New Year’s Eve in NYC [2023]: 12 ways to have the best time!

Are you planning NYE in NYC this December/January 2023?

This post covers how to start your new year’s eve celebrations with a bang (or a couple of cocktails). But I am also adding NYE 2023 plans and will keep this post updated when events are released.

If you’re here for the holiday season, then you’ll also like this post on How to do Christmas in New York City covering unique events, pop up markets, best neighborhoods for lights and of course, skating!

But spending new years eve in New York City is on the bucket list of countless travellers across the world.

The city has all the excitement and magic one needs to see in the new year and whether you’re on a budget or money’s no object, this post is for you.

*Disclaimer: while I have made every effort to ensure the content below is correct, please click on the relevant links to go directly to the attraction in question and double check hours, costs, latest weather or pandemic interruptions, etc.

New York is a constant buzz of activity throughout the year. It’s a city that is really the crossroads of the world so no wonder it is also known as “the city that never sleeps”.

Where better to have the best new year’s eve than the Big Apple?

I have been using Southwest Airlines lately for my domestic flights within the US because this no-frills airline actually has LOTS of frills! You can read all about my review and tips for flying Southwest here.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase from some sites I will earn a commission at no cost to you.

12 ways to celebrate the 2022/23 New Year in NYC

To help you make the most of your New Year’s Eve celebration, and to better experience New York on a budget, this post covers some epic ways to begin the new year.

Whether you prefer a more exclusive and elegant night out with your nearest and dearest, or to be one of a million jostling in a throng of New Yorkers, I’ve got you covered. 

If you’re looking for the best, or hidden, rooftop restaurants and bars in NYC, you’ll love the places I’ve also selected on this post the best dreamy rooftop restaurants in NYC – but make your booking soon so you don’t miss out.

And after you’ve seen in the new year in, you might like to head off on a romantic winter getaway from NYC.

If you’re looking for NYC New Year’s Eve parties and events, New York has a long list to choose from and each event has its own details on dress code, time and cost.

The following list is guaranteed to provide an unforgettable start to the new year.

Attend a NYC New Year’s Eve cocktail party

New York City drips with elegance and attending a cocktail party is a great way to get into the vibe as the countdown begins.

Take your pick from a variety of different ticketed NYE events, or choose a more casual approach and walk into one of the city’s many festive cocktail bars and rooftop restaurants. 

NYC and cocktails go hand in hand, so keep in mind that there will be plenty of people with the same idea as you. Make a booking and be sure that you head out early so that you can get a good seat at the bar and take advantage of those happy hour specials. 

Get to some cool Open Bar events for New Year’s Eve 2023

> Open Bar events are hugely popular and there several all over the city on New Year’s eve. Details will come closer to the time about open bar events in NYC.

> For something truly special, grab tickets to New Year’s Eve at the Empire Rooftop. Not to be mistaken for the Empire State Building, but the 12th floor of the Empire Hotel for NYE from 9pm to 1am with an open bar, hors d’Oeuvres, dessert and champagne toast. Plus live music and party favours. (Tickets $150-$250)

> Take a New Year’s Eve cruise on the Hudson River and raise a glass at midnight with the best view of the fireworks for the most spectacular show in town. Your ticket includes a 3-hour cruise, live onboard DJ, open bar, plus hors d’oeuvres. This is the IDEAL ticket to the best fireworks view with a champagne toast in NYC on NYE! (Tickets from $250)

If you’re looking for 4th of July fireworks in NYC, I’ve got you in this post.

Go on bar hopping tour until midnight

Take this 6-hour walking bar tour with exclusive viewing access of the Ball Drop in Times Square at midnight.

Starting in the afternoon you’ll visit three of New York’s oldest bars for a drink and hear all about their history and then finish the night in a speakeasy with VIP access behind the barriers at Times Square for an open bar with appetizers and avoid the crowds to watch the ball drop.

Tickets about $299.

New Year’s Eve in Brooklyn 2023

> Time Out Market, a Dumbo destination (Empire Stores, 55 Water St) brought to you by the food & bev editors at Time Out, hosts exclusive, ticketed events to ring in the New Year. More info coming on 2023 events.

FREE New Years Eve events in NYC

Believe it or not, there are free things to do on NYE in NYC including the fireworks!

Watch the New Year’s ball drop

The Times Square ball drop at the stroke of midnight should probably be #1 on this list, but I put it here because you’ll need a cocktail (or two) first!

Every year a million people gather in Times Square and watch the famous ball drop when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. In fact New York’s New Year’s Eve would be incomplete without this tradition!

Sadly last year, with the rise in Omicron variant, numbers had to be scaled back, so let’s hope this year is different.

If you want to spend some money, check out the Ball Drop pass which gets you into multiple venues around Times Square.

The plan is for live music and entertainment starting from about 6pm, but you’ll need to get in line about 3pm to secure a good spot. People begin to gather from early afternoon, so if you’re not bothered about the crowds, join the masses to see the giant, sparkling ball drop 141-feet (43 metres) from the roof of One Times Square. 

The best view to see the crystal ball drop is in the heart of Times Square where Broadway and 7th Avenue meet, also known as the ‘Bowtie’.

However, it can still be seen from quite far and the entire scene is televised across the city too – so maybe just stay in one of these rooftop restaurants and watch the live stream including the live performances outside while you’re keeping warm! 

Keep in mind that New Year’s Eve in New York is in deepest darkest winter and the iconic ball drop is an outdoor spectacle, so dress warmly (these heated hand warmers are essential to keep in your pockets!)

Take the family to Prospect Park

Rug up warm and head to Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park which plays host to a festive New Year’s Eve celebration for the whole family.

This free one-hour event starts at 11pm with live music and hot chocolate and, at midnight, a massive display of fireworks will light up the skies over the park. The best viewing spots are at Grand Army Plaza, the Park’s West Drive, and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street.

Check the Prospect Park website for latest updates on the fireworks. In 2021/22 they cancelled them due to Covid protocols.

Skate into the new year!

Ok, disclaimer: I can’t skate. In fact I hate the whole idea of slipping and sliding so I don’t ski either, but for those who do not share my phobia, here are three great places to ice skate in NYC.

The Rockefeller Center Ice Rink, under the famous Christmas tree, is a hot spot in the cold climate over winter. Even just wandering past to take a few photos is a must (that’s more like me!), and the experience is an affordable way to enjoy the city. 

But if the busyness of the Rockefeller Center intimidates you, then you can visit one of the many other ice rinks that pop up across the city.

In fact skating at Central Park is just as iconic as the Rockefeller rink.

For a more inclusive NYC tourism experience, you can book a Central Park ice skating and walking tour. (Links coming nearer the time).

Or head to the pop-up Winter Village in Bryant Park and don your skates there – then shop in the surrounding market stalls and grab a bite to eat.

Take a cruise on New York harbor

If you prefer to get away from the throng or want the sophistication of a more calm evening for your new year’s celebrations, then head over to the New York Harbor to enjoy a cruise under the dazzling night sky.

Any day though a NYC harbor cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is beautiful.

This is the ideal location to be, champagne in hand, the sound of sultry jazz in the air, to watch the fireworks display and festivities from the water on December 31st.

New Year’s Eve fireworks cruises with champagne tasting on board is one such cruise that promises an unforgettable night. Although slightly pricier, it pays in glamour and decadence. And imagine the selfies!

Experience the thrill of Coney Island

Looking a more unique and exciting way to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2023? Coney Island in Brooklyn will give you a whirlwind adventure.

The famous amusement park’s celebrations kick off at 6pm and include all of the perks expected from New Year’s Eve: fireworks, live entertainment and a happening social scene.

Located right by the beach, Coney Island is particularly exposed to the city’s winter chill, so make sure that you dress warmly. And, perhaps bring an extra jacket for when the heated excitement of the rides cools you down. 

Top tips to have the best New Year’s Eve in NYC

• Dress warmly
• Get to your destination early
• Set out a budget beforehand
• Beware of crowds, which are huge on a normal day, and the size of revellers will only increase during the festivities
• Don’t take a bag, wear a clever neck scarf with a pocket for your cell phone and cards!

To avoid getting caught up in the traffic jam to get home, book somewhere central to stay.

Hotels such as The Time New York or The Kimpton Muse Hotel, where I stayed last time I was in town, both in the Times Square area, are a sure bet that you’ll be in the thick of the action without worrying about the headache of transportation. 

I love the symbolism of welcoming in the New Year and letting go of the past one. Choose a New York experience that will inspire you to celebrate the fresh start that 2023 provides, and enjoy this beautiful city as it pumps with festivity.

This post has been my one of my most popular posts of 2021. See the rest of them, if you want to read only my best content!

Happy new year!

Read more: How to do Christmas in New York City covering unique events, pop up markets, best neighborhoods for lights and of course, skating!

Read more: Awesome flea markets in New York City will keep lovers of vintage and hand crafts amused all day.

Read more: Any time of year New York City is a great shopping destination. This post covers 12 cool shopping neighborhoods to shop till you drop in NYC.

Read more: Dreamy rooftop restaurants in New York City with stunning views, some with igloos and some under retractable roofs.

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