The best places to watch the sunset include Oia in Santorini, Uluru in Australia, Bagan in Myanmar and Mallory Square in Key West. Below are 10 spots, each picked for the view, the setting and how easy it is to plan a visit.
| # | Place | Country or region |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oia | Santorini, Greece |
| 2 | Cape Sounion | Greece |
| 3 | Mallory Square | Key West, Florida |
| 4 | Uluru | Northern Territory, Australia |
| 5 | Bagan | Myanmar |
| 6 | Phnom Bakheng | Angkor, Cambodia |
| 7 | Cliffs of Moher | County Clare, Ireland |
| 8 | Table Mountain | Cape Town, South Africa |
| 9 | Arpoador | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 10 | Your own pick: the best sunset is the one you plan for | Anywhere |
Pair any of these with a trip around Valentine’s Day or an anniversary and you have a gift that beats a box of chocolates. Our own take: pick one place you can reach easily this year and one dream destination, and plan around the sunset time rather than the other way round.
1. Oia, Santorini, Greece
The village of Oia sits on the northern edge of the Santorini caldera, 70 to 100 metres above the sea, with houses and restaurants built into niches in the cliff. The caldera faces the setting sun, which is why the village has become the best known sunset stop in the Cyclades. Narrow passages mean the best vantage points fill early, so arrive well before the sun drops.
2. Cape Sounion, Greece
About an hour’s drive south of Athens, the Temple of Poseidon was built between 444 and 440 BCE on a cape that drops into the Aegean. Watching the sun set behind its columns has been a sought-after sight since the early days of modern tourism in the 19th century.
3. Mallory Square, Key West, Florida
Key West turns sunset into a nightly event: the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square starts about two hours before sundown, every day of the year, with street performers, craft stalls and food carts. It is the most social entry on this list, so expect a crowd rather than solitude.
4. Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
The sandstone monolith stands 348 metres high and glows red at dawn and sunset because of the iron oxide in the rock. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu people, and climbing it has been closed since October 2019, so the sunset view from the ground is the way to experience it.
5. Bagan, Myanmar
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom from the 9th to the 13th century, and thousands of temples still dot the plain beside the Irrawaddy River. Sunset over the temple skyline is the classic view. A major earthquake in August 2016 damaged many of the structures, so check which temples are currently open to visitors.
6. Phnom Bakheng, Angkor, Cambodia
Built at the end of the 9th century on a hill in Siem Reap Province, this temple mountain is a popular place to watch the sun go down over the much larger Angkor Wat. It is a short climb, and the summit gets busy, so go early.
7. Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland
The cliffs run for about 14 kilometres and reach their highest point of 214 metres just north of O’Brien’s Tower. They draw around 1.5 million visits a year, and on a clear evening the sun sets over the Atlantic with the Aran Islands in view.
8. Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
The flat-topped mountain above Cape Town is reached by hiking or by the Rotair cableway, which opened in 1929. From the plateau you look over the city bowl and Table Bay, and Lion’s Head next door is the usual alternative for a sunset hike.
9. Arpoador, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Most of Brazil’s beaches face east, which makes this rock between Ipanema and Copacabana unusual: around midsummer the sun sets over the sea here, and the crowd traditionally cheers when it disappears. The rest of the year the view is still worth the short walk.
10. Your own pick: the best sunset is the one you plan for
Sunset spots rank differently for everyone, so treat the nine above as a starting point. Whatever you choose, check the sunset time for your travel date, arrive 45 minutes early, and keep a plan B for cloud cover.
How do you plan a sunset trip?
Look up the exact sunset time for your date, add a buffer for traffic or a climb, and check the opening hours of any monument or park. Sunset times shift by more than an hour across the year in most places, so a spot that works in June may need an earlier arrival in December.
Want more trip ideas? Browse our Luxury Travel page.
Keep reading
- mindsets that travel teaches: what a trip can change in how you think
- luxurious things to do in Canada: another travel idea list
FAQ
Where is the best place in the world to watch a sunset?
There is no single winner, but Oia on Santorini, Uluru in Australia and Bagan in Myanmar are among the most photographed. The best choice depends on whether you want a crowd, history or wide open scenery.
Can you still climb Uluru for sunset?
No. The climb has been closed since October 2019, but you can watch the sunset colours on the rock from designated viewing areas.
Which sunset spot is best for a romantic trip?
Oia in Santorini and Cape Sounion near Athens are the classic romantic choices, because both pair a Mediterranean view with a short, easy visit.
Where can I see the sun set over the sea in Rio de Janeiro?
Arpoador, between Ipanema and Copacabana. Brazil’s coast mostly faces east, but around midsummer the sun sets over the water there.
What should I bring to watch a sunset?
Arrive 45 minutes early, bring a light jacket because temperatures drop quickly after dark, and carry a torch or phone light if you need to walk back from a hilltop or temple.
Last updated: October 2026.
