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The best sunsets in the world have a way of stopping time. Whether you’re standing on a beautiful beach, watching fiery colors melt into the horizon, or sipping a drink as city lights flicker to life, sunsets transform ordinary moments into something unforgettable.

From golden shores to breathtaking mountaintops, here are some of the most incredible places to witness a sunset you’ll never forget.

Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

Scenic sunset from Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia

Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia

Tanah Lot is arguably the most photographed temple in Bali, especially when it’s captured in silhouette against the blazing sunsets for which this Indonesian island is famous.

The Hindu temple, which has an almost fairytale beauty, sits on a wave-pounded rocky islet off Bali’s west coast. It’s believed to date back to the 16th century and was built for the worship of Bhatara Segara, the sea god.

You can walk across to the temple at low tide and clamber up the rock it sits on, though non-Balinese may not enter the temple complex itself. This doesn’t deter the many visitors who turn up at sunset for the view.

Local vendors have set up souvenir stalls and street food booths, too, giving the temple and its surroundings something of a festival vibe as the sun sinks toward the horizon.

Read: Best Things to Do in Bali 

Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland, one of the best sunsets in the world

Reykjavik, Iceland

You’ll need to stay up late if you want to catch the sunset in Iceland in midsummer; in June, close to the summer solstice, this doesn’t happen until 11.30 p.m. What you do get, though, is a long, golden period as the day draws to a close, the color flaring over the North Atlantic.

Reykjavik faces west, so you’ll get great sunset views from here. Wander down to the Harpa concert hall on the waterfront and follow the jetty out to Ingólfsgarður Lighthouse.

From here, you can watch boats coming and going and enjoy views across the water to Þúfa, an art installation in the form of a 26-foot grassy mound topped with a shed for drying fish.

Scenic sunset from Grotta Lighthouse, Iceland

Grotta Lighthouse, Iceland

Or walk out to Grotta Lighthouse, which stands on an islet at the end of a grassy peninsula, facing west. In winter, this is a popular spot for watching the Northern Lights, as it’s removed from the light pollution of the city.

In summer, people come here for the sunset. Even if you can’t walk across to the island—it’s closed for part of the summer to protect nesting birds—the views are magnificent.

Paris, France

Paris, France, one of the best sunset in the world

Paris, France

One of the most beautiful aspects of Paris is that there’s no high rise in the city center. So once you’ve chosen your sunset viewing spot, there will be no obstacles as the elegant Haussman buildings that characterize the French capital glow pale gold in the last light of the day.

There are various viewpoints from which to catch the sunset. You could climb up to the top of Montmartre, the highest natural point in the center, and gaze at the horizon from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Or you could ascend the Arc de Triomphe and watch from the viewing terraces as the sky turns rose-pink. You’ll have a great view of the Eiffel Tower from here.

Of course, you could plan your visit to the Eiffel Tower itself for sunset; it’s open until late in the evening and offers 360-degree views of the city. Staying up here after sunset and watching the lights come on below you is a romantic experience.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Scenic view of Manarola in Cinque Terre, Italy

Manarola in Cinque Terre, Italy

Sunset is a magical time in the Cinque Terre, five exquisite fishing villages clinging to the plunging cliffs of the Italian Riviera. Many of the day trippers on their sightseeing boats will have left, the crowds thinning out as “magic hour” approaches.

Whichever village you’re in will offer spectacular views as the sun sinks toward the horizon of the Ligurian Sea. Watch the brightly colored houses of Riomaggiore glow in the fading light, or head to the Nessun Dorma bar overlooking Manarola for aperitivos and wonderful views down over the town.

Vancouver, Canada

View of Vancouver at sunset from the water

Vancouver, Canada

Looking out west over the Pacific, Vancouver has the perfect setting for sunsets. The view from famous Grouse Mountain, which overlooks the city, is spectacular even before the sun sinks over downtown and the ocean.

The green spaces of Stanley Park wrap the city in a six-mile walking and bike path. It’s another enchanting place to take in the coastal view and wait for a beautiful sundown.

If you are more adventurous, head to Sunset Beach (there’s a clue in the name) where kayakers and paddle boarders gather. Rent one yourself to get on the water or just take in the view of the city across English Bay.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

View of the lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

The coast of Maine faces east, but it still manages to have some spectacular sunsets. They may be even better for the way you have to work harder to see them.

In summertime, the sun sets here to the northwest; time your visit carefully to be guaranteed one of those classic Maine sights of a lighthouse or rocky shore standing against the red light of dusk.

Cape Elizabeth is best from fall through winter but its southwest aspect gives good sunsets all year round. Add in the Portland Head Lighthouse, dating to 1791, and you have a remarkable setting.

It’s the oldest lighthouse in Maine and stands in beautiful Fort Williams Park with the open ocean behind it. The Atlantic weather beating against the cliffs below can add real drama, making for memorable photographs or just great memories.

Key West, Florida

Sunset view of Key West, Florida with boardwalk

Key West, Florida

The day’s end over the Gulf of Mexico brings a beautiful sunset to much of Florida’s western coastline. Key West, the southernmost city in the contiguous United States, enjoys the very best.

Looking out over uninterrupted sea, 90 nautical miles from Cuba, watchers see an amazing light show as the sun sinks over the far horizon. Red, orange and violet—and all the others in between—light up the sky then vanish one by one.

Every night, Mallory Square hosts drinks and street food while entertainers boost the party atmosphere. The biggest cheer is reserved for the “green flash”, a rare phenomenon seen only on cloudless nights.

Eagle Beach, Aruba

Divi-divi tree on Eagle Beach at sunset

Eagle Beach, Aruba

With a rum punch in hand at a beach bar, you could argue there is no such thing as a bad sunset anywhere from The Bahamas to Tobago. On Aruba, that spot is Eagle Beach. Ranked as one of the best beaches in the world, its calm waters and white sands face due west.

Rather than palms, the beach has Aruba’s distinctive divi-divi trees. Gnarled and weathered into a twisted shape resonant of a bonsai, these evergreens point to the west with the prevailing winds.

A divi-divi tree against the sunset is an immediately recognizable image that Aruba is known for. If it’s not the best sunset in the world, or at least the Caribbean, it will do just fine until a better one comes along.

Read: Best Beaches in Aruba

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Beautiful skyline of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The sunsets in Rio are so good that on parts of Ipanema beach spectators stand and clap. Applause brings an encore, of course, although you do have to wait another 24 hours to see it.

Sunsets at beach level are one thing, but the view from on high, taking in the lights of the city as well, is something else. Popular spots in Rio are atop the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) with its outlook over Copacabana, and the Dois Irmãos, looking over Ipanema.

The best of all may be from Mirante Dona Marta, a belvedere standing about 1,000 ft above the city on the way to Corcovado with its Christ the Redeemer statue. The spectacle takes in Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay and beyond as the city’s lights blink into life and the sun sinks over the far horizon.

Read: Best Skylines in the World

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Beautiful orange sky of Punta del Este, Uruguay at sunset

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Jutting out into the Atlantic on a promontory, the buzzing beach resort of Punta Del Este has a perfect setting from which to see the most beautiful sunsets in Uruguay. In fact, many visitors seem to only start their evening out after watching it.

“The Hand”, a sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal of a giant hand rising out of the sand, is a landmark site for photos. His signature piece has been copied around the world but never bettered.

There is also a wide choice of amazing restaurants, glamorous hotels and terraces to take in the view. Popular with Argentines and Brazilians, Punta del Este is a resort that gives St. Tropez a run for its money.

Bergen, Norway

Aerial view of Bergen, Norway with gleaming buildings

Bergen, Norway

Known for its rain, Bergen might not seem the most reliable place in the world to capture Norway’s best sunset. However, it’s all the more special when it does show.

The colorful old wharf area of Bryggen is a great backdrop for photos at any time. In the so-called “Golden Hour” around dusk, the atmospheric wooden buildings of this UNESCO World Heritage Site positively glow with romance.

If you feel energetic enough, climb the 1,333 “Sherpa” steps to the top of Mount Ulriken, one of the most beautiful mountains in Norway. You can also take the cable car to the summit. Here you can see the city and ocean shining below you in the magical evening light.

Cork, Ireland

Blackrock Castle in Cork at sunset

Cork, Ireland

Ask anyone from Cork and they’ll tell you that Cork—the city and county—is the most beautiful place in Ireland. That’s before you add in the dazzling sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean.

There are many spots in the city to enjoy nature’s free light show. A favorite with photographers is the 16th century Blackrock Castle, which looks amazing silhouetted against the light on the River Lee.

Irish sunsets might not have the dependability of a tropical one. They make up for it in atmosphere when the clouds and light interplay between dark and sunny moods, creating an ever-changing vista.

Ibiza, Spain

Aerial view of a beach in Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza, Spain

The Mediterranean delivers beautiful sunsets in many places, from Capri through to Sicily and, of course, Ibiza. The latter is particularly famous for its beach parties in the golden light.

Ibiza’s sunsets are a bit different in that, for many watchers, they mark the start of their day, not the end, thanks to the island’s legendary nightlife. But for a moment of communal serenity, the island stands still to watch the sun set the water on fire.

There are countless places, including the whole Sunset Strip in San Antonio, lined with chillout bars and cocktail menus, dedicated to celebrating sundown. Join the crowds, or find a quiet spot on your own, to take in the spectacle.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, one of the best sunset in the world

Santorini, Greece

There is no denying that Santorini has possibly the best sunset in the world, no matter how much of a cliché the image seems.

As one of the most beautiful places to photograph in the world, it’s a photographer’s dream, one that has appeared on the cover of countless travel magazines for a reason.

The town of Oia’s west-facing aspect, and its whitewashed walls offset by blue windows and domes, makes for a very special combination. The blazing sun seems to take forever to sink, reflected by its image in a vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea.

Add in the wide choice of good restaurants, all oriented to the view, serving delicious food and fine wine, some playing opera to add to the drama, and you have the perfect setting to enjoy the famous Santorini sunset.

Tokyo, Japan

View of Tokyo skyline

Tokyo, Japan

Better known as the land of the rising sun, it should be no surprise that Japan does beautiful sunsets as well as it does every other thing of beauty.

The cityscape of Tokyo remains a firm favorite, adding a glittering modern skyline to nature’s display. Many high rises offer a grand panorama, but Odaiba Seaside Park is one of the rare places in the city to take in the view with a stroll in the open air.

The sunset, the skyscrapers, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba Statue of Liberty and the lights of many boats reflect in the waters of Tokyo Bay to duplicate the imagery.

Koekohe Beach, New Zealand

Picturesque view of Koekohe Beach with iconic Moeraki boulders

Koekohe Beach, New Zealand

New Zealand is blessed with many natural wonders and its sunsets are among them. Koekohe Beach is doubly lucky to be a candidate for the best sunset in the world thanks to the remarkable Moeraki Boulders.

These large spherical rocks are grouped on one of New Zealand’s best beaches, where they have fallen from nearby cliffs. Textured in a way that made people once think them to be dinosaur eggs, they are actually balls of sediments.

Seen against a sunrise or sunset, the boulders make for a mesmerizing, otherworldly image, much enjoyed by photographers. The image is an unmissable sight for anyone visiting New Zealand’s South Island.

People hanging out at the Sunset Bar

Sunset Bar

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