What better way to welcome 2026 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 2026 off on the right foot.
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 2026 falls on February 17.
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 2026 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.
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.
New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand
Being one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the turn of the year—second only to the nation of Kiribati—makes New Zealand one of the best places to spend New Year’s. The holiday falls during summer in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing blue skies, long sunny days, and good spirits, whether day or night.
New Year’s in New Zealand is a lively yet laid-back affair, with families and friends gathering for barbecues, beach picnics, or around a pavlova—a local meringue-based dessert traditionally eaten on celebrations—on the 31st and the 1st.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Set your sights on the cinematic South Island, and you’ll be spoiled for choice about how to spend the last day of the year—or start a new one.
Christchurch, New Zealand’s second city, is a fantastic spot to wrap up the year. Soak up the atmosphere of the green city, known for its leafy and botanic gardens, including the vast, wooded Hagley Park. This is where the city unites to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Southern Alps, New Zealand
Ride the gondola for panoramic views stretching from the city to Lyttelton Harbour. Go punting on the Avon River before turning coastal and settling on the golden sands of New Brighton Beach for a picnic. Or make the last day of the year truly special by adventuring into the cinematic Southern Alps around Canterbury in search of Middle Earth.
If your New Year’s resolution is to witness more incredible wildlife, you won’t have long to wait. Venture slightly south to Dunedin on the 1st, and after witnessing one of the planet’s first sunrises of 2026, beeline to see the penguins of the Otago Peninsula.
Here, at aptly named Penguin Place, it’s possible to sight the resident colonies of little blue penguins and the endangered yellow-eyed penguins, who reside here year-round.
Cozumel, Mexico
Playa Mia in Cozumel, Mexico
Mexico’s Año Nuevo celebrations are a lively blend of traditional customs, deep-rooted culinary recipes, and plenty of color. It’s a time to both herald the future and let go of the past—symbolized by the burning of the Año Viejo, a life-sized doll.
For a sun-kissed end to the year, Cozumel is one of Mexico’s best places to go for New Year’s. The country’s largest Caribbean island is only a stone’s throw from the mainland, yet the idyllic, paper-white beaches and first-class snorkeling can feel a world away.
San Gervasio in Cozumel, Mexico
If you’d like to end the year on a historical high note, head to the San Gervasio archaeological site. A marvel of pre-Columbian Maya civilization, a walk along the sacbés, Mayan raised roads, will take you between weathered but well-preserved temples and homes.
Furnishing a more colorful backdrop, street art-filled San Miguel is a fantastic spot to soak up the daytime energy.
Whether you’re admiring the scenic sea views across to the mainland while ambling along the waterfront, or joining the crowds in the downtown shopping district—presents aren’t gifted until January 6 in Mexico—the festive cheer is infectious.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
For a slightly different atmosphere, take a short ferry ride to the mainland and enjoy a day in Playa del Carmen. Swim in incredibly picturesque cenotes, the ubiquitous natural sinkholes along the Yucatan Peninsula. Or relax at one of the many local beach clubs, raising a margarita or Ponche Navideño, a warmed spiced fruit punch typical around New Year’s, to the year ahead.
Settle into a sea-view seat and savor the ocean with freshly caught lobster or a zesty ceviche. To make the most of the season, try tamales, a Mesoamerican recipe of steamed dough stuffed with beans, cheese, or meat, commonly eaten around the holidays.
Don’t forget to source 12 grapes ready for midnight. The local New Year’s tradition, known as las doce uvas, is to make a dozen wishes for the year ahead with each one eaten.
St. Kitts
View from Timothy Hill Lookout, St. Kitts
In St. Kitts, the party is already well underway. From mid-December until January 2, the country comes alive with a kaleidoscope of color, costumes, soca, and calypso, for the annual Sugar Mas Carnival.
While the main parade takes place on New Year’s Day, the junior procession kicks off at noon on December 31, making for an entertaining and wholesome carnival introduction between sightseeing in Basseterre, the capital city.
St. Kitts Scenic Railway
It’s not only the festivities that make St. Kitts one of the best places to spend New Year’s. For an easy-going introduction to the island’s landscapes, spanning dormant volcanoes and flora-cloaked mountains to rainforest and beautiful beaches, ride the St. Kitts Scenic Railway.
Constructed between 1912 and 1926 to move sugar cane around the island, the narrow gauge track now shuttles visitors around the island on scenic double-decker carriages. It’s possible to circumnavigate the entire island on a leisurely three-hour jaunt—though around a third of the journey is by bus.
If you’re craving a more active end to the year, tackle one of the trails to Timothy Hill Lookout. Surveying a thin stretch of land angled towards neighboring Nevis, the verdant viewpoint is one of St. Kitts’ most unique, with a panorama framing the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea simultaneously.
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, St. Kitts
Across the island, another fine vantage point awaits from the cannoned walls of Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, an impressive, 17th-century military structure and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
End the day sampling one of St. Kitts’s national or local dishes, such as goat water, a slow-cooked goat stew, or pepperpot, another meat-heavy stew traditionally enjoyed around New Year’s and other celebrations.
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini’s cyan shallow waters, speckled with soft, snowy cays and boundless beaches backed by soaring palms, promise one of the most peaceful and picturesque places to go for New Year’s.
Only around 60 nautical miles from Florida, the Bahamas’ westernmost island chain is the perfect place to spend a lazy last day of the year.
Honeymoon Harbour in Bimini, Bahamas
Whether you prefer vibrant shorelines or the isolated allure of Honeymoon Harbour, a boat-accessed sliver of sand and vegetation, the best way to wrap up the year in Bimini is at the beach.
Beach aside, the holiday period is a fantastic time to visit the Bahamas. Junkanoo, the local carnival celebrations, are scheduled periodically between Christmas and New Year’s Day, bringing color and percussion, while the table is filled with celebratory dishes.
Cracked conch
Cracked conch, battered and fried conch, is a Bahamian staple year-round, especially enjoyed during celebrations.
St. Maarten
St. Maarten
St. Maarten, set in the sun-kissed Lesser Antilles archipelago, is one of the best places to spend the end of the year for a slightly European experience, complete with winter sun.
Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, is especially appealing. Merging elements of the Netherlands’ gabled architecture with all the colors and character of the Caribbean, it can feel like a sun-kissed, palm-shaded slice of Europe.
Fort Amsterdam, St. Maarten
Spend the last day of the year strolling between the city’s historic landmarks, such as 17th-century Fort Amsterdam and the distinctive Raadhuis, or courthouse, depicted on the nation’s flag. Follow it up with some stroopwafels, and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled much further than the Caribbean Sea.
Still, this is very much the Caribbean, evident in everything from the cuisine, such as leafy Callaloo soup, conch and dumplings, and Johnny Cakes, to the shorelines.
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Enjoy an afternoon lounging on the golden arch of sand at Simpson Bay, backed by the boardwalk, or a tour and tasting at Topper’s Rhum Distillery, to soak it all in.
Best of all, it’s straightforward to experience both the island’s sides and cultures in one day. It’s only a 20-minute drive between Philipsburg and Marigot, the capital of the French overseas collectivity, and there’s no physical border. Blink and miss the sign, and you might not even realize you’ve crossed.
Orient Beach, St. Maarten
This is especially great news for beach lovers, as the glorious, powder-white Orient Beach, lapped by turquoise waters, is located on the island’s northeast—and is one of St. Maarten’s best beaches.
Belize
Caye Caulker, Belize
Home to the world’s second-largest reef system and some of the most blissful beaches on the planet, spending New Year’s in Belize likely means splashing around in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
One of the most unforgettable places to go for New Year’s is the Belize Barrier Reef. A UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its scale and diversity, the 186-mile-long system of atolls, coral reefs, and cays harbors some 500-plus species of marine life.
Belize Barrier Reef
For a truly bucket-list-worthy end-of-year experience, board a boat and set out to explore the reef above or below water. As New Year’s falls within Belize’s dry season, it’s the perfect time to snorkel or scuba dive due to the near-perfect visibility.
Considered one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean, scuba divers will be spoiled with likely sightings of various sharks, rays, and shoals of parrotfish and angelfish.
Snorkeling in Belize
There’s no need to don a tank to see Belize’s marine life, if that’s not your speed. Spend a relaxed day on the Caye Caulker islet, flitting between sunbathing and snorkeling, and you likely won’t have to swim far from shore to sight sea turtles and manatees.
Back on dry land, reserve a little time to walk around Belize City, the country’s coastal capital. Retaining some British colonial architecture—the nation was occupied as British Honduras until 1973—notable landmarks include the red and white Baron Bliss Lighthouse and St. John’s Cathedral, both constructed in the 19th century.
Bonaire
Bonaire
Arguably the most laid-back of the ABC Islands, Bonaire is an excellent place to spend the last day of the year if you’re seeking sun, sand, and sea rather than frenzied festivities.
Considered the finest of the trio for underwater experiences, Bonaire is also one of the best places to go scuba diving or snorkeling.
Bonaire National Marine Park
With a wealth of world-class underwater sites in the Bonaire National Marine Park, one of the planet’s first protected marine parks, you might spot kaleidoscopic coral, sea turtles, seahorses, and rays, even on a quick dive.
If learning to scuba is your resolution, Bonaire is the perfect place for an introductory lesson. More experienced divers will relish the island’s excellent wreck sites, including the 236-foot-long Hilma Hooker freighter.
Sorobon Beach, Bonaire
A tranquil last beach day of the year is just as easy to come by, and the sandy shorelines around shimmering Lac Bay, such as Sorobon Beach with its wooden-decked seafood feast restaurant, are particularly noteworthy.
For soft adventures on firmer ground, look no further than Washington Slagbaai National Park in Bonaire’s rugged northeastern corner. Home to Mount Brandaris, Bonaire’s highest peak, and abundant birdlife, including the pink flamingos that frequent Goto Lake, it’s serene and soul-soothing.
Kralendijk, Bonaire
End the day with some urban exploring, either in the coastal capital Kralendijk or Rincon, the island’s oldest village. Built inland by Spanish settlers in the 16th century, away from pirate eyes, little remains of its original design.
However, a visit to Cadushy Distillery is a reason enough to visit. As one of the few places in the world that produces spirits from cacti, it’s the perfect spot to raise a glass to the New Year.
St. Thomas
Magens Bay, St. Thomas
With sugar-white beaches tucked below verdant mountains and some of the Caribbean’s most photogenic panoramas, St. Thomas is perhaps the most paradisical of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Well known for its duty-free shopping, it’s also an excellent destination for any stylish traveler wanting to make the most of the post-holiday sales—or find the perfect New Year’s outfit.
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Pick from any of the malls around Charlotte Amalie, the island’s capital, for some quality retail therapy, before exploring the city’s landmarks. Fort Christian, a 17th-century Danish fortress turned museum, and 17th-century Blackbeard’s Castle, with its sweeping views, shouldn’t be missed.
Prefer to spend the last day of 2025 relaxing and reflecting? Make for Magens Bay. A powdery-white beach tucked at the end of a narrow channel flanked by vegetation-clad hills, it’s a dreamy spot to swim in the gentle shallows and soak up the last sun rays of the year.
New Year’s Eve party on Celebrity
Visit some of the world’s best places to go for New Year’s Eve on a cruise vacation. Browse our New Year’s Eve itineraries and book your holiday cruise vacation today.
