The best sunsets around the world

Whatever you’re looking for in a holiday, from bustling, metropolitan cities to magnificent sandy beaches, there’s one relaxing thing that we can all make time for – enjoying a beautiful sunset.

There’s no better time to do this than on holiday, with more of us prioritising wellness travel than ever before and sunsets offering a myriad of physical and mental health benefits.

Watching sunsets has been shown to reduce stress and boost mood, as well as improve sleep quality by helping regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. Enjoying a sunset is also a great opportunity for reflection, offering a peaceful escape from the tension of everyday life.

With this in mind, we decided to put together a ranking of the top 10 best countries to visit for sunsets. While sunsets are universal, we found some of the ultimate locations to enjoy this beautiful natural phenomenon.

To put together our list, we used a number of different factors to rank countries around the world, which were:

• Light pollution levels – the lower the better, to enjoy a perfect sunset
• Average temperature – we calculated the distance from the ideal temperature of 18°C, the World Health Organisation’s ‘ideal’ temperature for comfort
• Romance – sunsets are undeniably romantic, so we used an index of the most loved-up countries around the world
• Number of UNESCO cultural sites – to frame the sunset with a stunning temple or monument
• Number of UNESCO natural sites – to enhance the sunset with another natural wonder

For each of these criteria, we ranked each country from position 1 to 226 and took an average score across the five categories to find the winners. We also delved into our destination knowledge to recommend a particularly great sunset location for each.

So, without further ado, here are the winners!

Rank	Location	Average rank	Light pollution	Temperature	Romance	UNESCO – cultural	UNESCO – natural
1	Australia	36	41	29	39	68.5	2.5
2	Argentina	36.5	104	8	20.5	38	12
3	Mexico	36.8	129.5	23	14	8	9.5
4	Tanzania	37.3	30	38	14	82	22.5
5	South Africa	41.9	113	4	39	38	15.5
6	Peru	43.6	72	14	61.5	28	42.5
7	Brazil	44.4	95	90	14	17	6
8	Spain	49.3	179	39	9.5	3.5	15.5
9	Madagascar	49.4	8.5	33	32.5	130.5	42.5
10	Zimbabwe	49.6	34	28	61.5	82	42.5

 

1. Australia

And the number one country is… Australia!

Consistently strong across the five categories that we used to rank the countries, Australia is well known for its stunning beaches and laidback way of life – making it a perfect sunset-spotting destination and a worthy winner. Famed for its natural beauty, it was joint second in the number of UNESCO natural sites ranking.

eShores recommends: Uluru – also known as Ayers Rock, this iconic sandstone monolith near the centre of Australia is a national treasure, and it’s not hard to see why. A magnificent edifice of orange rock, a sunset over Uluru is a photographer’s dream of wonderful colour.

 

2. Argentina

Argentina took second spot, which is unsurprising for a country famed for its incredible Andean mountain ranges. It performed strongly across all five categories in the eShores index, including appearing in the top 10 for ideal temperature for sunset viewing.

eShores recommends: Patagonia – this remote region is awash with incredible scenery to frame sunsets, from towering glaciers and snow-capped mountain peaks to mirror lakes and dense forest.

 

3. Mexico

A country famed for its incredible beaches, Mexico also scored very well across the board, with particularly high scores for cultural and natural UNESCO sites, as well as romance and temperature. So whether you’re looking for culture, natural beauty or a romantic getaway, Mexico really does have it all!

eShores recommends: Punta Cometa – this scenic outcrop provides a sensational vista where walkers gather each night to watch the sunset.

 

4. Tanzania

Home of the breathtaking Serengeti National Park, Tanzania had some of the lowest light pollution levels of all the countries we looked at, as well as high scores for romance and natural sites. A safari across the UNESCO-listed Serengeti promises some unforgettable experiences.

eShores recommends: Serengeti National Park – what better landscape to watch the sun set or rise than one of the most iconic national parks in the world?

 

5. South Africa

A country of stunning natural beauty and culture, reflected in its impressive standings for both types of UNESCO sites, South Africa also ranked highly for ideal sunset temperature.

eShores recommends: Table Mountain, Cape Town – looking out over the expansive vista of Cape Town below from Table Mountain at sunset is a truly breathtaking experience.

 

6. Peru

Another country that fared well in both UNESCO categories and for temperature, Peru’s natural beauty makes it an obvious candidate for best sunset. Sharing the Andean mountain range with its neighbour, Argentina, the myriad of natural wonders in Peru perfectly complement a wonderful sunset.

eShores recommends: Rainbow Mountains – looking like a sunset skyscape themselves, the beguiling Rainbow Mountains are a fascinating and beautiful natural phenomenon that provide the perfect accompaniment to a sunset.

 

7. Brazil

Brazil’s place in the top ten was secured by high rankings in both UNESCO categories, as well as its reputation as a romantic hotspot. Home to the biggest carnival in the world, this result shows that Brazil is not just a great place for partying – it’s also a perfect destination for relaxing and unwinding.

eShores recommends: Camboinhas Beach – often named one of Brazil’s top beaches and sunset sites, the pristine beaches and impressive cliffs of Camboinhas Beach make this an ideal destination for sunset seekers.

 

8. Spain

Joint third for UNESCO cultural sites (sunset over Park Güell or Sagrada Família, anyone?) and in the top ten for romance, this vibrant and diverse country was the highest European entry in our best sunsets index.

eShores recommends: Café Mambo, Ibiza – the White Island is home to Café Mambo, one of the most iconic sunset locations in all of Spain. Visitors reserve their spots early to hear some of the world’s best resident DJs in a more serene setting than the rest of the island, as well as the gorgeous sunsets.

 

9. Madagascar

Madagascar was top for lack of light pollution, providing this enormous island off the east coast of Africa with some unforgettable sunsets.

eShores recommends: Avenue of the Baobabs – located in the Menabe region of western Madagascar, these legendary trees are sometimes known as ‘upside-down trees’ due to their unique branches, and provide a perfect foreground for sunset.

 

10. Zimbabwe

Rounding off the top ten, Zimbabwe performed consistently strongly across all five categories, cementing its place as one of our best countries for sunsets. Its staggering natural beauty means that Zimbabwe has a plethora of options for enjoying a gorgeous sunset.

eShores recommends: Victoria Falls – located on the Zambezi River, the world-famous Victoria Falls are 1.7km wide and twice as tall as Niagara Falls. The cascading water provides an exquisite setting to enjoy the sunset.

 

So, there you have it – our list of the top ten countries for sunsets! Whether you want to sit around a campfire with friends watching the sun go down, enjoy a romantic sunset on the beach for a special occasion, or watch the sun disappear behind some of the world’s most amazing natural and manmade wonders, this list has something for everyone.

Did we miss anywhere out? Where are the best places you’ve watched the sun set? Let us know or book your next multi-centre holiday today.