Explore the best long weekend New Year getaways from Singapore, with romantic destinations just a short flight away for couples planning a memorable escape.
Ring in the new year with someone special in a dreamy overseas destination, all just a short flight from home. If your idea of a good New Year’s date includes champagne toasts above glittering skylines, intimate dinners on clifftops over the ocean, or counting down to midnight on pristine beaches (I know mine does), these destinations deliver the romantic escape you’ve been dreaming of, without the jet lag.
In this list, we’ve put together what we think are some of the best long weekend NYE getaways – so go ahead, have a look.
When you’ve got a destination in mind, whether it’s on this list or not, it’s time to pack your bags, grab your partner’s hand, and start 2026 somewhere unforgettable. (And, really, I think we could all use a good distraction from 2025).
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- Kuala Lumpur: Somewhere close to home
- Bali: Beach club countdowns
- Bangkok: Where rooftop bars touch the clouds
- Phu Quoc: Vietnam’s Mediterranean open secret
- Taipei: Fireworks, iconic and jaw-dropping
- Hong Kong: Glittering harbour, rooftop glamour
- Langkawi: Malaysia’s tranquil island escape
- Phuket: Thailand’s party island with a romantic side
Kuala Lumpur: Somewhere close to home
The KLCC Countdown 2025/2026 is one of Southeast Asia’s most spectacular New Year’s celebrations, with fireworks illuminating the Petronas Twin Towers at midnight. Secure a spot by the lake at KLCC Park for mirror reflections of the towers and fireworks, or splurge on a table at SKY51 on the 51st floor of EQ Hotel, one of KL’s most acclaimed rooftop bars.
Also, consider booking a table at Dining in the Dark KL, a unique and unforgettable dining experience in complete darkness (though NOX in Singapore provides a similar experience as well). Or venture to Kuala Selangor (an hour away) for a magical firefly boat ride under thousands of glowing lights.
Where to stay: The Mandarin Oriental sits at the foot of the Twin Towers with the city’s best infinity pool, while Four Seasons offers couples’ spa suites and Nobu on-site. For something intimate, Villa Samadhi is a tropical sanctuary with lush gardens and courtyard water fountains.
Flight time: About one hour
Bali: Beach club countdowns
FINNS Beach Club in Canggu (pictured) hosts the island’s biggest NYE party year after year. Expect world-class DJs across 170 metres of oceanfront with spectacular fireworks and a drone show. For a quieter time, Ubud delivers candlelit dinners above rivers, floating breakfasts in private pools, and jungle suites that make you forget the world exists. Fine-dining restaurants such as Kubu at Mandapa serve a tasting menu in private bamboo cocoons suspended over the Ayung River.
Uluwatu’s limestone cliffs drop into the Indian Ocean, and restaurants like El Kabron perch on those cliffs with Mediterranean elegance, serving paella and rosé as the sun melts into the sea. Savaya hosts internationally renowned DJs for what may be Asia’s most spectacular NYE countdown.
Where to stay: Hanging Gardens of Bali features the world’s most photographed infinity pool. Alila Villas Uluwatu offers contemporary design with cliff-edge views. In Seminyak, The One Boutique Villas serves floating breakfasts surrounded by flower petals.
Flight time: About two to three hours
Bangkok: Where rooftop bars touch the clouds
Bangkok’s NYE 2025/2026 celebration is set to be unforgettable. The Amazing Thailand Countdown at ICONSIAM (27-31 December) draws massive crowds with headline performances, followed by jaw-dropping drone shows, eco-friendly fireworks, and pyrotechnics. And it’s free to attend.
Bangkok’s rooftop bar scene is legendary, and for good reason. Sky Bar at Lebua (pictured – yes, from The Hangover Part II) sits 63 floors above the river, offering Bollinger champagne packages with 360-degree views. Vertigo & Moon Bar at Banyan Tree serves a special degustation menu while fireworks explode across the city below.
Setting aside all of the partying, why not take a sunset Manohra Cruise on an antique wooden rice barge with a six-course gourmet dinner, or escape to Lumphini Park for swan paddleboats and evening strolls? The Flower Market at Pak Khlong Talat is magical at midnight – a veritable sea of colours and fragrances.
Where to stay: The Mandarin Oriental is Bangkok’s “Grande Dame”, offering colonial elegance, a legendary spa, and Le Normandie (two Michelin stars) facing the river. Lebua at State Tower puts you steps from Sky Bar and Sirocco. For something more intimate, 137 Pillars Suites in Thong Lor offers boutique charm in Bangkok’s chicest neighbourhood.
Flight time: About three and a half hours
Phu Quoc: Vietnam’s Mediterranean open secret
Vietnam’s Phu Quoc has quietly become Southeast Asia’s most romantic open secret. The island’s Sunset Town was designed to evoke Santorini and Venice, with pastel-coloured streets, European piazzas, and the famous Kiss Bridge.
Did you know that on January 1st each year, the sunset aligns perfectly between the two tips of Kiss Bridge (Cầu Hôn)? Now you do. Stretching 800 metres over turquoise waters, this is possibly the most romantic spot in Southeast Asia for couples welcoming the new year. Bonus trivia: “Cầu Hôn” means both “Kiss Bridge” and “proposing marriage” in Vietnamese!
For things to do, why not take the world’s longest cable car (nearly 8km) over turquoise waters and coral reefs? Then catch sunset at Starfish Beach, where hundreds of red starfish dot crystal-clear shallows, followed by dinner at floating seafood restaurants over the water.
Where to stay: JW Marriott Phu Quoc (pictured) sits on Khem Beach (one of Vietnam’s most beautiful coastal regions) with a shell-shaped mosaic pool and Michelin-starred chef-led dining. InterContinental Phu Quoc features INK 360, the island’s highest rooftop bar, and couples’ spa suites floating over lotus lagoons. Meanwhile, luxury boutique resort La Veranda offers 1920s colonial charm alongside NYE gala celebrations.
Flight time: About two hours
Taipei: Fireworks, iconic and jaw-dropping
The Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks (pictured) are a bucket-list experience, recognised by CNN as one of the world’s top 10 events to ring in the new year. Watch as the iconic tower transforms into a vertical fountain of pyrotechnics, with fireworks synchronised to music – with a much-hyped lineup led by singer Nick Chou and the South Korea K-pop group KARA this year.
Elephant Mountain (象山), Taipei’s most famous mountain, offers an iconic NYE photoshoot, but serious couples arrive the day before to claim spots. For a more romantic evening, book W Hotel’s Woo Bar for champagne and DJ sets with prime views, or secure a window table at Morton’s The Steakhouse on the 45th floor.
For the day trip, consider spending a day at Beitou Hot Springs, soaking together and taking in the views. Then, travel to Jiufen, the hillside village with red lanterns and winding alleyways (often mistakenly credited as the inspiration for Spirited Away). Then, when night falls, head over to Shifen to release sky lanterns together, writing your wishes as they float into the night. It’s Taiwan’s most romantic tradition.
Where to stay: Grand Hyatt Taipei is the only five-star hotel with a direct bridge to Taipei 101, with rooms offering tower views. Mandarin Oriental Taipei delivers ultra-luxury with The Aubrey rooftop bar. For hot spring romance, Grand View Resort Beitou offers private rooms with outdoor pools and Japanese garden aesthetics.
Flight time: About four and a half hours
Hong Kong: Glittering harbour, rooftop glamour
Hong Kong’s nightly Symphony of Lights show (8pm every evening) transforms the harbour into a spectacle of lasers and lights. Some might argue, however, that the real romance happens at altitude. OZONE at The Ritz-Carlton sits on the 118th floor, the world’s highest rooftop bar at 480 metres, hosting glamorous NYE parties with views stretching across all of Hong Kong. But not to worry – if you’re on the ground floor like the rest of us, there’s plenty more to do yet.
Aqua in Tsim Sha Tsui offers an underwater-themed party with Veuve Clicquot free-flow and harbour views. The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental (one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars) combines Japanese izakaya charm with champagne toasts. And for something unique, book an Aqua Luna junk boat cruise and toast midnight from a traditional red-sailed vessel floating across the harbour.
Take the historic Peak Tram at sunset, then dine at Hutong for Northern Chinese cuisine with the city sparkling below. Cross the harbour on the Star Ferry (just HK$2.50!), the most romantic two dollars you’ll ever spend.
Where to stay: The Peninsula Hong Kong is the “Grande Dame of the Far East”, offering legendary luxury where harbour-view rooms start on floor 17. Rosewood Hong Kong and Regent Hong Kong both offer waterfront elegance with acclaimed restaurants. For sky-high romance, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong (floors 102-118) puts you in the clouds.
Flight time: About three to four hours
Langkawi: Malaysia’s tranquil island escape
There’s not too much happening party-wise in Langkawi, but there’s plenty of attractions that could make a New Year’s trip worthwhile. The Langkawi Cable Car, for one, whisks you 708 metres above sea level for sunset views that’ll have you reaching for your camera (I mean, your partner’s hand).
Then, maybe book a private island-hopping tour to Pulau Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden Island) and swim together in the freshwater lake surrounded by limestone cliffs. Catch the sunset at Pantai Cenang – cocktails in hand – or hire a private yacht for a champagne cruise around the archipelago’s 99 islands.
Where to stay: The Datai Langkawi is consistently ranked among the world’s best resorts. Four Seasons Langkawi offers beachfront pavilions with outdoor baths and hosts intimate NYE countdown celebrations. For something more affordable, The Andaman sits in a UNESCO Geopark with coral reefs right off the beach.
Flight time: About two hours
Phuket: Thailand’s party island with a romantic side
There’s plenty of celebration spots to choose from in Phuket, but one standout is Patong Beach with its massive crowds, fireworks, and that buzzy atmosphere some couples love. For something more sophisticated, Casa Boho at Hyatt Regency Kamala hosts a Latin-American themed rooftop countdown with panoramic bay views and live music. Keemala Hotel offers an intimate forest retreat dining experience.
For the day trip, charter a longtail boat to Phang Nga Bay (pictured) for James Bond Island and hidden lagoons. Watch sunset from a beanbag at one of Kata’s beach clubs, then head to Baba Nest at Sri Panwa for 360-degree views and cocktails as the stars come out. For a truly special dinner, Acqua Restaurant serves Italian fine dining in a restored Sino-Portuguese mansion.
Where to stay: Amanpuri is a gold standard for Thai luxury resorts. Trisara offers private pool villas perched above a secluded bay with a Michelin-starred restaurant. For clifftop drama, The Naka Phuket features private sky villas with panoramic Andaman Sea views. On a budget? Consider The Shore at Katathani.
Flight time: About two hours
No better time to plan your perfect NYE escape!
New Year’s Day 2026 falls on a Thursday, so maybe consider taking Friday (January 2nd) off for a four-day break – or even more if your company celebrates Christmas (but you didn’t hear it from us).
So go ahead, plan a romantic vacation that kicks off your year right.
And, importantly, do remember that best NYE trips leave room for spontaneity. Sometimes the most romantic moments happen when you’re wandering together with nowhere specific to be.
Here’s to starting 2026 somewhere unforgettable, with someone who makes every destination better.
Happy New Year, lovebirds.
with Love,
The Dateideas Team
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Frequently asked questions
What are common planning mistakes couples make when booking New Year long weekend trips?
Waiting too long to book, underestimating travel time on public holidays, and not checking if restaurants or attractions require reservations for NYE. Always confirm countdown event details before you fly.
Is a New Year long weekend getaway better for reconnecting or celebrating milestones as a couple?
Both work beautifully. Quieter destinations like Langkawi or Phu Quoc suit couples wanting quality time to reconnect, while places like Hong Kong or Taipei deliver spectacular backdrops for milestone celebrations.
What kind of getaway suits couples at different relationship stages during the New Year long weekend?
New couples often love the excitement of Bangkok or Bali’s party scene, while established couples may prefer intimate escapes like Langkawi or Phu Quoc. Celebrating an engagement or anniversary? A Hong Kong harbour-view suite makes the occasion unforgettable.
