Best New Year’s Eve cities for celebrating 2013

If watching the ball drop in Times Square is high on your bucket list, then sure, head to New York City. But if you prefer the bright lights and free-flowing Champagne without the tourist hoopla, steer clear of Manhattan: There are plenty of other cities ringing in 2013 in a truly memorable fashion.

We’ve scoured the globe for hot spots where you won’t just be another face in a televised crowd, but where you can really kick off an exciting new year in style. From dragons to cartoon characters to abnormally large pieces of fruit, here are 11 of the world’s hottest places to spend New Year’s Eve.