It’s almost New Year’s, which means that many are getting ready for champagne, fireworks and resolutions to abandon by February. With a few days to go before New Year’s Eve, there’s just enough time to plan a big night out, or even a trip.
Right now, the question is: where is New Year’s Eve the most fun?
WalletHub decided to research it, comparing 100 U.S. cities based on 26 indicators of a great NYE time. These ranged from the legality of fireworks and the nightlife options per capita to the affordability of food and lodging.
Here’s the top 5 cities to have a fun, affordable New Year’s Eve in, according to WalletHub:
1. New York, N.Y.
2. Orlando, Fla.
3. San Diego, Calif.
4. Las Vegas, Nev.
5. Chicago, Ill.
“Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the right city can turn the holiday into a truly magical experience,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub Analyst
With the iconic Time’s Square ball drop, New York City, N.Y., was a no-brainer for the top of the list. More than 1 million people attend the event in person every year. In addition to the big event, New York has plenty of places to celebrate the New Year. It’s at the top of the country when it comes to the number of restaurants per capita and the number of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars, according to WalletHub. It also has the seventh-most music venues and the sixth-most nightlife options per capita.
This year, The Weather Channel predicts that the Big Apple will be 47 degrees on the evening of New Year’s Eve. Those who might want a balmier spot to ring in the New Year might want to check out the second-place spot on the list: Orlando, Fla.
“Orlando has one of the longest fireworks displays in the country, and consumer fireworks are legal, so people can set up their own shows,” said WalletHub. It’s also expected to be more than 10 degrees warmer than New York City on New Year’s Eve, according to The Weather Channel. WalletHub also said that Orlando boasts the second-most jewelry shops and the second-most gourmet food stores per capita.
As for cities to skip for New Year’s Eve, here’s what landed at the bottom of WalletHub’s list:
100. San Bernardino, Calif.
99. Anchorage, Alaska
98. Glendale, Ariz.
97. Albuquerque, N.M.
96. Memphis, Tenn.