Some revelers will spend New Year’s Eve 2017 waiting for hours on the freezing cold streets in Times Square to watch Mariah Carey sing "We Belong Together" for three minutes. Others will pack like drunken sardines, elbowing their way to the best spot along the embankment of the River Thames, to watch fireworks light up the London Eye and the Palace of Westminster.
Wherever you are, public celebrations ringing in the New Year can be tests of stamina and strength as people stake their claim to the best possible view.
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If you love the spectacle but prefer not to partake in the annual scuffle, some of the best seats in town are for sale and they’ll give you a front-row view in the comfort of your own (new) home.
While it’s too late to snag these prime digs for Saturday night, here are eight homes that look straight out over major New Year’s celebrations in cities around the world for you to plan for next year’s celebration.
New York, New York
Penthouse at 1600 Broadway
Price: $3.695 million
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
The condominium at 1600 Broadway is about as close as one can get to living directly over the annual ball drop, outside of booking a suite at one of the many adjacent hotels. The top-floor unit is a prime spot for looking down over New Year’s Eve madness, with a 726-square-foot terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows "overlooking Times Square," says the listing with Sherwood Residential. The building offers multiple vantage points, including a communal rooftop and a fourth-floor wraparound terrace for those who want to get closer to the action without entering the crowds.
Classic 8 Collection at One57
Price: $31.75 million
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5.5
This 5,500-square-foot apartment has four exposures, with sweeping views over Central Park to the north and Midtown to the south. For the more subdued New Year’s Eve celebration, the unit offers perfect vistas for the midnight fireworks in Central Park—which blast off at the close of the annual New York Road Runners Midnight Run.
San Francisco
One Rincon Hill
Price: $2.1 million
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
San Francisco lights up the bay with fireworks at the stroke of midnight, with crowds of spectators filling the streets and surrounding parks north of the Bay Bridge. This upscale condominium in the South Beach neighborhood stands just north of the Bay Bridge, and with eastern exposures, this particular unit provides uninterrupted views over the bay from nearly every room—good news if you’d like to catch the fireworks while laying in bed.
The Watermark
Price: $1.399 million
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Just south of Interstate 80 from One Rincon Hill is a 22-story luxury development, The Watermark. The building has a corner unit, perfect for a pied-a-terre, on the market with a wrap-around private patio that works as a front row seat to New Year’s Eve fireworks framed dramatically by the Bay Bridge. Amenities at the building also include a lap pool, fitness center and grilling area.
London
Belvedere Gardens, Southbank
Price: $5.147 million
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
London sets off a dramatic display of fireworks at midnight from the foot of the London Eye and rafts out on the Thames, lighting up the sky over the famous Palace of Westminster. This particular unit on the 10th floor is a stone’s throw from the Eye and boasts "spectacular views" across the River Thames to Westminster. You can watch the spectacle from the warmth of your window-lined living room or bundle up and step out onto the balcony for the full effect.
Parliament View, Albert Embankment
Price: $7.274 million
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
The name of this riverside building tells you just about all you need to know. A four-bedroom penthouse unit has ample entertaining space, including a large reception room with double-height ceilings, a second living space and an outdoor terrace that looks over Lambeth Palace and the Houses of Parliament—exactly where you want to be to catch the New Year’s Eve sparklers.
Sydney
Mansion in Rose Bay
Price: Upon Request
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5
Every New Year’s Eve, the waterfront by the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge become choked with revelers crowding to catch the midnight fireworks. This serene, window-lined mansion in Rose Bay is perfect if you’re looking to get as far away from the hordes as possible but still want a panoramic view of the pyrotechnics. The walls of the living room are pure glass and lead out to a terrace at the end of the water, a perfect space to bring the New Year’s Eve party home.
Apartment in Darling Point
Price: $2.41
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Darling Point, a harborside suburb to the east of Sydney’s central business district, gets you closer to the action. This gut-renovated four-bedroom apartment boast north-facing views including the Opera House and bridge. The open floor plan is perfect for hosting a New Year’s bash of your own and when the countdown climaxes, you can watch the bursts of color from the comfort of your own balcony.