Thailand loves the New Year so much that it has three of them! They celebrate the global New Year on 31st December, the Buddhist New Year, and the Chinese New Year.
You will be able to find parties and events to celebrate each of them. For the sake of this article, we are going to concentrate on the best places to celebrate the international New Year in Thailand.
Our guide will help you find a place and event that suits your preferences. Be it street parties, beach parties, gala dinners, or night markets, there will be somewhere for you to go in Thailand.
1. New Year's Eve in Bangkok
New Year Celebrations in Bangkok As the capital of Thailand, Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for welcoming in the New Year. The fantastic and colorful fireworks on New Year's Eve and great parties in Bangkok give an unforgettable experience to people coming from all around the world. Here are some of the most popular places to welcome the New Year in Bangkok:
Countdown on the Chao Phraya River
One of the most popular ways to enjoy the New Year in Bangkok is to spend it at the Asiatique open-air mall on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
Each year at 5 p.m., the national television broadcast of New Year's Eve is held there, featuring a variety of live music by leading Thai celebrities.
As the clock strikes midnight, a massive fireworks show is staged before the celebrations really begin. Numerous restaurants and bars will add to the entertainment as well, and provide you with the fuel to get through the night.
From the Rooftops of Bangkok
Another popular way to spend the New Year in Bangkok is to do it from the many rooftop bars and restaurants scattered throughout the city.
You can witness the fireworks displays being held in all directions while enjoying a party at a rooftop restaurant or bar. There are several options, but some of the more popular are Lebua, Vertigo at the Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel, Three Sixty, and Cloud 47.
Along the Khao San Road
There is nothing quite like a massive street party to ring in the New Year, and the biggest of these can be found on Khao San Road on New Year's Eve. There are no admission costs, you can wear what you like, and you will be able to enjoy countless bars and nightclubs, and interact with fellow celebrants.
Read further about the top things to do with kids in Bangkok.
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2. New Year's Eve in Chiang Mai
Gorgeous temples, fabulous celebrations, warming local people, rich historical and cultural activities — all these make Chiang Mai a perfect place to celebrate New Year's Eve in Thailand and spend your New Year holiday. There are plenty of nice hotels, restaurants, bars, and live music parties in this fantastic city. See some of the top places to celebrate New Year's Eve in Chiang Mai:
The Night of Lights
Also known as the Lanterns and Lights event, this is the number one attraction on New Year's Eve in Chiang Mai. Hosted on Tha Phae Gate Road, visitors can enjoy live music performances, an enjoyable fireworks display, and plenty of pubs and bars.
The road is closed off from traffic at about 5:30 p.m. so that the crowds can come and enjoy the end-of-the-year entertainment. As the New Year breaks, light a candle in your lantern and release it into the sky alongside thousands of others.
Along the Ping River
Viewed by many to be the biggest street party of the year in Thailand, the many bars and restaurants along Ping River are another great option.
Here you will find even more live music and entertainment. Many people also use this street to set off their lanterns at the stroke of midnight on the New Year.
Celebrate on the North Gate of Chiang Mai
The North Gate of Chiang Mai is another popular location for travellers, as it has plenty of restaurants, bars, and live music to enjoy.
Many make the journey here after the releasing of lanterns on Tha Phae Gate Road or along the Ping River. Think of it as an after-party where you can drink and party until the early hours.
3. New Year's Eve in Phuket
As one of the most popular travel destinations in Thailand, Phuket offers great opportunities for ocean activities, fantastic night life, colorful beach fireworks, high-end seaside resorts …, which make it a great destination to celebrate New Year's Eve and spend a holiday. It is easy to find a place to celebrate New Year's Eve on Phuket Island with your friends and family. Here are some of the top places on Phuket:
On Surin Beach
For those of you planning to spend New Year in Phuket, the number one location for celebration is Surin Beach. Phuket has always been known to have some of the best beaches and therefore the best beach parties in Thailand.
New Year's Eve is when the very best of them can be enjoyed. Live entertainment, great music, delicious food, and an electric party atmosphere can always be found on this beach during the festivities.
Other Beach Parties
Though they are not quite as popular, many other beaches in Phuket will hold their own celebratory parties. Paradise Beach and Kamala Beach are the closest contenders to Surin Beach, and you can be sure of an electric time at either of them.
4.New Year's Eve in Koh Samui
New Year's Eve in Koh Samui is set in places with different atmospheres: fancy, romantic, crazy, quiet, and casual. You could have a quiet drink with your partner at a rooftop restaurant while waiting for the midnight fireworks. There are also big noisy night parties on some of the popular beaches with big-name DJs and huge fireworks shows. The following are some of the top destinations to spend your New Year's Eve night:
Enjoy Parties on Chaweng and Nikki Beaches
On Thailand's second-largest island, the best New Year celebrations are usually held on their most popular beaches.
Chaweng Beach and Nikki Beach are the most renowned for their New Year beach parties, and once you have been to one, you will know exactly why.
Entertainment in the form of DJs and live music, a spectacular fireworks display, and a party atmosphere are the main reasons that tourists flock here for the New Year.
Go Bar Hopping
As well as being renowned for gorgeous beaches, Koh Samui is also known for its nightlife. Tourists and locals alike often go bar hopping across the island on New Year's Eve.
The electric atmosphere in the island's bars and nightclubs will probably suit younger tourists. There are several restaurants which hold Gala Nights, which might suit older tourists.
5.New Year's Eve in Chiang Rai
If you are looking for a less-crowded and traditional-Thai place to welcome the New Year, then Chiang Rai is a good option. The New Year Party in Chiang Rai is not as big as the ones in Bangkok, but it is relaxed and more enjoyable for some, as there are not too many people and price of its food and drinks is much more reasonable. Here are some of the best places to celebrate the New Year's Eve in Chiang Rai:
West of the Clock Tower
For the actual countdown to New Year, you will want to be on the west side of the Clock Tower. This is where the main celebration takes place.
The main stage will play host to live music featuring celebrity performers. As we ring the New Year in, fireworks are launched, just as they are in locations all over the world.
East of the Clock Tower
Once the main celebrations are over, most tourists make their way to the night market, which is on the east side of the Clock Tower.
There you will find lots of street vendors selling their wares, beer stands selling Chang beer, and plenty of tables and chairs to relax. You will not find much music here, but you can still hear the live music that is being played on the other side of the Clock Tower.
6.New Year's Eve in Krabi
Krabi can be a good place to spend your New Year holiday and celebrate New Year's Eve, as there are numerous fun things to do there, including hiking, snorkeling, island hopping, enjoying the hot springs, and seeing waterfalls. You will love the awesome countdown parties and the colorful fireworks in Krabi.
Enjoy a Gala Dinner
If you are staying at one of the many hotels in Krabi, you can enjoy a special gala dinner party. Here you will be able to enjoy a buffet dinner, plenty of free drinks, live entertainment, games, activities, and prize draws. These usually cost money on top of your accommodation costs but are often well worth the expense.
Celebrate on the Main Beaches of Krabi
For those of you that prefer more of a party atmosphere, head to the beaches. This is where the locals and tourists release their lanterns in Krabi. Plenty of drinks and music can be enjoyed. Once the countdown to the New Year finishes, the real partying begins.
7.New Year's Eve in Koh Phangan
Famed for its full moon and half moon parties, Koh Phangan is known for its numerous party events. The restaurants and bars along the beaches throughout the island offering exciting games and activities. International music is played by the different bars on the island, so you can choose your favorite ones easily by the sound and atmosphere reaching the streetside.
The Full Moon Party
If you are into dance music, are young enough to bust some moves, or simply want to party all night, there are not many better places to be than Koh Phangan. Known as the Ibiza of Southeast Asia, this island is buzzing all year round, but particularly on New Year's Eve.
Thousands travel from all over the world to experience this New Year's Eve Party that has some of the world's best DJs playing their sets to huge crowds on the beach.
Be warned that this is probably one of the more expensive locations on our list due its popularity among tourists. Expect accommodation, travel, food and drink, and just about everything else to be fairly expensive at this time of the year.
9-Day Thailand East Coast Island Hopping Tour：
8.New Year's Eve in Pattaya
Pattaya is another popular destination for international travelers to spend their New Year holiday in Thailand. With the starting of the Christmas and New Year season, the streets of Pattaya are decorated with colorful trees and lightings. There are numerous live music performances and fabulous fireworks during NYE. Here are some of the top places to celebrate New Year's Eve in Pattaya:
The Bali Hai Pier
The main attraction on New Year's Eve in Pattaya is the Bali Hai Pier which will stage the city's main activities and events.
A stage will host local and international music so that both tourists and locals can have an equally good time. Other activities and games are also available that just add to the celebrations.
The Walking Street
A kilometer in length (0.6 miles), the Walking Street is known to host some of the best nightlife in Pattaya. Bars, restaurants, and clubs are dotted along each side of this street, and this is where you will find a lot of like-minded tourists.
Pattaya Beach Parties
Another option is to enjoy a beach party on one of the beautiful beaches in the city. Fireworks will pop all around you while you sing, dance, and drink in the New Year. Pattaya is certainly well suited to young people who love nothing more than a party scene.
Travel to Thailand With Asia Highlights
Whether you are traveling to Thailand to celebrate the New Year or for any other special event or occasion within the Land of Smiles, we at Asia Highlights are here to help that holiday happen without a hitch. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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