The 10 Best US Cities To Celebrate New Year’s
America’s Best Cities To Welcome 2023
Traveling to celebrate the arrival of the new year is a surefire way to make unforgettable memories. But landing on where to celebrate can be a challenge.
Fortunately, new research reveals the best places to ring in 2023. Personal finance website WalletHub recently compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 29 key indicators of a great New Year’s Eve celebration, including important factors such as the legality of fireworks, the average price of a New Year’s Eve party ticket and the forecasted precipitation for December 31, among others. These indicators were spread across three major categories, including entertainment and food (50 points), costs (30 points) and safety and accessibility (20 points) to give travelers a better idea of what destinations they may want to target based on their priorities and preferences.
Here’s a look at the top 10 U.S. cities to celebrate New Year’s based on WalletHub’s total score, which ranged from 30.55 (100th) to 70.2 (first).
10. Seattle, Washington
In the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is one of the lowest-ranked cities in terms of New Year’s costs (95th) but ranks sixth in terms of entertainment and food, a category that considers factors such as popularity, legality of fireworks, events, Google search interest, restaurants and nightlife options per capita, among others.
9. Los Angeles, California
Elsewhere out West, Los Angeles is slightly more budget-friendly (83rd for costs) compared to Seattle and still performs well in regards to entertainment and food (11th). It’s an understatement to say that L.A. is bustling so visitors won’t have to worry about being bored on December 31 or January 1.
8. Chicago, Illinois
Another lively metropolis, Chicago is tied for the most nightlife options and restaurants per capita, based on WalletHub’s research, making it an easy choice for a New Year’s celebration. While the Windy City has room for improvement when it comes to costs (84th) and safety and accessibility (56th), it ranks ninth nationwide in terms of entertainment and food.
7. Washington, DC
The nation’s capital ranks inside of the top 15 in terms of both entertainment and food (eighth) and safety and accessibility (14th) this year. The same can be said for only one other city in the top 10.
6. Denver, Colorado
Narrowly edging out Washington, D.C., Denver is unquestionably the most wallet-friendly city in the top 10, ranking 54th for costs, a category that considers the availability of affordable fine dining, average beer, wine and cocktail prices, NYE party ticket costs, taxi fares and the lowest rate for a three-star hotel room, among others.
5. Atlanta, Georgia
Despite boasting the country’s busiest airport, Atlanta ranks 97th in terms of safety and accessibility, which is by far the worst of any city in the top 10. Nonetheless, the ATL ranks second nationwide when it comes to entertainment and food, meaning there’s plenty of fun to be had ahead of and during 2023.
4. San Francisco, California
Back in California, San Francisco offers visitors nightlife options and restaurants in bunches, tying for the most per capita nationwide. Despite its costs (93rd), the Bay Area ranks fourth for entertainment and food and an impressive 22nd in terms of safety and accessibility.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
The Entertainment Capital of the World will undoubtedly be jumping this New Year’s and that’s reflected in its WalletHub ranking. Las Vegas is tied for the most nightlife options and restaurants per capita, meaning visitors will have plenty of fun to choose from as they prepare to ring in 2023.
2. Orlando, Florida
Families are certain to have a great time in Orlando this New Year’s. The theme park mecca ranks inside the top five for entertainment and food, offering visitors the most restaurants, luxury shops and gourmet food stores per capita.
1. New York, New York
Ranking first for entertainment and food and sixth for safety and accessibility, the Big Apple is easily the country’s number one spot to spend New Year’s. Times Square will be buzzing once again this year and the city boasts no shortage of nightlife options, tying for the most per capita nationwide. If there is a downside to NYE in NYC its cost, where New York ranks 98th among the 100 cities analyzed.