Every year, finding different ways to spend New Year’s Eve becomes trickier. From wild parties to extravagant firework displays, there are limitless options when it comes to this annual celebration. Across Southeast Asia, New Year’s Eve is big business and Thailand is no exception! A destination of beautiful beaches, rising skyscrapers, and ancient temples, the country is also a hotbed for fun – there’s a reason why Thailand is nicknamed the Land of Smiles! So, if you’re heading to warmer climes for the festive seasons and wondering how to celebrate New Year in Thailand, then you’ve come to the right place! From rooftop cocktail bars to all-night raves, we uncover the coolest things to do in Thailand on New Year’s Eve – ready your Instagram account, pack your party clothes and see New Year in style!
Get the craziest views at rooftop cocktail bars
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Across Thailand there is an abundance of mesmerising rooftop bars, offerings cocktails with a view. If you’re looking for memorable things to do in Thailand on New Year’s Eve, then heading to a sky-high lounge should top your list.
In Phuket, Baba Nest offers one of the best spots for sunset watching, with a dramatic infinity pool and 360° views across the Andaman Sea.
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Over in Samui, WOOBAR serves classic cocktails and light bites alongside island vistas. Yet it is Bangkok that offers the most options for rooftop entertainment – thanks to the city’s rising skyline.
Maybe the capital’s finest, Sky Bar at Lebua was voted one of the world’s best rooftop bars by Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times and The Guardian! This incredible sky-high lounge is the perfect spot to ring, with cocktails, music and dancing, all at 820 feet! The filming location for The Hangover Part II, this contemporary skyscraper is also home to the world’s highest outdoor champagne and whiskey bars, Flute and Alfresco 64 respectively! Whichever bar you choose, take in panoramic fireworks as midnight strikes. We can’t think of a more memorable way to see New Year in Thailand, can you?
Looking for more rooftop views in Thailand? Check out our definitive guide to the top 10 best scenic bars in the country!
Book a luxury villa with friends
Wondering how to celebrate New Year in Thailand in complete luxury? Well, whether you’re spending the festivities in the city or retreating to the beach, you can celebrate the start of 2020 in style, by booking yourself an exclusive private villa. Invite your friends or family and wake up to endless ocean vistas, spending your days in a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool or lazing around in a hammock with a cocktail in hand! From The Aquila in Phuket to Baan Hat Kai Mook in Koh Chang, we have a luxury apartment to suit the needs of every traveler. Gather your favourite people together and book yourselves an unforgettable adventure – see in Thailand New Year with a bang!
Essential info:
Web: https://www.eatsandretreats.com/search/thailand/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eats_and_retreats/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatsretreats
Soak up the atmosphere of Pattaya’s Walking Street
Known for its vibrant lights and enchanting night scene, Walking Street is perhaps the coolest spot in Pattaya. Awash with neon signs, street food stalls, and eclectic bars, This Walking Street is known as one of the largest and busiest party spots in all of Thailand. Lively throughout the year, it comes into full force on December 31st, as thousands head to the strip for music, drinks, and entertainment. From exotic nightclubs to dazzling cabaret shows, there is something here to entertain even the most jaded of traveler.
In fact, there are loads of other famous walking streets in Thailand – take, for example, the famous Bangla Road in Phuket.
WSo, who said New Year’s Eve in Thailand needed to be ordinary? Spice up your evening with a trip to one of the world’s most exciting streets!
Essential info:
Address: Walking Street, Muang Pattaya, Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chang Wat Chon Buri 20150
Spend the night on the beach
If you’d rather spend the end of 2019 relaxing and taking in the beauty of your natural surroundings, then why not spend Thailand New Year on the beach? Thanks to its favourable climate, December tends to be warm and dry across the country, which means beach days (and nights) are definitely on the cards for your December trip. From beautiful Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui to Phuket’s endlessly popular Patong Beach, Thailand has golden sands and crystalline waters to warm even the iciest of hearts!
\What’s more, many of Thailand’s beaches spring to life with festive celebrations, where free fireworks, live music, and street performances can be enjoyed, alongside unforgettable ocean views! If you’re wanting special things to do in Thailand on New Year’s Eve 2019, then heading to the beach should definitely make your list.
Looking for more amazing beach locations across the country? Take a look at our list of the top secret beaches across Thailand.
Enjoy dinner with a view
If you were still wondering how to celebrate New Year in Thailand, then enjoying dinner with a view may take your fancy. Offering unrivaled scenery over Bangkok’s iconic Wat Arun temple, The Deck Restaurant is perhaps the coolest place to see in 2020 in the city. Normally, the restaurant is reserved for private groups and exclusive functions, but on December 31st, the deck is transformed for the annual Golden Tha Tien countdown party, a night of Thai cuisine, dancing and impeccable city views. The highlight of your night will be the complimentary firework display that will erupt above Wat Arun as midnight strikes – and you’ll have a front-row seat!
Essential info:
Address: 36-38 Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong, Maharat Road, Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok 10200
Tel: 66 2221 4493
Web: http://www.arunresidence.com/dinning-experience/
Bookings: service@arunresidence.com
Attend the Koh Phangan Countdown Party
Despite the fact that this year the full moon doesn’t land on December 31st, the world-famous Koh Phangan resort invites you to celebrate a traditional Full Moon Party for the 2020 countdown. Every year this popular destination transforms for the New Year’s celebrations, as around 35,000 visitors from around the globe don neon face paint and hit the beach. Starting at dusk, the celebrations continue until the sun rises on January 1st. As the evening grows darker, thousands of lanterns are lit along the beach, with the resort’s many bars coming to life with cocktails, music, and dancing. The evening peaks with fire dancers and a water-front firework display, before a set from a prominent DJ will lead you into the early hours.
Make the most of your trip to Koh Phangan, by booking one of our hand-selected, luxury villas for post-party relaxation!
Getting there:
Koh Phangan is between 20 minutes and an hour away from Koh Samui by boat, with regular ferries transporting visitors across the water. Ticket prices start from around 150 THB.
Watch the sunset from the Promthep Cape
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For a more peaceful Thailand New Year 2019, why not get away from the crowds and take in the sunset from the Promthep Cape in Phuket? Renowned as one of the best places to catch the sunset in all of Thailand, seeing in 2020 while looking out over the Andaman Sea could not be better. Located on the hillside above Rawai Beach, the sun is due to set at 6.20pm on December 31st, which means you’ll have plenty of time to spare. Get there early and take a stroll around the cape, stopping for dinner before grabbing a spot to catch this spectacle of Mother Nature! Of all the things to do in Thailand on New Year’s Eve 2019, the Promthep Cape is sure to set your Instagram account alight!
Getting there:
The Cape is about a 30-minute drive from Patong Beach. Parking spaces are limited, so take a local bus of hire a tuk tuk to transport you up hill.
Rock the Bangkok Countdown
If you want to know how to celebrate New Year in Thailand in a more traditional way, why not spend the night at the eighth best countdown celebration in the world? Taking place each year outside the CentralWorld shopping mall in the heart of the city, the Bangkok Countdown is Thailand’s equivalent to the Ball Drop in Time’s Square and sees thousands of spectators gather to await the incredible midnight fireworks display. Head to the event’s beer garden for drinks, enjoy live DJ sets, and socialize with locals and visitors, all gathered for the evening’s festivities. Open from 10am until 10pm every day, CentralWorld also offers fantastic opportunities for shopping, so get there early and make the most of the post-Christmas sales! Of all the things to do in Thailand on New Year’s Eve 2019, the Bangkok Countdown could never disappoint!
Essential info:
Address: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330
Best parties for the New Year’s Eve in Thailand in 2019
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Thailand is renowned for its party lifestyle and all year round the country plays host to some truly unforgettable events. From exotic club nights to Full Moon extravaganzas, there is a lively celebration to suit all tastes. When it comes to December 31st, the country goes one step further, offering some of the coolest and most vibrant events in all of Southeast Asia.
From BONE in Pattaya to CATCH Beach Club in Phuket, experience a New Year’s Eve party like no other. Witness the drama of Sing Sing Theatre in Bangkok, or enjoy chilled beach vibes at ARKbar in Samui.
Looking for more party inspiration? Check out our guide to the coolest beach events that Phuket has to offer!
Celebrating New Year in Phuket
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most iconic destinations. Known for its incredible coastline and vibrant night scene, the region also offers the best of city and beach. On the final day of each year, Phuket ignites with versatile festivities.
Take a walk down Bangla Road, alive with colour, neon lights, and music, or head to Karon beach to join its annual water-front soiree! For a sophisticated affair, enjoy a Gala Dinner at the Palm Seaside Restaurant (where complimentary wine is served alongside an al fresco barbecue), or see in 2020 with an unforgettable all-night rave at CATCH Beach Club, where cocktails and fireworks will see you well past midnight. In the heart of Phuket Town, events begin on December 29th, with special concerts, street food markets and nightly fireworks displays.
No matter how you decide to celebrate New Year in Thailand, there is something at this gorgeous resort to please the whole family!
