scale, SGD 268 (€188.93), but it promises to be a good one.
Set Your New Years Resolutions While Watching the Fireworks in Cape Town, South Africa
New Year under the sun in Cape Town, I like the sound of that! It might be quite a long flight for most of our readers, but the ‘Mother City’ has an irresistible appeal that no avid traveler could say no to. Think about the atmosphere at the V&A Waterfront, with a clear view of the majestic Table Mountain in the background as everyone eagerly prepares for the countdown. Moments like these don’t come around often. Anyone who’s watching their spending should focus their attention down by the V&A Waterfront as it’s free to enter. Like every year, you’ve got a stretch of live acts playing, such as Matthew Mole and Mi Casa, and then expect a short firework show as midnight approaches.
With Cape Town being right on the water, you can bet there will be lots of evening cruise opportunities. Waterfront Boat Tours is one of the many companies offering all-inclusive packages for three-hour rides, which guarantee fireworks viewing (tickets from R2,000 (€106.58)). Every adult passenger will receive a complimentary bottle of bubbles to the consumer on board, and there’s also a cash bar for those who would prefer to raise a pint glass to celebrate 2025.
Some massive ticket-entry events are lined up for NYE in Cape Town, and there’s something for every kind of vibe. Mix gourmet cuisine with your best-loved drinks at the Time Out Market party; food and drink stalls will be open, and R 250 (€13.32) of your ticket price (R 750 (€39.97)) can be spent how you like; just a pointer: the Melting Pot’s seafood is to die for. Keen on taking things further? Cape Town’s biggest New Year’s festival is back, and it’s better than ever: Secrets of the Summer presents a stand-out array of talent, homegrown and from abroad. They’re really going for it this year as they’ve introduced three dance floors and a multi-level Colosseum main stage; this is too good to pass up (tickets from R 610 (€32.51)).
Don’t forget to stick around until January 2nd for ‘Tweede Nuwe Jaar,’ which translates to ‘Second New Year.’ It dates back to the time when slaves in South Africa were only allowed to have one working day off across the calendar year, and this was it, and wow, did they a bash? Still, to this day, the celebrations go hard, with ‘Kaapse Klopse’ taking to the streets of Cape Town in colorful costumes and playing traditional Ghoema music.
Pass On Europe and Experience the Global New Year’s Festivities
Forget Europe; you’ll be celebrating New Year’s across the globe this December. Where is the next question? The thoughts of the glow over the Marina Bay Sands sound pretty nice, but so does a glass of celebratory fine South African wine in the heart of Cape Town. Time is running out!