New Year 2014: 5 Best Places to Celebrate the Holidays

If you're reading this piece, you're mostly likely to have already settled on how and where to celebrate Christmas 2014. So, where to for your New Year's holiday?

Choose one destination from this list of the best places to go to for such an occasion.

Hong Kong

In this Asian destination, you get the double benefit of being able to ring in the New Year earlier and get a New York-sized celebration. "The region drops a reproduction ball first at its very own Times Square Apple Countdown," Time said. "The biggest party, however, takes place at Victoria Harbour: The city's magnificent fireworks display shoots off from almost every skyscraper."

Berlin

The capital city of Germany "as a reputation for being a party city year-round, so you can imagine what New Year's Eve (known as Silvester) is like," Fodors observed. "The centerpiece of the celebration is 'Party Mile,' a two-kilometer stretch of bars, international food stalls, laser shows, video screens, party tents, music stages, and more between Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column."

Then, there's also the pancake race during the day, for those looking for more children-friendly activities. There's also a free 4K New Year's Run that you can do to burn the previous night's calorie intake.

Edinburgh

Hogmanay, as Scotland's capital city calls the last day of the year, is a huge four-day operation that involves "a torchlight parade through the city, concerts, and a massive street party on Princes Street," according to Travel and Leisure. If you're so brave to do so, get into the freezing River Forth during the day for a cause for the yearly charity event, called the Queensferry Loony Dook.

Sydney

Being the "the first major city to celebrate the New Year," it welcomes the New Year with no holds barred. No less than a million people witness the waterfront show, with the festivities lasting the whole day and into the night. Plus, the Aussie city's celebrations are also family-friendly, thanks to the "an air and water show featuring thrilling aerial acrobatics and a fire tug water display, a Harbour of Light Parade (an illuminated flotilla of more than 50 vessels), and two fireworks shows-one at 9 p.m. and again at midnight," as noted by Travel and Leisure.

Auckland

If you're keen on being among the first to welcome the 2015, go to Auckland in New Zealand and whoop for joy "with thousands of locals congregating around the Auckland Harbour to watch as fireworks shoot from the city's massive Sky Tower," Time recommended.