Best Sunsets Around The World

Where have you seen the most beautiful sunset? I’ve been lucky enough to watch the sun go down in some jaw dropping places around the world, with a cold local beer in my hand and surrounded by new friends from different countries. Every time, it’s special. There’s something about the last rays of the day that elicit such warm, romantic notions and if you ask me, dusk is the most magical time of day.

With this in mind, I asked some travel bloggers to share their favourite sunset pictures from their own adventures around the globe. If this doesn’t make you want to book a plane ticket, you’re crazy.

The most beautiful sunsets around the world, as told by travel bloggers

Prague by Culture Trekking

“Head down to the docks where people board their Vltava cruises and turn towards the castle. Here, you will be greeted with birds crisscrossing both the sky and the water. I couldn’t stop taking photos, so make sure you bring a large SD card, you are going to need it.”

Koh Trong, Cambodia by Singapore And Beyond

“After a month of traveling around Cambodia, going through some highs (Angkor Wat) and lows (losing a camera) I finally found myself on a tiny island in the middle of the mighty Mekong river called Koh Trong. The region, known as Kratie (pronounced Kra-cheh) is best known for the handful of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins that still exist in its waters. It’s a magical place that feels like you have stepped back in time. After touring the island by bike, I had the standout experience of my entire trip. The sunset was epic already, yet making it even more outstanding, one of the locals brought his cattle to the water’s edge to give them their daily wash. Seeing man, beast and nature in perfect unison brought a massive smile to my face and calmness to my heart.”

Bagan, Myanmar by Our World To Wander

Bagan is a magical place. It wins you over with its hundreds and thousands of temples. And the best moment to gaze over these majestic structures is at sunset. When the sun fades away and leaves behind a game of golden shades. The temples slowly start to blend in the darkness. But those short moments right before darkness settles will forever remain in your memory. It is indeed an experience worth living!

Maldives by Lydiascapes

Whangarei Heads, New Zealand by Coddiwomp

“This was the sunset that greeted me one night in Whangarei Heads, New Zealand I’d only been in the country for a month or so at this time and was still getting used to being so far away from home in the UK. As the sun set though, shedding breathtaking colour and light across the sky and ocean around me, I sat on the beach sipping a cold beer, laughing and joking around with an old friend. Suddenly it all made sense to me: this was why I’d gone travelling. I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.”

Key West, USA by Compass and Fork

“Mallory Square is the place to be in Key West for sunset. Starting a couple of hours before sunset, the crowds start gathering including magicians and clowns, local musicians and food vendors.  Grab a drink and enjoy the festivities and the sunset.”

Koh Tao, Thailand by Brogan Abroad

“One of the most impressive and mesmerizing sunsets I have ever witnessed was from Sairee Beach in Koh Tao, Thailand. The early sunset hues in the sky looked promising, so I rushed down to the beach, sat by Lotus Bar and waited for it to develop. From soft pinks and blues, the whole sky turned to fire, reflecting in the calm sea. With such vibrant colours in the background, the boats turned into silhouettes, which made the whole image unforgettable.”

Beirut, Lebanon by Traveling Bytes

Cinque Terre, Italy by Migrating Miss

San Diego, USA by My Ticklefeet

“Southern California has earned its name for its beaches and sunsets. All I can say is that it’s totally worth the hype. La Jolla Cove is one the best places to view sunset in San Diego. Not only that but you will get to see San Diego’s marine life here, especially hundreds of Sea Lions calling this rocky beach their home. I recommend coming here a couple of hours before sunset so you can take a walk around the cove before enjoying a beautiful sun setting down the Pacific Ocean.”

Paphos, Cyprus by Time Travel Turtle

“The sunsets in Cyprus always seem long. The skies are normally cloudless and the sun hangs near the horizon for so long. The best part of Cyprus to watch the sunset is from around Paphos, on the west coast, as it disappears on the other side of the water. Although there are lots of great sunset viewpoints near Paphos, my favourite is at a place called Bar Oniro. From here, you can also get a shipwreck in your photos. The ship, the Edbro III, ran aground in December 2011 and has been left in place as an attraction.”

Nosara, Costa Rica by Past The Potholes

“Sunsets are at their best during the rainy season, when moisture in the air enhances all those gorgeous colours, and it doesn’t get much better than Nosara, Costa Rica in September (or anytime really).  Surfers can head out into the dwindling light to catch the last few waves of the day. Or grab a cold drink, find a spot along the 7km long, unspoiled beach and enjoy the spectacular light show.”

Chobe National Park, Botswana by The Crowded Planet

“This picture was taken in Chobe National Park, the last stop of our week-long trip across Botswana. Before that, we had spent two months in South Africa and Namibia, visiting many arid and desert places – one of the things we loved best about Botswana is that there’s a lot of water, including the opportunity to go on river safaris. In Chobe, we went on a sunset river safari where we saw giraffes, elephants swimming across the river, hippos and water buffalos, and this sunset was the best possible ending to a wonderful experience.”

Outer Banks, USA by Travel Melodies

“At Jockey Ridge State Park, peeping behind the kites, was the sun kissing the horizon. To catch a glimpse, we walked barefoot on the dunes, sand trickling our feet, and stopped to savour the views. After clicking enumerable pics, we realized that no lens can capture these precious moments. Even at Ocracoke Island, it was pure bliss to watch the sun paint the sky in twilight hues.”

Ngapali Beach,  Myanmar by Free Two Roam

“Watching the sunset in Ngapali Beach was our favourite part of the day. Every night, the sky would be filled with vibrant shades of red and orange as the sun set over the ocean. This spectacle would change daily, with each sunset more beautiful than the ones before. Of course, the best way to enjoy these sunsets was with a coconut mojito in hand, at one of the many beach bars.”

Easter Island by My Turn To Travel

“The Ahu Tahai Ceremonial Complex is the best place to see the sunset on Easter Island. There are 3 different moai platforms (iconic statues of Easter Island), with the Ahu Vai Uri being the largest and most popular platform for viewing the sunset. Every evening, tourists sit on the grass to wind down after a long day, while the island dogs roam about looking for food. I went there a few days but was met with cloudy evenings. Alas, on my last day on the island, the clouds cleared and I was rewarded for my patience with this beautiful sunset.”

Cardiff, Wales by Hello Amy

Loch Lomond, Scotland by A Pair Of Passports

El Tunco, El Salvador by Gumnuts Abroad

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia by Our Escape Clause

Sunset over Zagreb, Croatia by Pack The Suitcases

 

“Zagreb, the beautiful capital of Croatia, might not be an obvious choice for amazing sunsets. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised. As the sun goes down over Zagreb, head up the shortest funicular ride you’ll ever go on (a ridiculous 55 seconds), taking you up the hill to the old town, Gradec. This is where all the main sights and charming cobbled streets are, and where you’ll find the best sunset vantage point. High up overlooking the city with the rooftops spread below, it’s the perfect spot. Just be prepared to elbow your way to the front for that Instagram shot…”

Grand Canyon, Arizona USA by The Daily Adventures Of Me

“Watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, US was a supremely spiritual experience for me. Very few places in the world are as awe-inspiring as the massive Grand Canyon. It really puts in perspective how small a part of the world we are. The Yavapai Geology Center was the perfect place to leave my family sleeping in the hotel and set out to watch the sun start a new day by peaking out from the south rim of the canyon.”

Champaign, Illinois by Gypsy With A Day Job

“A summer highlight in central Illinois is going to local wineries for live music. One Saturday, a group of friends had decided to go see a popular blues group perform. While on our way we were intrigued by the onset of this vivid sunset. We pulled to the side of the road next to the cornfields and climbed the overpass for the best view. We were awestruck as the colors transitioned from mauve to fuschia and then deep violet. No one spoke, feeling both humbled and inspired by the stunning display.”

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by Tales Of A Backpacker

Rio de Janeiro is stunning at any time of the day or night, but sunset has an extra special feel to it.  On hot days, the beaches are still full as the sun goes down, as the heat of day gradually fades.  Ipanema beach has a beautiful backdrop of Sugar Loaf Mountain and was my favourite place to watch the sunset in Rio. Sugar Loaf Mountain is just one of the iconic landmarks in Rio de Janeiro. There is a bar up there as well, so watching the sunset on Sugar Loaf Mountain with a caipirinha is a memory that will stay with me forever!””

Aruba by Wonderful Wanderings

“On a trip to Aruba, I had dinner at the Barefoot Restaurant which is a beach restaurant where you can literally arrive in your flip flops and kick them off while you enjoy a lovely meal at a table on the sand. The restaurant is ideally located as it gives great views of the sunset.”

Christmas Island by Make Time To See The World

“An Australian external territory and closer to Indonesia than to Oz, Christmas Island is a remote tropical island paradise that showcases incredible pink and purple sunsets practically every night of the year! This was taken at the end of a 5 day trip to photograph the annual red crab migration on the Island. The colours were so vibrant, the photograph hardly does it justice and it’s possibly one of my favorite ‘pink hour’ shots of all time!”

Garden Route, South Africa by Stingy Nomads

“On our recent road trip in South Africa we were lucky to witness a stunning sunset at the sea on the Otter trail hike. This was one of the highlights of the Garden Route trip for us and was one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen. The sun was big, it coloured the sea and the sky into bright yellow and orange-red colors. Everybody couldn’t stop saying how incredibly beautiful it was I took only few photos not wanting to be distracted from watching this stunning sunset.”

Pokhara, Nepal by Mytriphack

“Pokhara is a picturesque city in Nepal surrounded by hills with a big lake in the middle. Due to its natural beauty you can experience unique sunsets and sunrises there. You can see the snowy peaks of Annapurna and Dhoulagiri ranges, the view of the floating boats on the Phewa lake, kids taking an evening dip and of course a range of strong and dramatic colors filling the sky and reflecting in the water.”

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India by MySoulTravels

“While every sunset is special, this evening was really special for us as we saw the sun go down from the southernmost tip of India. Triveni Sangam in Kanyakumari is the confluence point of three seas, namely Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian ocean. According to local belief, bathing here washes away sins and this point is flocked by hundreds of travelers to witness the breathtaking sunset.”

Boracay, Philippines by 197 Travel Stamps

“After traveling to over 100 countries, I have seen many stunning and incredible sunsets. But there is no place like Boracay island in the Philippines. Every single evening I have spent on the island, the sky lit up in the most incredible colors. Usually it starts with a bright orange that slowly turns into a darker red while the last sailboats make their way back ashore before night falls.”

Cairo, Egypt by Global Castaway

“No matter where we are, we’ll always enjoy a lovely sunset. But enjoying a sunset over one of the most recognizable ancient wonder of the world is a premium experience for sure. Find a hotel or restaurant with a good roof, get yourself a glass of Karakadey (Hibiscus Juice) and enjoy the same sight Cleopatra herself used to relish (ok, maybe not exactly the same). And don’t feel bad for the Sphinx, even though he missed every twilight for the past 4500 years, his head was always above the sand, so he managed to savor every single sunrise.”

Tel Aviv, Israel by From East To West With RMS

“Tel Aviv, Israel is by far my favorite sunset in the world – and I’ve seen a lot of them! Tel Aviv sits right on the Mediterranean Sea and provides a stunning sunset show every single night. The colors turn orange to pink to red everyday over the calm water and it cannot be missed. Grab a cold Goldstar beer (Israel’s native), hit one of the rooftop views on the coast or sit on the sand and watch the show.”

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada by Tear Free Travel

Luang Prabang, Laos by The Travel Sisters

Bandra, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India by Travelogue Connect

“Sunsets have always inspired me. I don’t know why, but I love clicking pictures of sunsets. They seem so soothing and calm. This picture is of one such sunset at Bandra, Mumbai. Beautiful, picturesque and scenic are the words which come to my mind when I see the pictures of the evening sky. The orange sky, setting sun, and floating clouds make for a beautiful romantic evening to spend with your loved ones.”

Bora Bora, French Polynesia by The Invisible Tourist

“Sunsets can be amazing in any part of the world, but in my opinion they don’t get much better than in the South Pacific. My most memorable sunset experience would hands-down be in Bora Bora, French Polynesia. I was fortunate enough to spend a week here for my honeymoon and on one of our last days Mother Nature treated us to this stunning view from our overwater bungalow. With cocktail in hand watching the sun slip beneath the horizon, this was something I’ll never forget!”

Oahu, Hawaii by Wandering Wheatleys

“Hawaiian sunsets are legendary and for good reason! Watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean with a Mai Tai in hand and an ukulele playing in the distance… what’s not to love! Even after living on Oahu for a year we still found ourselves inevitably drawn to the nearest beach around sunset time. Our favorite place is Ka’ena Point which sits at the far western tip of the North Shore. It can only be accessed via a rough a rocky road so it’s best tackled on foot or in a lifted 4×4 vehicle. You can catch some beautiful reflections off of the tide pools and you’ll be far, far away from the throngs of tourist on Waikiki Beach!”

Guadeloupe by Rachel’s Ruminations

Sunset from Paladar la Guarida in Havana, Cuba by Greta’s Travels

“When it comes to rooftop bars with epic sunset views, Paladar la Guarida in Havana, Cuba, easily made it to the top of my personal favourites. Paladar la Guarida is located in a Spanish colonial building a short walk away from Habana Vieja and Parque Central, with a 360 view over the rooftops of Havana. From here you can enjoy amazing Cuban mojitos while watching the sun go down over the roofs of Havana.”

Many thanks to all of the travel bloggers who contributed their best sunset photos. Tell me, where have you seen the most beautiful sunset on your travels?

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