It’s often said that New Year’s Eve is for amateurs.
To that end, there are some obvious destinations that any joker could tell you will be “fun” on New Year’s Eve.
Steer clear of the obvious and increase your chances of getting to the front of the line without having to use your elbows, and of course, your wallet.
A little research can unlock some equally exciting New Year’s Eve celebrations at slightly less traditional destinations.
Here’s our rundown of the most obvious New Year’s Eve hot spots and their off-the-beaten-track alternatives:
For the city that just missed making the list, check out the Hopper Blog!
1. Instead of Edinburgh, Try: Prague
Edinburgh is famous for its effervescent “Hogmanay” celebrations to wring in the New Year.
For a chilly European New Year’s in another incredibly gorgeous and historical city, why not Czech out Prague? Grab a spot on the banks of Vltava river to take in the incredible fireworks display that lights up the city at midnight.
For a crazier scene, join the crowds shooting off their own fireworks in Prague’s iconic Old Town Square.
The city is known for its lively club scene, and venues like trendy dance club Mecca are sure to be packed with people ushering 2013 in with a whole lot of electronica and euro-pop.
For an all inclusive evening, grab a ticket for an evening on a Party Boat, and spend the night toasting champagne and mingling on a cruise of through the heart of the City of a Hundred Spires.
2. Instead of New York, Try: Toronto
Sure, you could go smash yourself up against a million other people in Times Square or pay $200 to go to a nightclub, but why not ring in 2013 in another cosmopolitan city without the headaches that come with trying to hail a cab in Manhattan on Dec. 31 (trust us, it’s impossible).
Toronto offers the urban nightlife of Manhattan, with a little more breathing room and a more reasonable Canadian price tag (comparison: a deluxe room at the Four Seasons in New York for New Year’s Eve is $1,195 USD, a deluxe room at Toronto’s Four Seasons is $518).
Toronto’s equivalent to the Times Square Ball drop happens at CityTv’s celebration in Nathan Square, where celebrities gather for the countdown to midnight and fireworks.
Make sure to check out Toronto’s Distillery District, a lively area full of restored Victorian Industrial buildings and chock full of cafes, galleries and bars.
2. Instead of Amsterdam, Try: Reykjavik
Every year hundreds of thousands of partiers flock to Amsterdam for New Year’s to enjoy its lively club scene, the notorious cafes, and the incredible free-for-all that is Amsterdam’s fireworks display at midnight.
If fireworks are your New Year’s raison d’etre, consider Iceland’s Reykjavik instead.
Not only will you save on flight time and hotel cost (the average cost of a 4 star hotel in Reykjavik for New Year’s is $130 while Amsterdam’s four star hotels average at $300), but you’ll enjoy a similarly lively fireworks scene along with Reykjavik's signature bonfires.
Neighbors gather to light bonfires, toast the New Year and watch the sky light up with fireworks. Like the Netherlands, Iceland has an open policy regarding fireworks during New Year’s, which means they are liable to erupt from any and all corners of the city!
Later, everyone heads to the bars and clubs in Reykjavik's downtown center to ring in the New Year with live music lasting to 6 am on January 1st.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider