New Years Eve is one of the biggest party dates of the year. In the US, Times Square in New York is the center of attention, but you can host a Champaign toast and balloon drop just about anywhere. There are a few places around the world that are less known but offer no less of a festive atmosphere. Here are a few global cities where New Years is a blast.



1. Sydney, Australia. Because of the International Date Line, Sydney is one of the first major cities to ring in the next year. Sydney Harbor is the place to be. Worried about waiting for midnight outside? Don't be. January is the middle of the Southern Hemisphere's summer. Lighted boats circle the harbor and there is a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

2. Rio de Janeiro is another Southern hotspot. The beaches of Rio are happening every day, but especially on New Years Eve, when much of the city's population waits on the sand for the fireworks to start off the next year. And, of course, it's Brazil, so there is lots of music and dancing in the streets.

3. Berlin is home to a gigantic street party. Sure, it is the dead of winter in Germany, but that doesn't stop people from dancing and drinking in the streets as the countdown to the New Year progresses.

4. In the US, cities like Las Vegas and New Orleans typically offer plenty of options for New Years Eve parties. Sin City has a full menu of celebrity-hosted Champaign bashes, though there will be plenty of concerts and shows offering a more low-key (and cheaper) alternative. New Orleans starts off the year in typically raucous fashion on Bourbon Street.

5. European mainstays like Paris, Milan, and London have plenty of options as well.