Washington, and Tokyo among them -- haven't finalised their plans yet, but others are gearing up major bashes, here are a few: Berlin: A pyrotechnic display will explode over the Brandenburg Gate. The surrounding Mitte district, dense with galleries, restaurants, and cafes, will also have special events. A Feuerzauber Mark (fire magic) gala is planned for the airfield at Tempelhof Airport; Las Vegas: Topping the regular action on the Strip is going to be tough -- in this town, where no-one blinks twice at albino tigers or million-dollar jackpots, and New Year's usually involves the demolition of a building. The Fremont Street Experience, however, will try to outdo it all. The thoroughfare will be blocked to traffic so tens of thousands of people can watch a countdown show involving 2 million lights; London: Opening at Greenwich on the last day of 1999, the 181-acre Millennium Experience will celebrate its location on the world's Prime Meridian.

With a massive exhibition and arena under a 20-acre dome, Impresario Cameron Mackintosh (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera) will produce the inaugural extravaganza. Closer to London, you can ride on the Millennium Wheel, a 500-foot observation wheel on the Thames. And just like Times Square in New York City, there will be the usual huge gathering in Trafalgar Square; Where to travel for New Year's Miami: The "Big Orange'' will rise to the top of the Hotel Inter- Continental as 100,000 people cram into Bay Front Park to watch a mammoth fireworks and laser show; New York: Times Square is, naturally, ground zero. Giant screens will broadcast celebration images from each of the globe's 24 time zones, starting with Fiji at 7 a.m. until that ball drops from One Times Square. Expect a half-million partygoers to flood Broadway. Over by the Hudson, Celebration 2000 will host "The Party of the Century'' -- a massive dinner dance, followed by fireworks -- at the Jacob Javits Convention Center; San Francisco: The Bay Area's biggest New Year's bash is usually the one at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. In 1999, "SFNYE'' should out-blast years past with several tents where celebrants can dance and listen to comedy acts and musicians.

Paris: The countdown clock on the Eiffel Tower, ticking away right now, is sure to draw a crowd in its last few hours. But if New Millennium's Eve is like other New Year's Eves, Parisians will be popping champagne corks on the Place de la Concorde. Also, the banks of the Seine will be lit up; Toronto: Toronto 2000 -- An Urban Odyssey will consist of a series of celebrations and a gala New Year's Eve bash; Halifax: The city is also celebrating its 250th birthday on New Year's Eve 1999 and organisers have plenty of events scheduled; Rome: From Christmas 1999, to January, 2000 the city will celebrate The Great Jubilee, marking the 2000th anniversary of the incarnation of Christ and the start of the third millennium of Christianity; Rio de Janeiro: Rio is tossing a beach party. Multiple stages on Copacabana and Ipanema will be the setting for concerts as well as five fireworks shows.

Streets will be blocked to traffic. Dress code: bikinis and glitter. Also on tap: big-screen TVs to monitor celebrations in other cities, hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast, and a balloon drop at midnight.

Sydney: Ric Birch, the man behind the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics, is masterminding Sydney's millennium event. The world's first major city to enter the new millennium, Sydney will celebrate with a fireworks extravaganza over the harbour.

Note: Confirm all details and prices directly with service establishments before making travel plans.

First city: Sydney, whose famous Opera House is show here, will be the firs major city to enter the Millennium. Spectacular fireworks and entertainment are planned for the city, which will host the 200 Olympics later in the year.