Where The World Wants to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

With Christmas right around the corner, many of us are making plans for how we’ll enter in the New Year. But which cities are set to see the most visitors this year?

The travel insurance specialists at InsureandGo have analysed Google searches from the last 12 months, and compared these to searches from last year, to reveal which cities around the world have garnered the most interest for their 2023 New Year’s Eve events.

The Top 10 Cities The World Wants To Celebrate New Year’s Eve In

From North America to Europe, Oceania and Asia – the world’s most desired NYE cities this year can be found in every corner of the globe.

The city drawing the most interest this year for New Year’s Eve is none other than New York, the city that never sleeps. Home to the iconic Times Square Ball Drop, global searches for NYE in the city have surpassed 319,200 searches in the year 2023 so far.

Securing second place is Toronto. The Canadian city is home to a beautiful array of NYE events, parties and fireworks to round off the year and in 2023 saw over 194,000 searches for those planning to celebrate the clock chiming twelve within its borders.

Completing the top three cities garnering the most interest for 2023’s New Year’s Eve is Amsterdam and London. These two cities, located on the European continent, have captivated tourists worldwide with each city pulling in over 158,000 online searches a year globally for New Year’s Eve related terms.

Other notable cities in the top 10 include Manchester, another UK city that offers a multitude of fun activities for the night of the 31st January, and Las Vegas, where New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year for this party-centric destination.

The Most Up and Coming New Year’s Eve Destinations

Although New York holds its title as the city attracting the most visitors for its New Years Eve festivities, interestingly the Big Apple has seen an 11% decrease in interest this year in comparison to 2022. The researchers also looked at which destinations have seen jumps in popularity this year, to find out which underrated cities might be seeing an influx of new visitors on the 31st of December.

In first place, Ireland’s capital city Dublin has seen the biggest increase in interest over the last 12 months, with searches for New Year’s Eve in the city having very nearly tripled compared to 2022.

Following behind is Istanbul and Ottawa, with 175% and 171% increases in searches in 2023 compared with 2022, respectively. Both capital cities within their countries, travellers in Istanbul can watch dazzling displays of fireworks on the Bosphorus Shore, while in Ottawa visitors can spend their evening at the Scottish style event known as Hogman-eh! Where fireworks illuminate the skies, and entry is even free.

Other notable destinations that are set to be more popular for NYE this year than last include Thai city Bangkok, where rooftop bars are aplenty, and European city Amsterdam, which is renowned for celebrations that include a dazzling electric firework display, and eating mountains of oliebollen (deep fried dough balls).

Safety Tips for Travellers on New Year’s Eve

1. Always plan your travel ahead of time 
   New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year, no matter where you are in the world. Always arrange your transport beforehand, and consider having a plan B too in case anything falls through. Public transport will be busier than usual, or running to reduced timetables, and taxis can be booked up far in advance – planning ahead can help you enjoy your festivities, while knowing you can get to your accommodation safely at the end of the night.
   
2. Take only what you need out
   It’s very important to be aware of your surroundings at all times while abroad, but during New Year’s Eve there may be bigger crowds than usual, which can mean it’s easier for pickpockets to operate. Avoid taking all of your identification or bank cards out with you, and leave some safely locked at home in case any of them go missing.
   
3. Be mindful of fireworks
   Different countries have different rules surrounding fireworks. With health and safety regulations differing all over, always be mindful of your surroundings to ensure you stay a safe distance away from any being set off. If you choose to use sparklers too, be aware of the regulations and laws surrounding their use in the country you’re in.
   
4. Stay connected
   It’s easy to drain your battery when taking lots of photos and videos of a fun event or fireworks displays, and you may spend more time on your phone than usual sending lots of Happy New Year’s messages to your friends and family. Remember to charge your phone before you headout to celebrate, and take a battery pack with you so you can charge on the go. Letting your friends and family know where you’ll be spending the night, and providing other potential ways of contacting you is always useful too.

Chris Rolland, CEO at InsureandGo adds: “Celebrating New Year’s Eve and heading into a brand new year is always an exciting time, made even more thrilling if celebrating abroad in a new location. It’s wonderful to see destinations such as Amsterdam growing in popularity, with classic choices like London and New York still drawing in visitors from all over the globe for end of year festivities.

“Travellers should be aware, however, that excessive drinking of alcohol can invalidate your travel insurance while abroad. You won’t be expected to avoid alcohol entirely while on your holidays, but you may be unable to make a claim if your alcohol consumption has resulted in your judgement being affected. Be sure to enjoy the festivities responsibly, and have a happy New Year!”

For more information on how to stay safe while travelling over the festive season, please visit: www.insureandgo.com/travel-insurance/annual-travel-insurance/