What better way to welcome 2024 than with an incredible trip to an awe-inspiring destination? From low-key celebrations to more adventurous endeavors, there’s a perfect New Year’s vacation for any type of traveler.
This is a great time to plan a bucket-list trip, push yourself outside of your comfort zone, see that view you’ve always dreamed of in real life, or try your favorite dish cooked in its home country.
Whether you’re in search of a place to unwind after the holidays, a more lively city escape to celebrate, or you’re craving wide-open spaces with a side of fantastic scenery, there are endless opportunities for commemorating a fresh year. Here are nine places to visit for New Year’s that will start 2024 off on the right foot.
Puerto Rico
Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
There’s a big culture of celebration in Puerto Rico, and New Year’s Eve is no different. Before the party gets going, you may see people cleaning their homes, which is a tradition and is intended to start the new year on a positive, refreshed note.
Some locals even throw buckets of water or sugar out of their windows to send the evil spirits away. Families tuck into asopao, a rich stew, and arroz con gandules, rice with pork and pigeon peas.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
One of the best things to do in San Juan is to wander around the colorful streets of Old San Juan, where brightly painted houses are adorned with colorful balconies (watch out for those buckets of water, though).
Escambrón Marine Park, Puerto Rico
Explore the two solid fortresses that guard the city for a glimpse into military life here in the 16th century. Snorkel in Escambrón Marine Park, or fly over the rainforest on a zipline. Make time for a celebratory piña colada, which is said to have been invented in Puerto Rico.
Nassau, Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas
The rum cocktails flow over the festive season in The Bahamas as locals and visitors enjoy the sunshine and the sparkling ocean. Excitement builds up to the big Junkanoo parade that takes place on New Year’s Day along Nassau’s Bay Street.
During your time here approaching New Year’s, you’ll see preparations for the carnival, including elaborate costumes, drums, highly decorated floats, and dance troupes.
Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas
Enjoy the happy vibes of the tropics at Nassau’s bustling Straw Market, or take a trip to dreamy Blue Lagoon Island and while away an afternoon in a hammock, rum punch by your side.
Fly down the water slides at Aquaventure, the thrill-packed, 141-acre waterpark at Atlantis Paradise Island, or snorkel over the vibrant coral reefs around Pearl Island.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnam actually celebrates two New Year’s Eves; December 31, for the Gregorian calendar (also referred to as International New Year’s Eve); and Tet, for the Lunar New Year, which in 2024 falls on February 10.
You’ll find a party spirit for both. In Hanoi, the capital, the sky will be lit by fireworks and the streets packed with locals celebrating and bands playing.
As well as joining in the celebrations, take time to explore the city. Take a cyclo tour through the atmospheric and partially walled Old Quarter, where you can sample sizzling street food.
Explore the wide boulevards and grand mansions of the French Quarter. This is where you’ll want to stop for coffee in a French patisserie, a happy obsession among city dwellers.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Then, why not do something completely different for the first day of 2024 and take a cruise across spectacular Halong Bay, a landscape of some 2,000 jungly karst towers?
One of the best places to visit in Asia, there are floating villages and impressive caves to explore, as well as opportunities to kayak between some of the islands. Listen to birdsong and look out for monkeys scampering through the trees as you float.
Grand Cayman
Stingray City, Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands enjoy a happy week of parties, beach picnics, and family celebrations between Christmas and New Year’s, making this a great time to visit Grand Cayman. December is peak season, with sunny days and relatively low humidity, so the island has a real buzz.
Spend your time in Grand Cayman communing with docile stingrays at Stingray City, a shallow sandbar where graceful rays gather for tidbits when boats arrive. Snorkel over the wreck of the USS Kittiwake, a WWII navy ship that’s now a teeming artificial reef.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Soak up the sunshine on glorious Seven Mile Beach, one of Grand Cayman’s best beaches. And when you’ve had enough, if that’s possible, stroll through the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park in George Town to admire the colorful blooms.
Finish your day with a Mudslide, the islands’ famous cocktail, featuring vodka, coffee liqueur, and Bailey’s Irish Cream over ice.
Seville, Spain
Seville, Spain
Seville is the home of the sultry flamenco dance. While you’ll hear the strains of flamenco music on the breeze at any time of year, the days around New Year’s Eve are when this art form comes to a head. There are shows everywhere, from small, intimate clubs to bigger venues.
As December 31 approaches, you’ll see grapes on sale all over this beautiful Spanish city. These doce uvas de la suerte are consumed one by one on the 12 strokes of midnight, one for good luck every month of the year.
This is also a good time to sample turron, a delicious nougat made from honey, sugar, and egg white, and studded with nuts.
Real Alcazar in Seville, Spain
While you’re in Seville, there’s plenty to see. Stroll through the atmospheric Santa Cruz neighborhood, the old Jewish quarter, and admire the intricate beauty of the cathedral.
Take in the exquisite Real Alcazar, the Royal Palace, and climb the spiraling ramps of the Giralda Tower, a former minaret more than 800 years old, to see the city stretching away beneath you.
Curaçao
Knip Beach, Curaçao
New Year’s Eve is a massive event in Curaçao, with as much going on in the days before December 31st as on the night itself. There will be beach parties, fireworks, and feasting. You’ll see oliebollen in all the shops, which are deep-fried dough balls filled with raisins and apples.
To eat them, you dunk them in powdered sugar for an even better sugar rush. Don’t be alarmed if you hear bangs and crackles in the streets; these are pagaras, or rolls of firecrackers set off around New Year’s to ward off evil spirits.
Willemstad, Curaçao
Spend your time in Curaçao basking on the white sand beaches that the ABC Islands are famous for; Mambo Beach is where you can really enjoy the party spirit.
Admire the gelato shades of Willemstad’s historic waterfront and take a walking tour of the Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods to see vibrant street art. Don’t forget to buy a bottle of Blue Curaçao liqueur as a memento of your time in this pretty Caribbean island.
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
The famous Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are the ultimate bucket-list destination for animal enthusiasts. With endless wildlife viewing opportunities in an otherworldly setting, this remote collection of islands is an ideal location to bring in the New Year.
The protected Galapagos Islands are a place to watch sea lions lazing near the sea, along with giant tortoises, playful penguins, and endemic marine life.
Snorkeling in the Galapagos
Ring in the New Year with popular Galapagos animals such as blue-footed boobies, sea turtles, and whale sharks. Snorkelers will enjoy Isla Lobos and San Cristobal, while hikers will jump at the chance to go crater trekking around Sierra Negra. You’ll want your camera nearby at all times to capture the beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife encounters you’ll experience here.
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego National Park in Ushuaia, Argentina
If your idea of a good time involves the outdoors and dramatic landscapes, the region of Patagonia in South America is one of the best places to go for New Year’s Eve. The Andes mountain range is the star attraction, with glacial-fed lakes, fjords, and even deserts and grasslands, the contrast adding to the natural allure.
Explore the unique landscape of Tierra del Fuego National Park, just outside the city of Ushuaia. Forests adorned with moss, rivers, and glacial lakes provide a scenic backdrop to local wildlife like red foxes and guanacos. Immerse yourself in nature and follow one of the park’s hiking trails to awe-inspiring sites like the Black Lagoon or the lookout point over Lapataia Bay.
Southern Fuegian Railway, Patagonia
For a fully relaxed way to take in the scenery, hop aboard the train that traverses “the end of the world.” The steam railway ride on the Southern Fuegian Railway is the perfect opportunity to observe the natural splendor particular to this region of Patagonia. You’ll learn about the history of the area as you feast your eyes on stunning South American waterfalls, mountains, and wildlife. Traveling to the end of the world to ring in the New Year is one of the most interesting ways to celebrate.
New Zealand
Marlborough Wine Region, New Zealand
New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most incredible landscapes and experiences, making it one of the most extraordinary places to visit for New Year’s. Lace up your hiking boots and welcome the New Year with a thrilling trek on any of the country’s fantastic walking tracks.
Marlborough Wine Region, New Zealand
Sip your way through the world-class vineyards that New Zealand is known for, like the Marlborough wine region, which produces some of the world’s best sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and chardonnay. Sail through the scenic Fiordland region, where the famous Milford Sound awaits with jaw-dropping landscapes and more waterfalls than you can count.
New Year’s Eve party on Celebrity
Visit some of the world’s best places to go for New Year’s Eve on a luxury cruise vacation. Whether you’re interested in a rejuvenating beach escape, kicking off the New Year with some fresh air and exercise, culinary enjoyment, or an immersive cultural city experience, a New Year’s cruise is a great way to make the most of your 2024 celebration. Browse cruise itineraries on our website and book your holiday cruise vacation today.
