7 best New Year’s Eve fireworks in the world

New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year, celebrated the world over. Often, long-held national traditions form the basis of a show in a particular country. If you’re looking to ring in the New Year with a bang, check out these seven New Year's Eve fireworks displays. These destinations really know how to put on a show, and the experience is worth adding to your bucket list.

Sydney is one of the first major cities in the world to get the New Year’s Eve celebration started. It has a world-famous reputation for its fireworks display. As the clock counts down, the atmosphere is electric.

The fireworks take place at Sydney Harbour, with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House providing a stunning backdrop. There are free family-friendly viewing areas, which fill up quickly – as it’s outdoors, people usually take a picnic. The places that offer the best views, such as the islands in Sydney Harbour, are ticketed and it’s advisable to book early as these sell out fast. You can even camp on Cockatoo Island, right in the heart of the action, but away from the crowds. Either bring your own tent or book a stay on the island.

Everyone is catered for, with an early show for families with children and a later show around 9pm for adults. After the fireworks, people carry on partying down at the Rocks, an area near the harbour. You’ll need photo ID to get into any of the bars. As a bonus, public transport is free in Sydney on New Year’s Eve, which adds to the party spirit. Stay at the friendly, Medusa Hotel and enjoy a boutique vibe.

Cape Town’s stunning location at the foot of Table Mountain makes a fabulous backdrop for its legendary New Year’s Eve fireworks. The whole of the De Waterkant neighbourhood buzzes with New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a particularly vibrant, cosmopolitan spot with lively bars and restaurants throwing their own parties.An amphitheatre on the waterfront hosts seven hours of live music alongside famous DJs. If you’re looking for a countdown party, some local favourite venues include The Square and Jarvis Street’s Lazari. Lots of activities take place in the city’s main square. You can stay within walking distance of the colourful Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at the luxurious Cape Diem Lodge.

The official New Year’s Eve party in Copacabana is one of the biggest in the world. It takes place on the stunning Copacabana Beach – and it’s free! The Réveillon party, as Brazilians often call it, starts at 7pm with DJs and other Brazilian artists, who warm up the often two-million-strong crowd. At midnight there is a spectacular fireworks display the length and breadth of the beach, and then afterwards the city goes back to more partying.

A Brazilian ritual involves partygoers arriving on the beach dressed in white to symbolise a new beginning in honour of Lemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Gifts are offered to Lemanjá at the water’s edge just before midnight, in the hope that the waves take them away and the givers’ wishes are granted. It can be hard to get taxis on New Year’s Eve, so it helps to stay nearby. The Windsor Martinique Copacabana Hotel is just half a block from Copacabana Beach.

You might think Scotland is cold in the winter, but travel here for Hogmanay (what the Scots call New Year) and you can expect a warm welcome. Edinburgh is the scene for this famously colourful street party and one of the best fireworks displays in the world.

The night’s parties originate from the Vikings’ wild celebration of the winter solstice. With the impressive grandeur of Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop, you can expect a cornucopia of colourful attractions throughout the city centre. As well as the renowned Torchlight Procession and live music in the Princes Street Gardens, there are street performers, pipers, drummers and the beat of the cèilidh, a traditional Scottish social celebration – all of this contributes to a night of carnival vibes.

It’s a warm-hearted frenzy as you lead up to the midnight bells and an unforgettable fireworks and light spectacular. A stay at Museum Apartments puts you at the heart of the action in the city centre’s Old Town.

The famous ball drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Buzzing with energy, Times Square fills with parties and an unmatched atmosphere. You can even hop in and out of all the nightclubs, bars and various parties with a special access pass.

The night starts with live music, entertainment and even the odd celebrity. Then at precisely 60 seconds before midnight, the ball starts its great descent, counting down to the start of the new year. Fireworks kick off from the roof of One Times Square, while Auld Lang Syne sets the tone for millions in the crowd to collectively celebrate.

For the ultimate vantage point, head to the ‘bowtie’ zone, where Broadway and 7th Avenue intersect – it’s the first area to fill up. Another prime viewing spot is between 42nd and 48th Streets, where you can watch the ball drop and also take in the huge screens covering One Times Square. There’s an accessible designated viewing area at 44th Street and Broadway. The lower the street number you are on, the closer you are to the ball.

If you want to soak up the real essence of New York, book a stay at Romer Hell’s Kitchen for spacious rooms with plenty of nearby restaurant options.

Experience the jaw-dropping fireworks display that takes place at the iconic Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers. The countdown ritual culminates in the most extravagant fireworks display and light show in the country with spectacular fireworks, beam lights and lasers.

Multimedia animations and original music make it a multisensory, immersive show. For the best views head to Xiangshan early, or you can also get good views from the east corner of Taipei 101 and the north bank of the Keelung River. As the clock strikes midnight, the city comes alive with various parties around the city to continue the celebrations.

For a chic yet straightforward stay, check out the centrally located Via Hotel Taipei Station.

The sight of fireworks in all their colour, sparkling over the water of the majestic Niagara Falls, is a memory you won’t forget in a hurry. The celebration spans both sides of the border between Canada and the US, and it unsurprisingly draws big crowds. You can see the special New Year’s Eve midnight display from many beautiful vantage points around Niagara Falls.

There are outdoor viewing spaces in Niagara Parks, a platform just steps away from the base of the Falls, or you can enjoy a unique position and look down on them from the Skylon Tower and Niagara SkyWheel. If you’d prefer to stay inside, many local hotels and restaurants have good views of the Falls.

Canada’s entertainment capital provides plenty to do in the run-up to midnight. Family fun attractions like the Niagara SkyWheel and Niagara Speedway go-kart track are all open until at least 11pm. Stay within a ten-minute walk of the Falls at the romantic Victorian-style bed and breakfast, A Night to Remember B&B.