As we say goodbye to one year and welcome in another, now is the perfect time to plan your first getaway of the year – or dream about where you’ll pop open the champagne next New Year’s Eve!
Whether you’re toasting to each other under the stars, staying in a luxurious hotel or just partying the night away, we’ve rounded up the six best places to see in the New Year.
Sing in the New Year in Bruges
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
As the clock ticks toward midnight on December 31, people across Belgium gear up for a long night of celebration. In Bruges, karaoke lovers sing into the New Year on the stage outside the city’s iconic red concert hall. The party goes on until 1:30 a.m., and marriage proposals and cheers from the crowd add to the festive atmosphere.
It’s becoming a tradition in what many consider a city as romantic as Venice. For those who want to continue celebrating, there are plenty of bars and restaurants open late into the night. Not ready to give up the Christmas spirit just yet? Celebrate the New Year in Brussels and enjoy the festive atmosphere from the capital’s famous “Winter Wonders”. Brussels Christmas market is one of the few in Europe that remains open until January 1!
Whether you ring in the New Year in Bruges or elsewhere in Belgium, it’ll be unforgettable! And now that Air Belgium operates a direct route between Brussels and South Africa, a Belgian celebration is now closer than you think. Fly comfortably and hassle-free to the heart of Europe all year round.
ALSO READ: Cheers! South Africa’s wonderful wine routes
Sparkle the night away under the African sky
Picture: Expert Africa
A floating luxury hotel on the Chobe River? New Year goals don’t get better than this. The Zambezi Queen has its own plunge pool and fantastic social spaces on the upper deck – you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the perfect place to relax and toast the New Year. The sunsets in Africa are some of the most beautiful in the world, and when night falls, you’ll be treated to delicious African fusion cuisine washed down with chilled South African wines.
Join the most famous island party of the year
Image by MustangJoe from Pixabay
The beaches of the Thai islands are a stomping ground for partygoers all year round, but the wildest celebration of all is New Year’s Eve on Koh Phangan. This is where the world’s most famous full moon party takes place, on Sunrise Beach in Haad Rin. The party starts as soon as it gets dark and continues well past sunrise and into the following afternoon. To get ready for the festivities, head to Sunset Beach for cocktails and a dinner of freshly caught and grilled fish. Then, just before midnight, make your way to Sunrise Beach, where the main event will take place.
A sunset hike with bubbly in hand in the Winelands
Picture: Getaway Gallery
Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest town, is rich in history and natural beauty. This is vineyard country, and Muratie Wine Estate offers a unique way to welcome the New Year. Hike to a lookout point with spectacular views of Table Mountain and toast to 2022 with a glass of bubbly in hand! Even better, kick off your New Year’s fitness goals with a 30-minute walk before everyone else can sing “Auld Lang Syne”.
Sleep in a retro rooftop caravan in Cape Town
Picture: Getaway Gallery
Welcome the new year with the big daddy of street parties on Cape Town’s famous Long Street. The street is closed to traffic for the festivities, and the party atmosphere is infectious as people from all over the world come together to dance, drink and be merry. And when the night is over, you can retreat to your own vintage Airstream trailer to cool off close to the action. At Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel by BON Hotels, you can stay in one of seven unique Airstream trailers parked on the roof! Each trailer has unique decor reflecting a typical South African road trip.
Indulge in French delicacies and fireworks
Picture: Getaway Gallery
There’s no better way to ring in the New Year than with a delicious French feast known as le réveillon. Paris is the perfect place to enjoy this sumptuous meal, which typically includes oysters, caviar, escargot and foie gras. And what could be more romantic than a midnight kiss with someone special in the city of love? The fireworks on the Champs-Élysées are the centrepiece of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Paris. For something a little more relaxed, head to the hilly area around Sacré-Cœur, where there are street parties with breathtaking views of the festivities.
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