The Most Romantic Places Around The World To Spend New Year's Eve

The New Year is soon upon us and it’s a time that is best spent with those closest to your heart. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to treat that special loved one, look no further than these 10 romantic places to bring in 2018.

1. New York, USA

Times Square in New York City is the place to be on New Year’s Eve. The giant orb begins its slow-motion drop at exactly one minute before January 1 begins. When it strikes down you’ll be showered in a cascade of confetti. Immediately afterwards, around one million revelers take part in what is probably one of the biggest parties you’ll experience in the world.

Time Squares, Manhattan, NY 10036, USA

Champagne in New York| © lazyllama/ Shutterstock

Edinburgh, Scotland

At the end of every year, Edinburgh becomes the place to be to enjoy Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations, the Scottish version of New Year. Fireworks, live music, plenty of whisky and a beautiful fireworks display, with Edinburgh’s iconic castle as a backdrop, are rounded off with a chorus of Auld Land Syne as the New Year rolls in. For couples looking for a mix of fun and romance, Edinburgh is a good choice. But bring your waterproofs, just in case.

Fireworks over the Forth Road Bridge, Edinburgh

3. Paris, France

Restaurant

Paris, the city of love, is a no-brainer for bringing in the New Year with your other half. For a truly memorable evening you can dine at the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant or take a slow boat ride down the Seine river (an incredibly popular choice). There are so many things to do in Paris during New Year’s Eve and so many local traditions to experience that you and your partner will truly be spoiled for choice.

Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

New Year’s Eve in Paris, France | © Falcon® Photography / Flickr

4. Sydney, Australia

Be one of the first in the world to see in the New Year in Sydney Australia. Sitting down for a romantic dinner along the Sydney Harbour, you’ll be in prime position to enjoy the city’s world famous firework display, and afterwards you can dance the night away at the epic party on Bondi Beach.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney NSW, Australia

Sydney harbour | © pattyjanse/ Pixabay

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Copacabana Beach, renowned for the world’s best carnival, also puts on a pretty good show for New Year’s Eve. You’ll find yourself in a city that oozes sensuality and is top spot for a romantic couple’s getaway. Drink a little champagne, or make like the locals and enjoy a few caipirinhas before shaking your hips to the sound of samba as fireworks shoot out from boats and light up the night’s sky.

Copacabana beach becomes Rio’s New Year’s party central

Cape Town, South Africa

Enjoy spectacular views of Cape Town’s end-of-the-year fireworks from Table Mountain, one of the city’s romantic highlights. Take a hike to get there, or be whisked up to the top in a cable car. After descending into the city you can continue on to live music shows and street parties in the Cape Quarter.

London, England

London is a top destination for couples the whole year round. Take a walk to one of the many bridges that cross the Thames for 10 minutes of fabulous fireworks that illuminate London’s famous skyline. Amidst all this the city’s icon, Big Ben, chimes away offering a clanging soundtrack to the New Year. The following day you can join Londoners who continue the revelry with parades and floats that wind their way through the city’s streets.

5. Hong Kong

Hong Kong becomes one giant party on New Years Eve. And there is nothing that says ‘I love you’ more than a giant pyrotechnic dragon lighting up the city’s skyline. For the best experience you should head down to the Victoria Harbour. Alternatively, you can also take a trip to Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year, where the festivities last for 15 days.

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

New Year in Hong Kong | © Michael Elleray/ Flickr

Madeira, Portugal

Funchal, on the island of Madeira in Portugal is illuminated by thousands of glittering lights that line the city’s streets, while flowers from the island are hung almost everywhere. Enjoy some winter sunshine with your partner and take a boat trip for the best views of the island’s breath-taking fireworks display. The island is a natural wonder, full of incredible flora and is best for those seeking a more natural, down-to-earth form of romance.

Bring in the New Year surrounded by Madeira’s natural beauty

Save

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.