Unique New Year Destinations (Tips From Someone Who Celebrates In Different Places Every Year)

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Photo credit: sunshinecoastpoint.com

With gorgeous beaches, lots of surf options, national parks, charming historic villages, and wildlife (like adorable coala bears and kangaroos) it’s easy to like it here. You’ll be spoiled for choice with fresh delicious seafood, wineries and breweries full or personality.

My sister used to live here. I went to visit and ended up spending 3 months in Australia, mostly on the Sunshine Coast! We started the new year on Mooloolaba beach, where 40,000+ locals and visitors show up to enjoy the celebrations with fireworks. You’re up for a memorable night.

Lillehammer, Norway

Photo credit: hafjellresort.no

Celebrated new years with one of my best friends at a traditional dance event. Live music, dance, and good times all night long. If you come here, it will be a different experience for sure.

Lillehammer is mostly known for having hosted the Olympics in 1994. I regularly visit since my friend stills live here. Most of the shops are run from cute houses rather than big malls. Charming town that makes you feel as if you’re traveling in time.

Oslo, Norway

Photo credit: Voyage Privé

This time I made it to the capital, where I also ended up living for a few years. Kicked off the night with a nice dinner and a home party with a big group of friends. Fireworks and lots of drinks. Norwegians usually dress up for new years, no matter if it’s super cold outside.

If you feel like escaping the city life, it’s also common for Norwegians go on “hyttetur” for New Years (going to the cabin in the mountains).

Amsterdam, Holland

Photo credit: winterfestivalamsterdam.com

Whether you’re up for a crazy party or a romantic get-away, you can have a unique New Year celebration in Amsterdam. We celebrated right in the city. The ambience was great, people were hugging each other all over the place (you know, what used to be normal before the pandemic).

A big firework show usually takes place. Now I believe they have turned that in to several smaller events spread out instead. There are also special New Years parties going on.

Stockholm, Sweden

Photo credit: slowtravelstockholm.com

Stockholm is the only exception where I’ve celebrated twice. I grew up in Sweden but I usually only visit during the summer.

Swedes often celebrate with house parties. People dress up, enjoy a nice 3-course meal, followed by drinks, fireworks and talks about everything and nothing until the early morning.

For my first New Years in Stockholm I went to a house party, the other time I was hosting one with one of my best friends. Some people did also head to a rave in the middle of the night…

Both were amazing nights! If you’re not from here, try your best to get invited to a house party as that’s the way to go when in Stockholm for New Years.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Photo credit: discoverkl.com

I used to live in Singapore for 2,5 years. My sister came to visit and we headed to Malaysia for New Years. Kicked off the year at a rooftop terrace where all kinds of competitions where going on. Some more weird than others…

We had a great night with an international crowd. Lots of fireworks.

The next day we went to Langkawi to relax in paradise and eat chocolate pancakes (it’s a thing there, if you ever been you know what I mean. Amazing) for a few days. Recommended combo!

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo credit: thethaiger.com

I landed in Bangkok 6 pm on New Years Eve. I was living in Singapore at the time but had been in Sweden to visit for Christmas. On the way back, I’d planned to meet my sister in Bangkok to celebrate New Years. She’d been in Australia and we hadn’t seen each other for a year.

Went straight to the hotel, took a shower and put on a dress. It was surreal and amazing to suddenly be there together. It was about 30 degrees, which was extra nice coming from the cold in Sweden. We spent new years in Bangkok on Khaosan road, one of the main bar streets.

Had dinner with friends, drank buckets. Met lots of people from everywhere. At the end of the night all of us got seperated and had our own adventures. I went to sleep around lunch the next day. Bangkok is a crazy place, let’s just leave at that!

Berlin, Germany

Photo credit: rove.me

Berlin is famous it’s New Year celebration at Brandenburg Gate where about 1,2 million people come together. The ambiance is great if you don’t mind crowds. People sharing drinks and counting down together.

I went with one friend and we ended up meeting a big group that we celebrated with. Beautiful fireworks, great ambience. From the square we made it to an warehouse afterparty. Lots of different rooms with different activities. Unforgettable night, Berlin is Berlin.

Capetown, South Africa

Photo credit: drinkpreneur.com

Spent 3 weeks in Capetown, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been to. Food and wine are amazing and the views are surreal.

For New Years we went to a big event on a vineyard. Electro music. Magical. Delicious wine. Lots of different people and good times. It can only be a great year when it starts like that!

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Photo credit: playadelcarmen.com

Went to Mexico last minute with one of my best friends. None of us had made plans. We were traveling a long the coast, and stopped in Playa Del Carmen for New Years.

You don’t need to look for long to find a party in Playa del Carmen. You’re surrounded by bars. We went for a delicious dinner, followed by bar-hopping and an electro music festival.

Met so many unique people and went straight to the breakfast buffe at the hotel before going to bed in the morning. I probably wouldn’t go back to Playa Del Camen today for New Year, it’s not really my vibe anymore. Back then we had an amazing time, still talk about it sometimes!

Cusco, Peru

Photo credit: cuscofestividades.info

Everyone who’s been to Cusco will tell you it’s magical. Once you get there, you’ll understand. It’s hard to explain what it is, the city just has an incredible vibe.

Many countries in Latin America have special new year traditions and Peru is no exception. Wear yellow underwear for good luck, all the markets will be full of it. As the clock hits midnight, thousands of people (including us) were walking around the main square seven times. Several were carrying suitcases, since it means that you will travel a lot the coming year.

Fireworks, and afterparties in the bars until the morning. An amazing night!

Nassau, Bahamas

Photo credit: tourismtoday.com

Touchdown Bahamas! That has so much more to offer than I could ever had imagined. I went island hopping with a friend. We explored well outside of the touristy areas… Met so many unique locals that showed us a side of Bahamas that is completely different from the fancy pictures we’re all used to. One of the places none of us will ever forget.

For New Years, we did go the fancy route though and had a great time! Dressed up at one of the parties at one of the big hotels in Nassau, followed by their super famous New Year Carnival parade. It goes on for hours and hours and is impressive.

Cali, Colombia

Cali is one of my favorite cities in the whole world. While they for sure know how to rumba, new years in Colombia is more of a family affair. The famous (and amazing) Feria de Cali also takes place just before New Year which literally means days of non-stop celebrations.

For New Years, we escaped the city and went to one of my local friends beautiful finca with her family. A few days of total unwinding. For me it was unusual to start the year in such a relaxed way, and I loved it! Just look at the view. How can you not?

When we came back, we went to the Carnival in Pasto for a few days of non stop celebrations. It’s all about balance.

Fuerteventura, Spain

I spent 8 months on different Canary Islands in 2020-2021 and fell in love with the life quality. For New Years, there were still restrictions in place for the pandemic so all the bars had to close at 12am. We went for a house party at a nice villa with friends.

Good DJ, drinks, and dance until the morning. We had an amazing night, I can only imagine what it must be like without COVID restrictions. My favorite islands are Tenerife, Lanzarote and La Palma. Might end up celebrating there one day. Will be back for sure either way!

Costa Rica

From NY on the beach to tarzan swing, rafting, waterfall climbs, volcano hikes + meditation, animals we didn’t know existed, ziplining, countryside houses with keen leguanas and starry skies, hanging bridges, private coffee tours, coconut drinks in hot springs, dreamy sunsets, and one of the best meals of our life. Costa Rica has so much to offer!

Met more than a few very unique personalities that can’t be explained, but have to be experienced. Those are the ones that make the world extra colorful.

Grateful, happy and ready to make 2022 unforgettable.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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In Rio at the moment, my favorite city! While I’ve celebrated the Carnival here twice, this will be my first New Years in Brazil. Very excited! To be continued…

Which has been the most unique New Year destination you’ve been to so far?
Have you celebrated New Years in any of these places?