New year 2027: 10 destinations for a holiday trip

Planning a New Year abroad is easier than it seems. The main thing is to decide in advance which format suits you best: a snowy fairy tale in Lapland, a warm sea in Hurghada, or fireworks over the Thames. Accommodation and tickets for holiday parties sell out as early as fall, so it's better to choose your destination ahead of time.

We've put together ten countries where New Year's Eve unfolds in different ways. For each one, you'll find a city or region, the format of the celebration, an honest catch, and a link to search for hotels. If you want to see the celebration with your own eyes, start planning now.

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How to choose a country for New Year's Eve

💡 In short:

• Want snow and a fairy tale: Rovaniemi, Lapland, and Austria's ski resorts.
• Want warmth and the sea: Hurghada in winter and Thailand's beaches.
• Want a big city and fireworks: London, Paris, and New York.

1. Czech Republic

Prague tops winter rankings thanks to its compact center and evening lighting. December markets in Old Town Square run until early January, admission is free (prague.eu, 09/2026). On New Year's Eve, celebrations take place in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. Guests drink svařák, the local mulled wine, and order a hearty dinner in beer halls.

Take a walk through the Old Town on foot: Charles Bridge, the astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall, the Powder Tower, and the Church of St. Nicholas. Book a hotel in the center, and you'll reach the squares in just a few minutes. Hotels in Prague on Trip.com

• The catch: on New Year's Eve, central Prague is crowded, and celebrations go on until morning.

2. France

Paris welcomes guests on New Year's Eve with illuminations on the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower lit up. Snow is rare here, so the celebration happens without frost or snowdrifts. Garlands are hung throughout the city center, and shop windows turn into decorations.

People gather on the Champs-Élysées, share champagne, and dance until morning. For a quieter evening, a Seine cruise with a live orchestra or dinner at a Michelin-listed restaurant works well; they stay open on New Year's Eve. Book your table and hotel several months in advance, as prices in the center are higher than usual that night (parisjetaime, 09/2026). Hotels in Paris on Trip.com

• The catch: there will be no snow or snowdrifts, and in the evening the center is full of people and closed-off streets.

3. United Kingdom

On the night of December 31 to January 1, more than 250,000 people gather on the banks of the Thames to see the fireworks over Big Ben (data from London's tourist office, 09/2026). The show lasts about half an hour. The best view comes from a river cruise: from the water you can see both the London Eye and the bridges.

The main celebrations take place in Trafalgar Square, with round dances, sweets, and contests, and the country's main Christmas tree stands there. Hundreds of pubs are open for party lovers. On the morning of January 1, a New Year's parade with brass bands and vintage cars makes its way through the streets of the West End. Hotels in London on Trip.com

• The catch: the center is closed to traffic, the crowd along the embankment is dense, and the metro runs on a special schedule.

4. Egypt

If you're tired of the cold, Egypt swaps winter for summer. During the day the Red Sea coast is warm, and the water is still suitable for swimming, so New Year's here is celebrated by the pool and on the beach. Locals don't celebrate New Year the way they do in Europe, but hotels and clubs put on an evening of music, drinks, and contests.

Christmas trees are rare in Egypt, but palm trees are decorated with string lights, and Santas stroll along the beach. The main advantage of this kind of holiday: you can swim in the sea at any moment. For the trip, choose a hotel with meals and a pool, and the holiday program is already included. Hotels in Hurghada on Trip.com

• Who it's for: those who want sea and warmth instead of snow.
• The catch: there are no Christmas trees or winter fairy tale here, and locals barely celebrate New Year.

5. Thailand

In Thailand, New Year is celebrated three times: the Thai Songkran in April, the Chinese New Year in February, and the European one in late December. Some tourists gather in Bangkok at the entrance to Central World: there are concerts, performances, and a souvenir fair. The celebration is hot and loud.

Others choose Khaosan Road. This is a place for partygoers: music, street food, and guests from all over the world. It even has its own clock counting down the final seconds of the year. A quieter way to celebrate: Buddhist temples, where people bring offerings to monks.

© Imtaiki · CC BY-SAPhoto: Imtaiki, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: those who want heat, sea, and parties until morning.

Hotels in Bangkok on Trip.com

6. Finland

Finland suits those who want a real winter. Helsinki is lit up with string lights in December, and spruce trees stand in the snow. The main festivities take place in Senate Square: a concert, fireworks, and restaurants nearby.

The real fairy tale begins outside the city. Santa Claus Village, or Joulupukki, is located near Rovaniemi in Lapland, and it's considered the home of the winter wizard. There you'll find an arctic zoo, reindeer and dog farms, attractions, and meetings with elves. You can come for a day or stay in Lapland for several nights.

© Jari Kolehmainen · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jari Kolehmainen, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: families with children and those who dream of snow and a fairy tale.
• The catch: on January 1, almost all shops and museums are closed, so buy groceries and tickets in advance (visitfinland, 09/2026). Hotels in Rovaniemi on Trip.com

7. Denmark

Copenhagen looks like a fairy tale set. The colorful houses along the Nyhavn waterfront sparkle with lights, and the main celebrations take place in City Hall Square: cafes, musicians, and street performers. The city is small, so you can easily walk around the center on foot.

Tivoli Park is worth visiting for its Christmas market, ice rink, and rides. The park has been operating since 1843, and its oldest carousel is over a century and a half old (tivoli.dk, 09/2026). Try the candied roasted almonds, a local winter market treat.

• Who it's for: those looking for a cozy atmosphere and who want to explore the city center on foot.
• The catch: the main fireworks display takes place at City Hall Square, so it gets crowded and noisy there.

Hotels in Copenhagen on Trip.com

8. Austria

Austria is unthinkable without Christmas markets. They take over the main squares of Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz, where vendors sell tree ornaments, candles, and handmade souvenirs. In Vienna, the market fills City Hall Square, and from there a New Year's trail winds through the Old Town for about 2 kilometers (wien.info, 09/2026).

Along the route you'll find stalls serving hot punch and snacks, with folk music playing. From late December, cities host carnival processions featuring costumed winter characters. Ski enthusiasts will appreciate the alpine resorts: you can rent a house in the mountains or stay at a large hotel. A holiday under the starry sky is something you'll remember for a long time.

© Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SAPhoto: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: those who want to combine markets and skiing.
• The catch: it gets dark early in the mountains in winter, and prices at popular resorts rise during the holidays. Hotels in Vienna on Trip.com

9. Iceland

In Iceland, New Year's Eve starts with a fireworks festival: it kicks off about an hour before midnight, and the sky over Reykjavik lights up with hundreds of fireworks (visiticeland, 09/2026). Whole families come out to watch. After midnight, locals head to bars and restaurants to keep the celebration going.

A local superstition says: the more noise and light on New Year's Eve, the happier the year will be. This option suits those who want to combine the holiday with Iceland's nature: glaciers, geysers, and the northern lights. In winter it's dark here almost all day, so the fireworks look especially bright.

• The catch: in winter, Reykjavik gets little daylight, and the weather changes often. Reykjavik hotels on Trip.com

10. USA

The USA closes out the list because the holiday format here depends on the climate. If you want a snowy New Year, head to Alaska. If you want a warm night on the beach, Miami is your pick. The country's main show takes place in New York: on December 31 at 11:59 PM, the ball starts descending from a height of 23 meters and reaches the bottom exactly at midnight (timessquarenyc, 09/2026). The Times Square tradition is over 100 years old.

© Terabass · CC BY-SAPhoto: Terabass, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

To ring in the new year, locals and tourists choose theaters, nightclubs, and restaurants. In New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, parties go on until morning, with people walking the streets and meeting each other. On the morning of January 1, cities hold holiday parades. The most famous one, the Rose Parade, takes place in Pasadena.

• The catch: on New Year's Eve, hotels and tables downtown cost more than usual, and streets are closed off. New York hotels on Trip.com

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Where should I go for New Year's if I want warm weather?

In Hurghada and on Thailand's beaches, you can swim in the sea right on New Year's Eve. In Egypt, hotels throw parties with music and contests, and it's warm during the day on the Red Sea coast.

Where to celebrate New Year's with kids?

Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi operates all winter. Kids love the snow and the holiday break, and adults get a relaxed itinerary. Flights and accommodation in Lapland sell out early, so plan your trip several months ahead.

Do I need tickets for the London fireworks?

Yes. Access to the Thames embankment on New Year's Eve is ticket-only, and tickets are sold in advance online. Check the official source and dates on the fireworks page. An alternative for the view: a river cruise or a table at a bar overlooking the water.

Where in Europe can I celebrate New Year's in a big city?

Prague, Paris, Vienna, and Copenhagen offer concerts, markets, and fireworks in the city center. In Prague, festivities take over Old Town Square; in Vienna, the New Year's trail kicks off; and in Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens is open. You can travel between these cities by train, but the trip from Paris to Copenhagen takes about 14 hours.

What should I book in advance?

Central accommodation and restaurant tables sell out starting in the fall, and prices on New Year's Eve are higher than usual. Tickets for the London fireworks and tours to Lapland are sold in limited batches. Start with the hotel, then add excursions and airport transfers.

In short: what's worth booking

If you want warmth and the sea, go for Hurghada or Bangkok. If you want winter and a fairy tale, choose Rovaniemi. If you want a big city and fireworks, look at London and New York. If you want a short flight, Prague and Vienna fit the bill.

Book your centrally located hotel first, then add tours and tickets. Find tours on GetYourGuide