The Most Glorious Sunsets Throughout the World: 5 Locations for Your Next Vacation

In the never-ending debate of ‘sunrise or sunset?’ Sunset seems to almost always win.

The reason is not just that you don’t have to get up super early to catch it (though that is indeed a big part of it), but it’s also the winner because of aesthetic reasons. Sunsets have more colors and are more encompassing of the landscape. This isn’t an opinion; research has proven it.

Sunsets have an immense warmth in them. In their majestic glory, in their unique quality of turning even a barren land alive again.

Birth, creation and beginnings are always beautiful. Sunsets give even the generally dreary and sadistic endings a desirous quality, a peaceful and serene element.

With this immaculate image in mind, let us find out where we can find the best sunsets in the world so that we may experience them for real (someday). 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a one-of-a-kind temple. It’s holy, beautiful, and has a spectacular view of both iconic times of the day: the sunrise and the sunset.

Angkor Wat is a Hindu and Buddhist temple built by King Suryavarman II in the 12^th century. He had it built as a funerary temple to house his remains. This cultural monument is the largest temple in the world, and it took almost three decades to complete. It spans around 400 acres and includes multiple temple complexes.

This west-facing temple is unique in its construction as Hindu temples generally face east, towards the rising sun. Such a placement makes it an ideal spot for both sunrise and sunset.

Sunsets at Angkor Wat are usually quiet, as the temple closes around the same time. Caught from behind the temple, you view the temple reflected serenely in the waters as the sun sets in front of you. This view is unforgettable, with its array of multiple colors mixing behind the majestic temple. The picture above speaks for itself. Need we say more?

Visit Angkor for its historical and religious significance, and while at it, do not miss out on the ethereal sunset. 

Santorini, Greece

This Greek Island, with its two main towns set on hills, is the perfect spot for an all-encompassing sunset.

It is said that many great thinkers of the world have had their ‘enlightening moment’ at the seaside. As it happens, covered by the Aegean Sea, Santorini is an island marked by its traditional and whitewashed low-lying houses. They were mostly built high on hills because pirates would plunder the island during the 15^th and 16^th centuries, and the bays were used as hideouts for those on the run.

The sunsets in Santorini are made special by the arresting view of the sun submerging itself into the sea. As you stand in the narrow little streets of the hill towns of Santorini, you will find yourself surrounded by the godly spectacles of Greek architecture basking in the tender rays of the sun as it waves goodbye; and when you inhale deeply and look ahead, you will be mesmerized all over again by the swirls and intricate patterns that the sky is transformed into, a parting gift as the sun finally dips in and is out of sight. When in Santorini, the sane gobble up as many sunsets as they can.

Taj Mahal, India

One among the eight wonders of the world, this white marble mausoleum has always been an attraction. As a cherry on top of the already ever-soaring glory of this monument of love commissioned by Shah Jahan in honor of his dead wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the sunsets at the Taj are extraordinarily beautiful.

When the warm rays hug the white engraved marbles, the monument comes alive as if blushing.

It took 17 years to sculpt this marvel and 5 more to finish the surrounding structures. The Taj itself is made of pure white marble embedded with precious jewels, while the other structures are made of red sandstone. The mausoleum houses the tomb of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The monument is considered the greatest testament to love.

It is indeed such a sign of devotion that it needs to be witnessed first-hand to truly feel its magnificence. The Taj during sunset offers a serene and stunning escape as most of the crowd thins out, and you can soak up the Taj set on the banks of the Yamuna River. 

Cairo, Egypt

The capital of Egypt is a mixture of all that a city can be. From ancient structures and medieval mosques to towering buildings, Cairo has it all. Watching the sunset over a city so diverse in its structures is like losing all sense of time.

This timeless experience can be had from various high and low spots in the city. The best and generally most recommended sunset spot is the Cairo Tower. Its location and height lend it the title of the best sunset spot in Cairo as you witness the whole of Cairo laid out before you in all its glory.

The Pyramids of Giza prove to be another great spot as the view of the sun setting behind the pyramids is a marvel only known when experienced.

A spot worth mentioning is Al-Azhar Park in Islamic Cairo. This grand park cannot be missed while visiting Cairo. The view is entirely different from here as you witness the sun setting on the city of minarets.

However, the sunset, as viewed from a felucca (traditional Mediterranean boat) or a cruise on the Nile, is unparalleled and always a welcoming experience.

Serengeti, Tanzania

We told you of sunsets overlooking cities, towns, seas and ancient structures. Now, it is time for a sunset amidst the natural savannah.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is a national park located in a reserved area in the country’s North. This park is known worldwide as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries and will give you an experience unlike any other.

The sunsets here are breathtaking, complemented by picturesque landscapes and the presence of wild animals, creating a truly remarkable scene.

If you’re a true sunset seeker plus a wildlife lover, this wildlife reserve that houses some of the most endangered animals is a place you must visit.

Conclusion:

Sunsets are subjective, so it is indeed not possible to claim one that is the best. However, we can surely list the top few that have been applauded the world over. That is precisely what this article did. We took you on a sunset tour, passing through monuments like the Taj, islands like Santorini, temples like the Angkor Wat, savannahs like the Serengeti and historical cities like Cairo. If you long for the true magnificence of these locations and their iconic sunsets, plan your next vacation based on this list.

FAQ

1. Are sunsets overrated?

Nowadays, anything most people admire and praise is considered overrated. Some things are indeed overrated, but not sunsets. Sunsets are more about personal experience than what others think of them, so if you love them in all earnestness, you have nothing to worry about.

• Which is better, sunrise or sunset?

Some are early risers and believers in beginnings. For them, sunrise takes the cake. Some find the setting sun gripping. For them, the sunset rules. It is insignificant what the statistics or the social media may declare. Dusks and dawns are ours alone to claim.

• Why are sunsets more beautiful in certain places than others?

The sunset appears beautiful because the sun’s rays reach more air when on the horizon than higher up. This makes the light scatter and appear in diverse colors. So then, a beautiful sunset is characterized by various factors like the moisture and dust particles in the air, the weather, and the landscape. We find the sunset beautiful also in contrast to the surroundings from which we view it. There is a significant difference between the sun setting on a grassland and in a bustling city. Both have their charms, of course.  

• Which place has the best sunset in the world?

Each sunset is different, and difference does not necessarily mean better. It’s all about the experience. But generally, sunsets in colder places are more colorful than others. Some other sunset spots worth mentioning, apart from those in the blog, are Alaska, Bali, the Florida Keys, and Norway.