Things To Do On New Year’s Eve in NYC

The Big Apple comes alive on New Year's Eve.

While many friends and families gather at Times Square for the traditional ball drop, there are New Year's Eve parties held throughout the city where you can enjoy fireworks, live music, and, hopefully, an open bar!

Here are just a few of the things you can do in the city that never sleeps on New Year's Eve:

1. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge

Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge is a new but popular tradition in the city.

Revelers can cross the bridge with a flood of tourists and locals, count down the clock and enjoy the spectacular views over the city.

The Empire State Building is cast in special hues for the event, and you'll be able to see the Manhattan silhouette, the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, and the traffic on East River Drive.

You'll feel like real New Yorkers! The good news is that the bridge is close to plenty of New Year's Eve celebrations and parties, so you can keep the festivities going.

2. See a Fireworks Display

Another popular tradition is the Prospect Park Fireworks Display in the Park Slope neighborhood.

There are plenty of festivities at the Grand Army Plaza to enjoy before the sky is lit up with fireworks.

If you are planning on walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you can easily catch a subway from Borough Hall or Clark Street and make your way there in 20 minutes or so.

Alternatively, you can catch the best view of the New Year's Eve fireworks by booking a fireworks cruise, like the New Year's Eve Circle Line Cruise, Moonlight New Year's Eve Fireworks Party (aboard a triple-decker vessel), or the New York Water Taxi New Year's Eve Cruise.

Central Park also has its own fireworks display, lit from Bow Bridge at midnight, in honor of the annual midnight run of the New York Runner's Club.

3. Attend the Times Square Ball Drop

No other New Year's Eve event comes close to the iconic ball drop in Times Square. Yes, it's crowded and touristy, but it's a bucket list event for most of us and well worth experiencing.

You can view the ball along Broadway from 43rd to 50th street or along 7th Avenue from 43rd to 59th Street.

Hint: the lower the street number, the closer you are to the ball! 

Needless to say, the area will be packed as tourists and locals gather to celebrate New Year's Eve, and the ball drop is extremely popular, so if you don't like crowds, you should book a seat at a restaurant in the area where you'll have a more comfortable view.

The Knickerbocker , Hyatt Centric Times Square , and Renaissance New York Times Square all have great views or rooftop bars (and amazing New Year's Eve menus) where you can celebrate New Year's Eve in NYC. Alternatively, spend NYE at one of the many hotels that offer a view overlooking the city's most famous New Year's Eve celebration.

The Marriott Marquis, LUMA Hotel, and Hilton Garden Inn are all great places to spend New Year's Eve.

4. Celebrate New Year's Eve with Your Favorite Celebrities (Sort of!)

The legendary Madame Tussaud offers a family-friendly New York New Year's Eve event with your favorite celebrities (in wax form, of course).

There's food, open bars (for over 21-year-olds), and a unique special 4-D cinema experience featuring wind, snow, scent, and mist.

5. Dance the Night Away

If you're in a party mood, why not spend your evening in one of New York City's many clubs and bars?

You don't need to book ahead, but if you would like a view or a guaranteed seat, it's best to make a reservation.

The 230 Fifth Rooftop, Mr. Purple, The Spyglass, or The Ready are great rooftop bar options. For a nightclub experience, Blue Midtown, The Dream, and Space 54 come highly recommended.

6. Raise a glass at Guastavino's

Guastavino's in Manhattan hosts a legendary New Year's Eve celebration inside a designated landmark.

If making a champagne toast in a gorgeous building with sweeping windows and an antique ballroom atmosphere sounds like your idea of a perfect night out, Guastavino's is the perfect venue to ring in the new year.

The menu is compiled by Chef Jaime Vasquez, offering elegant food that is beautifully presented.

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Conclusion

Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st? If you are lucky enough to be in New York City, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do and ways to celebrate.

You might also be interested in these things to do in NYC:

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• New York in December