NYC ranks as best city for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Although standing outside during the dead of winter for hours on end (with no bathroom in sight) sounds like a literal nightmare to most of us, thousands of people from all over the world willingly do exactly that when heading to Times Square to witness the New Year's Eve ball drop or—let's be honest—when embarking on any sort of New Year's Eve activity in town.

Yet, despite its many discomforts and exuberant prices, New York was still named the best place in the country to spend New Year's Eve, according to personal finance website WalletHub. 

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The survey analyzed the country's 100 biggest cities and took into account several factors, including the availability of fine dining destinations, walkability, weather forecast for December 31 and restaurant options.

According to the study, some of the main reasons why New York made it to the top of the list involve the high number of affordable quality restaurants per capita and the many nightlife options available on December 31, whether you fancy high-end rooftops or prefer to rave alongside techno heads at a warehouse party in Brooklyn. On top of it all, the city is extremely walkable, meaning that you can hop from party to party and drink to your heart's content without having to worry about getting behind the wheel.

Orlando ranked second on the list, followed by San Diego in the number three spot. At the bottom of the ranking is Anchorage, Alaska, which came in 99th place, and San Bernardino, California, which took the very last spot.

Aside from the infamous ball drop, there are hundreds of other things to do throughout the city during the holiday season. You can enjoy a beautiful dinner at Dowling's at the Carlyle, for example, which includes a three-course prix fixe, or cheers with a champagne toast at midnight to exceptional views of the city at Panorama Room in Roosevelt Island. If you insist, you can always spend the day around people from all over the world and celebrity performers at Times Square. 

10 top cities to spend New Year's Eve in

1. New York City, New York

2. Orlando, Florida

3. San Diego, California

4. Las Vegas, Nevada

5. Chicago, Illinois

6. Atlanta, Georgia

7. Miami, Florida

8. San Francisco, California

9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

10. Seattle, Washington