New Year's Eve Getaways

After a busy festive period of hosting family and friends, you might be tempted to book a New Year getaway to unwind a little – and welcome in 2024.

Here are five tantalising options for you to consider.

1. Vienna

The Austrian capital is famous for its ‘Silvesterpfad’, which translates as the “New Year’s Eve trail”. You’ll find a series of interlinked stages around the city centre with performances from the afternoon of December 31st, continuing through to the small hours of the following day. Some 800,000 people celebrated along the Silvesterpfad in December 2022.

For New Year’s Day, the highly coveted New Year’s Concert given by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musikverein is reserved for those lucky enough to get a ticket via the official lottery style system. You need to register in February so it’s too late for the next performance. However, you can watch a recording or live streamed version – at a later date, and instead indulge in Vienna’s Christmas markets which continue into January. Try Neujahrsmarkt, Silvestermarkt, and Silvesterdorf markets from around December 27th.

2. Amsterdam

Hop on the Eurostar and head to Amsterdam for a big party in the city centre. There are plenty of free firework shows dotted around the city – Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt, Museumplein, Leidseplein, and Dam Square host fireworks and light and sound shows.

You can also choose to visit one of the many parties in discotheques and bars.

At noon on New Year’s Day you can join around 50,000 swimmers be part of Amsterdam’s 60-year-old tradition of taking the year’s first dip in the sea at Zandvoort aan Zee.

3. New York

The bright lights and bustling streets of New York City will be sure to deliver all the glamour and glitz you might crave. Live music, fireworks, champagne toast, celebrity sightings – you name it, New York has it.

Manhattan is a unique place to visit and watching the ball drop at Times Square is one to tick off the bucket list – and it’s free. If you’ve been there and done that – or prefer to avoid crowds –  you can choose a restaurant for dinner and dancing or find a party in a club. The world is your oyster in the city that never sleeps. A stroll through Central Park on New Year’s Day and shopping on Fifth Avenue will set the tone for a fabulous 2024.

4. Colorado

Snow lovers will be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding entertainment for New Year. Boulder is famous for its variety of Balls and New Year's Eve parties, while in Aspen you can party from a restaurant with fine dining and views of the fireworks over the mountains at midnight.

Alternatively join the Dom Pérignon Party at The Little Nell for bottomless champagne and snacks with live music and entertainment acts are spread throughout three venues. At the Copper Mountain reports there’s DJ set from early evening, a torchlight parade followed by dinner and drinks, and fireworks over the half pipe – all at Eagle's Landing in Copper's Center Village. There are many more resorts with alluring celebrations – the hard part is picking the resort!

5. St Lucia

If a beach party is more your vibe, you can’t go wrong with the Caribbean where you soak in the sun amid white sands and crystal blue waters. Hotels will typically have their own offerings for New Year where you can expect dinner, dancing, cocktails and fireworks at midnight.

You don’t have to stay in your resort though. There will be carnival-style celebrations with bright colours and an electric atmosphere at street parties and beach parties organised locally. On New Year’s Day you can relax in a shady part of the beach and create all your new resolutions for the brand new year.

New Year in St Lucia also means getting away from the chilly winter weather of the UK with average temperatures of 27°C.