We called ourselves Sunset Travellers for a reason. Wherever we are in the world, the plan for the evening is usually the same: find somewhere facing west, get a drink, and watch the sky do its thing.
This list is split in two. First, 10 sunset spots we have watched ourselves, with exactly where to stand and what we’d do differently. Then 15 bucket-list sunset locations that are famous for a reason, and still on our own list. If you need words for the photos afterwards, we have 275+ sunset quotes and captions ready to go.
10 Sunset Spots We’ve Watched Ourselves
1. Boracay, Philippines
Locals will tell you Boracay has one of the best sunsets in the world, and after a week on the island we weren’t going to argue. Every evening White Beach fills up with people, selfie sticks and small sailing boats silhouetted against an orange sky, and it never gets old.
Where to watch: Station 1 on White Beach, or better still from the water. Tip: the little paraw sailboats rent out 30-minute trips just before sunset, and it’s the best money you’ll spend on the island. More in our Boracay on a budget guide.
2. El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
This is where Sunset Travellers started. Limestone islands, calm water and a sky that goes through every colour on the chart.
Where to watch: Corong Corong beach. Grab a tricycle there in the afternoon and stay until dark. Tip: combine it with the Underground River trip in our Puerto Princesa and El Nido guide.
3. Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Bali’s west-facing south coast is built for sunsets: surf breaks below, cliffs above and the sun dropping straight into the Indian Ocean. The photo at the top of this post is ours, from Uluwatu.
Where to watch: Single Fin bar on the cliff above the break (we genuinely think you can’t beat it), or Uluwatu Temple, where the Kecak fire dance is timed to sunset. Tip: buy Kecak tickets early and keep sunglasses and phones away from the temple monkeys. More spots in our top Bali destinations.
4. Fremantle and Perth, Western Australia
If you’ve only seen sunrises over the Pacific on Australia’s east coast, you owe yourself a west coast sunset. We loved “Freo” for exactly this: a swim, fish and chips, and the Indian Ocean turning gold.
Where to watch: Bathers Beach in Fremantle or Cottesloe Beach in Perth. Tip: if you’re driving east, Ceduna gave us one of the best sunsets of our whole Perth to Melbourne road trip.
5. Vancouver, Canada
Where the mountains meet the ocean, the sky puts on a show. Not every night (it’s Vancouver, it rains), but on a clear summer evening it’s hard to find a better city sunset.
Where to watch: English Bay and Sunset Beach downtown, Kitsilano Beach, or Spanish Banks for a quieter spot. Tip: our second favourite in BC is the Sunshine Coast, a short ferry away. Moving over? Read our 50+ things to know before moving to Vancouver.
6. Anglet and Biarritz, France
The Basque coast gave us two of our favourite weeks in Europe: surfers, pastries, strong coffee and Atlantic sunsets.
Where to watch: Chambre d’Amour beach in Anglet, with a cold beer from Lagunak bar. Tip: go to the beach before noon, head back for a siesta and return at 6 or 7pm. Full itinerary in our two weeks in Biarritz and Hossegor guide.
7. Holbox, Mexico
Holbox has one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen. The sky stays pink for what feels like hours after the sun has gone.
Where to watch: any beachfront bar on the north shore, or walk west to Punta Cocos. Tip: order a margarita and don’t leave when the sun disappears; the best colour comes after. More in our things to do in Holbox guide.
8. Cabo da Roca, Portugal
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, with nothing between you and America but the Atlantic. The Cabo da Roca sunset is one of the best we’ve seen in Portugal.
Where to watch: the lighthouse viewpoint, or walk the cliff path south for fewer people. Tip: it’s very windy, so bring a jacket even in summer. Pair it with Sintra or Cascais from our day trips from Lisbon.
9. Alvor, Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve’s south coast mostly faces the sea rather than the sunset, but the western end gets it right. Alvor is a relaxed fishing village with a boardwalk, a lagoon and a marina full of bars.
Where to watch: Alvor marina, with a glass of wine or a cold Sagres. Tip: for the full stretch of coast, follow our 7-day Algarve road trip.
10. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Home turf for Steve. The cliffs drop 200 metres into the Atlantic, and on a clear evening the whole coast lights up. On a typical Irish evening you’ll get cloud, wind and drizzle instead, like in our photo below. Go anyway.
Where to watch: the cliff paths either side of the visitor centre; the southern path towards Hag’s Head is quieter. Tip: in summer the sun sets after 9:30pm, and the crowds are long gone by then. More in our 99 places to visit in Ireland.
15 Bucket-List Sunset Locations Around the World
These are the famous ones, the places people plan whole trips around. Some we’ve seen in part, most are still on our list.
11. Santorini, Greece
Sabina was here before we started travelling together, and it’s the one place she always says we need to go back to. White houses, blue domes and the sun dropping into the caldera.
Where to watch: Oia is the classic, but it gets packed shoulder to shoulder. Imerovigli and Firostefani have the same view with a fraction of the crowd, or book a catamaran cruise. Get caption ideas from our Santorini captions. More on the islands in our Greek island hopping tips.
12. Uluru, Australia
The rock changes colour as the light drops, from orange to deep red to purple. It’s a sacred site for the Anangu people, and you feel it.
Where to watch: the car sunset viewing area inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (you need a park pass). Climbing has been banned since 2019.
13. Grand Canyon, USA
Layer after layer of rock catches the last light, and the colours change every few minutes.
Where to watch: Hopi Point on the South Rim. For most of the year it’s reached by the free shuttle rather than by car, so leave plenty of time.
14. Maui, Hawaii, USA
Where to watch: the summit of Haleakalā, above the clouds (you need a reservation for sunrise, not for sunset), or Kaʻanapali Beach, where a cliff diver leaps from Black Rock at sunset.
15. The Maldives
Turquoise lagoons, overwater villas and nothing on the horizon. Tip: if you’re booking a villa, ask for a sunset-facing one, which usually means the west side of the island. Most resorts also run sunset dolphin cruises.
16. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Mount Otemanu, a lagoon every shade of blue, and palm trees in silhouette. Where to watch: Matira Beach, one of the few public beaches on the island.
17. Taj Mahal, India
The white marble picks up every colour in the evening sky. Where to watch: Mehtab Bagh gardens, directly across the Yamuna River, with the Taj in front of the setting sun. Tip: the Taj is closed on Fridays.
18. Serengeti, Tanzania and Masai Mara, Kenya
Acacia trees, a huge sky and giraffes in silhouette: the Lion King in real life. Tip: the safari “sundowner” drink on a game drive is a tradition for good reason.
19. Lofoten and the Norwegian fjords
Mountains straight out of the sea, and sunsets that last for ages. Tip: in the far north the sun doesn’t set at all from late May to mid-July (the midnight sun), so for classic sunsets go in spring or early autumn.
20. Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza turned watching the sunset into an event, with DJs playing to the crowd as the sun goes down. Where to watch: Café del Mar or Café Mambo in San Antonio, or Cala Comte for something quieter.
21. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The temples are famous for sunrise, but the sunset is just as good. Where to watch: Phnom Bakheng hill; visitor numbers at the top are capped, so get there early. Pre Rup temple is a good alternative.
22. Valle de la Luna, Chile
Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert, near San Pedro de Atacama. The sand dunes and salt rocks glow pink, then the driest skies on earth fill with stars. Where to watch: the Mirador de Kari (Piedra del Coyote) viewpoint.
23. Cape Town, South Africa
Table Mountain, two oceans and a sky that goes pink behind the Twelve Apostles. Where to watch: hike Lion’s Head (about an hour up; bring a head torch for the way down), drive up Signal Hill, or stay low at Camps Bay.
24. New York City, USA
You don’t need a beach for a great sunset. Watching Manhattan light up as the sun drops behind New Jersey is hard to beat. Where to watch: Top of the Rock, which has the Empire State Building in the view, or the Brooklyn waterfront. More in our New York tips for first-time visitors.
25. Budapest, Hungary
The Parliament building glowing gold above the Danube is one of Europe’s great city views. Where to watch: Fisherman’s Bastion or Gellért Hill, or take an evening cruise on the Danube.
How to Get the Best Sunset (and Photo)
- Check the time: search “sunset [place]” the day before and arrive at least 30 minutes early.
- Stay after it sets: the brightest pinks and purples often come 10 to 20 minutes after the sun disappears.
- Hope for some cloud: a few high clouds catch the colour. A completely clear sky is often the least dramatic.
- Add something to the foreground: a person, a boat, a palm tree or a rock turns a nice photo into a great one.
- On a phone, tap the brightest part of the sky to set the exposure, then drag the brightness down slightly.
Sunset Locations FAQ
Where is the best sunset in the world?
Santorini is the most famous, but for us it’s a tie between Boracay, Holbox and Uluwatu in Bali. Uluru and the Grand Canyon are the best on land.
What makes a sunset colourful?
At sunset, light travels through much more of the atmosphere to reach you. The blue light gets scattered away, leaving the reds and oranges. Dust, sea salt and high clouds make the colours stronger.
What time is golden hour?
Roughly the last hour before sunset, when the light is soft and warm. The exact length depends on how far you are from the equator: it’s short in the tropics and long in places like Ireland and Norway.
Over to You
Where’s the best sunset you’ve ever seen? Tell us in the comments. We’re always adding to the list. If you’re watching one of these on your own, we have quotes for being alone too, and if you’re heading to Italy, grab our Venice Instagram captions.
Planning your trip? Pin this guide to your Pinterest board for later.
Some links are affiliate links. If you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.