New Year’s Eve in New York City is an iconic celebration, certainly one of the biggest in the city’s calendar. If you do plan to visit NYC to bring in 2018, a fantastic and most memorable time awaits. No place does New Year’s Eve like New York City.
Whilst you are with us in NYC for NYE – make sure you stay an extra day or so before or after the party so you can enjoy all the other sights the city has to offer. A short stay in New York will get your 2018 off to the very best start! Meantime, here’s our guide on how to spend New Year’s Eve in New York City.
Times Square Ball Drop in New York.
By far, this is the best-known New Years event in New York City. It’s the party that everyone has seen on TV, and around 1 million people flock to Times Square New York on New Year’s Eve to see it in person. Most New Yorkers have experienced this New Year’s Eve extravaganza at least once. If you plan to attend, then here are a couple of tips:
You need to wrap up warm and get there early – people begin claiming their spots at noon on New Year’s Eve. Be prepared with food and snacks, but remember bags are not permitted.
Take a cruise and watch the Fireworks over the Statue of Liberty.
Quieter than Times Square – but perhaps just as iconic – are the fireworks that are lit at New York Harbor and Liberty Island. A grand display will light up the sky above the Statue of Liberty – another famous emblem of NYC. There will be cruise companies offering you the opportunity to watch them from the waters, or you can get a good viewpoint from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or Manhattan’s Battery Park.
Fireworks in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn’s Prospect Park will also host a beautiful fireworks display again this year to welcome in 2018. They’ll be let off on the Great Lawn, and you’ll be able to see them from Grand Army Plaza – which is at the entrance to the park. There will be entertainment and refreshments on sale – but this is a popular event, so remember to arrive early to get a good spot. The event begins at 11pm. The areas around the park – Park Slope & Prospect Heights have some great bars and restaurants – perfect either before or after the fireworks.
Walk across Brooklyn Bridge.
When it opened in the 19th Century – the Brooklyn Bridge was dubbed ‘the eighth wonder of the world’. It’s synonymous with New York and I think it’s an incredible place to be on New Year’s Eve. The bridge links Brooklyn with Manhattan – and so, you’ll get a brilliant view of the city and its skyline. Look out for that other NYC symbol – the Empire State Building, which will be lit up for the occasion. Time it right and you’ll also get a great view of the fireworks over the Statue of Liberty.
Catch a show on New Year’s Eve.
On any night of the year, you can catch an amazing show in New York – and New Year’s Eve is no different. One NYC annual tradition is the Concert for Peace at the Cathedral of St. John the Devine. Tickets are essential, some are free. The performing arts venue – the Lincoln Center on NYCs Upper West Side will host the annual New Year’s Eve Gala with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. This year the theme is the music of Leonard Bernstein’s Broadway musicals. The choices are vast!
New York City also boasts an incredible reputation for nightlife year round, so you can expect an exceptional standard of partying at any one of the city’s venues at New Year – whether that’s a high octane fun at a club, or a more sedate pace of fun at an elegant ball in our boutique hotels. The choice is yours. Remember – booking will be essential.
If ever there was a good time to come and experience New York, it’s certainly New Year’s Eve since the Big Apple is one of the world’s best and most famous destinations to ring in the New Year. Stay with us a while and enjoy all New York has to offer both before and after the celebrations. Please do contact us for more details on how we can help you explore New York City during this incredible time of year. From Hop-On Hop Off Bus tours that will whisk you round the main sights of the city to Hop-On Hop Off cruises where you can sit back and sail past our famous skyline. Get in touch with Gray Line New York today.
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