Six New Year’s Eve getaways for partying (and pampering)

Mexico City, Mexico

Party
A beguiling mix of tradition, culture and partying, Mexico City packs in everything you could want for a New Year’s Eve break. In the build-up to the big day, visit the Museo Nacional de Arte and the Frida Kahlo Museum, trawl old-school cantinas for tacos, mezcalitas and the occasional mariachi band, take a trajinera boat tour of Xochimilco’s floating canals, catch a lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) show or book a seat at the hottest table in town, Rosetta, listed on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024.

Head to Avenida Reforma for a thronging street party – stop by Churrería El Moro, open 24 hours, 365 days a year, for late-night snacks – or book one of the city’s many special dinners: “Places like Balcón del Zócalo – with views of the iconic Zócalo square – or Ling Ling, with sweeping city vistas, are fun and memorable,” says Cristina Alonso, a local travel writer. The chicest crowds, however, seek out the stylish restaurants and bars of the La Condesa and Roma Norte barrios mágicos (magic neighbourhoods). The Hotel Condesa DF is a perfectly placed stay that’s also close to Panadería Rosetta – a bakery famous for its drool-worthy sweets such as guava pastries and cardamom buns. Hangover? What hangover?

Pamper
New Age self-care is just a 90-minute drive away (or hop on a bus from Terminal Taxqueña or Terminal Norte) at Amomoxtli, in Tepoztlán. Unwind on the pool’s floating daybeds (the water is a soothing bath temperature) or bubble away in the two whirlpool tubs. Wholesome activities include making perfumes with natural ingredients, cooking to decade-old methods with the resident chef and dining on authentic dishes such as hibiscus taquitos. There’s even dedicated relaxation time (read: siestas) in the hotel’s verdant gardens, when pre-Hispanic music plays and aromatherapy scents are diffused through the air.

Also home to one of Mexico’s most sigh-inducing spas, this is not the place for run-of-the-mill massages and facials – instead, book in for crystal healing, reflexology, energetic cleansing or a temazcal (traditional bath house) ceremony, a ritual that involves bathing in pulque with rhythmic drumming, ancient songs and sage purifying. Spend just a few days here, and you’ll return having had something akin to a spiritual rebirth.

Ring in the New Year in Mexico City

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Party
The samba-filled, steamy metropolis of Rio is legendary for its iconic sights such as the Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain, as well as its world-famous carnival, and that fabulousness extends to its New Year’s Eve celebrations, as destination expert Kate Wickers can confirm. “A party city throughout the year, Rio’s NYE festivities are unforgettable, with samba music the soundtrack of every gathering,” she says.

“Head to the beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and Leme to see the fireworks at midnight and take part in the tradition of ‘jumping seven waves’ (a wish is made at every leap). For a cooler scene, catch the bonde tram to the bohemian Santa Teresa neighbourhood, packed full of restaurants and bars, where the party spills on to the street. Be sure to wear white, a habit adopted from the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomblé and Umbanda, as a symbol of peace and good luck.” Check in to Windsor Palace Copacabana for beach views.

Pamper
Take a three-hour transfer along the lush Costa Verde road to the seaside city of Angra dos Reis for some wellbeing in nature. A must-visit is Ilha Grande, a 360-island archipelago where no cars are allowed and nature has run riot. Explore its winding trails, past lagoons and exotic wildlife, at your languid leisure. There’s also Lopes Mendes beach, considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful, where you can enjoy a soporific snooze under the shade of almond trees, as well as the sleepy colonial town of Paraty.

For bonus relaxation points, stay at Fasano Angra dos Reis, a splendidly isolated enclave of Modernist villas loved by a well-heeled crowd from São Paulo and Rio. As well as an Instagrammable pool, tai chi classes and a private beach for moonlit dinners, the hotel can arrange kayaking among mangroves and cooling off in waterfall-fed natural pools. And did we mention it has a 2,000sqm spa?

Prepare to party in Rio

Cape Town, South Africa

Party
Astounding landscapes, top restaurants and a thriving art scene: it’s no wonder travellers fall for Cape Town. And the summer months (December-March) are some of the best times to visit. “In the summer there’s a buzz on the beaches and a cosmopolitan crowd in the clubs,” says Richard Holmes, a born-and-bred Capetonian and Time Out’s local expert. “On New Year's Eve, V&A Waterfront is the hub of the action, with Time Out Market Cape Town and Cabo Beach Club both hosting glamorous events. For a more family-friendly evening, try the outdoor concert at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

“The next day, avoid the coast – New Year’s Day is always insanely busy on Cape beaches. Opt instead for a wander on Table Mountain – shady Newlands Forest is ideal if it’s hot, or head for Silvermine and go wild swimming in the reservoir. Follow up with a lazy lunch of global small plates at the kid-friendly Ember & Oak.” Make The Hyde Hotel, with its spacious suites and rooftop bar and pool, your swish pad in the city.

Pamper
Hotfoot it to the picturesque wine region of Stellenbosch, a 50-minute drive from Cape Town, for bucolic bliss amid its Jonkershoek and Simonsberg nature reserves, dotted with Cape Dutch-style buildings. While you’re here, the only decision of the day will be which jaw-droppingly gorgeous vineyard to visit next (Delaire Graff Estate and Spier Wine Farm are just some of the standouts). There’s also an incredible culinary scene, with four restaurants currently in South Africa’s 50 Best list situated in the town. Sybaritic sippers can even jump on the Wine Tram in nearby Franschhoek for a tour of the valley’s best wine estates.

If you tire of eating and drinking (unlikely), other leisurely activities include visiting Stellenbosch University’s Botanical Garden or the Rupert Museum for modern South African art, taking a ride on a miniature steam train at the Winelands Light Railway or following the winding trail to cascading Paradyskloof Waterfall in pine-scented Eden Forest, where peace and serenity abound. Stay at Clouds Estate for a five-star-fabulous escape from the world.

Countdown to NYE in Cape Town

Reykjavík, Iceland

Party
For a winter wonderland vibe over the New Year period, jet off to Reykjavík, Iceland’s cool (literally and figuratively) capital. The city is known for its wild nightlife, with many bars and clubs to be found on the main street, Laugavegur, and the roads leading off of it (book a room at the Alda Hotel on the quiet, upper end of the street for the ultimate convenience). Take part in a rúntur (pub crawl) until you find a bar that’s perfect for cosy carousing, and perhaps try the national drink, Brennivín, an aquavit nicknamed ‘The Black Death’. Icelanders tend to start the night late, so the revelries at midnight are just the beginning…

“Reykjavík is pure magic on New Year’s Eve,” says city regular James Taylor. “Locals let off fireworks from nearly every street corner in a spectacular, uncoordinated show. But first, the whole country tunes into Áramótaskaupið, a comedy show poking fun at the year’s biggest events. To join the celebration, book a table at Fish Company or Food Cellar, then wander up to Hallgrímskirkja church while everyone’s glued to their TVs, securing a prime spot for the countdown to midnight, before hitting the bars.”

Pamper
There’s no quicker way to make your friends green with envy than by posting pictures of you sipping Champagne in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon come January.  And that’s exactly how you can spend your days at The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon. One of Iceland’s first five-star hotels and only 50 minutes’ drive from the centre of Reykjavík (or catch a ride on the Destination Blue Lagoon bus), it takes relaxation to new heights with 60 sumptuous suites, a subterranean spa and a geothermal lagoon paradise.

If the steam cave, sauna and cocooning ‘Lava Spring’ underwater space don’t revitalise you, then a soothing massage or scrub-down, conducted as you lie suspended on the water (it’s the only treatment of its kind in Iceland), will do the job. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Spa Restaurant, where dining in your robe is not only allowed but encouraged. Sound healing sessions and morning yoga (complete with hypnotic views of centuries-old lava canyons) will have you feeling Zen faster than you can say ‘namaste’, while nourishing products from the Blue Lagoon skincare range will send you home with an ethereal holiday glow. 

Take off to Reykjavík

Nassau, The Bahamas

Party
If you’ve always dreamed of spending the Twixmas period on a beach, toes sinking into the sand, then the paradise islands of the Bahamas are hard to beat. The bustling, vibrant capital, Nassau, makes for a brilliant base with its glorious sweeps of sand, beachside cocktail bars and smart restaurants.

“Nassau jumps to life at New Year with cultural displays, music and entertainment,” says Judith Baker, a Caribbean travel expert. “Dance under the stars at beachfront resort Baha Mar’s Spellbound Spectacular with fireworks, top DJs and sumptuous New Year’s menus, as well as entertainment for children.” Stay at the pastel-pink SLS Baha Mar Nassau, based within the Baha Mar resort, for a very short walk home after the festivities. Don’t miss the annual Junkanoo parade on Bay Street on New Year’s Day, when downtown Nassau fills with colourful costumes, dancing and partying.

Pamper
Catch the ferry from Nassau to Harbour Island (a three-hour journey) for a sunny sojourn. Stroll around its quaint town with New England-style clapboard houses, stopping off at Arthur’s Bakery – famous for its pineapple-shaped picket fence – for a hearty breakfast or midday treat (hello, rum cake) and visit A&A Hidden Treasures to pick up personalised straw accessories. Book a treatment at The Island Spa (our vote goes to the beach massages for pampering as you listen to the waves lapping the shore) and dine alfresco with an accompanying Goombay Smash – the island’s signature cocktail – at The Dunmore.

The main draw, though, is Pink Sands Beach, which steals the limelight with its 35 miles of blushing coastline. Stroll along it at golden hour to see its colour turn from blush to rose. If you feel like exerting yourself just a smidge more, between Harbour Island, nearby Eleuthera and the surrounding cays, there are more than 100 beaches to explore, from solitary stretches to those backed by limestone cliffs. You can island hop by boat or explore a sandbar at low tide. Check in to the boutique, coral-hued Eleven Bahama House, just a four-minute walk from where the ferry docks, for an island home away from home.

Take me to Nassau

Lisbon, Portugal 

Party
Lisboans love to kickstart NYE at one of the city’s finest fado venues. This evocative music, which dates back to the 18th century, is Portugal’s signature sound and is performed over dinners of bacalhau (cod) and carne de porco à alentejana (pork with clams) in atmospheric cellar bars and cosy restaurants around the city – try Clube de Fado in Alfama and O Faia in Bairro Alto. Then head to Praça do Comércio, where thousands gather and live local bands play. Seeing fireworks decorate the sky above the Tagus River at midnight is always a goosebump-giving moment. Be sure to have your bottle of Espumante at the ready…

“If you want to escape the crowds,” adds Lisbon-based travel writer Joana Taborda, “wake up early to wander around Alfama, take in the remainder of the Christmas lights in Chiado and then head to Belém to catch the sunset from MAAT restaurant’s rooftop. From here, you can see the fireworks launched from the other side of the river down at the Belém Tower gardens – just remember to bring an extra layer as it can get windy.” Stay at H10 Duque de Loule, a boutique city-centre stay that fuses old-world charm with modern comforts.

Pamper
Ride the rails 40 minutes from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré station to the stylish seaside town of Cascais on the Portuguese Riviera. Not only is a one-way ticket a mere €2.30 per person, but trains leave every 20 minutes and the scenery along the way is gorgeous. You can easily spend a few days here, strolling past pastel-coloured villas and along the charming beachfront esplanade, where fishing boats bob in the bay – continue to Casino Estoril, if you like, which was the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

Explore the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, a 19th-century palace, and its peacock-filled park, or bijou Museu do Mar, which tells the story of Cascais as a fishing village. Don’t miss the view of Boca do Inferno, a rocky outcrop that juts dramatically into the sea, or the chance to dine on succulent seafood at waterside local favourite Furnas do Guincho. Vila Gale Cascais is a friendly and unpretentious town centre stay. Leave time for an easy breezy day trip to fairy-tale Sintra. Just ride the 1623 bus (€2.30 per person) 30 minutes from Cascais Terminal to Sintra Estação, to complete the Portuguese trifecta.

Jet off to Lisbon