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The Best Place to See the Sunrise and Sunset in Every Country

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Entertainment while abroad can get pricey very quickly – but the greatest shows on Earth (and just beyond) are absolutely free… we’re, of course, talking about sunrise and sunset.

There’s something about the day breaking or coming to an end that offers a quiet moment of reflection, a romantic backdrop, or the perfect photo opportunity.

But which destinations should you add to your bucket list?

Mornings.co.uk analyzed the number of mentions of each term in Tripadvisor reviews for each attraction to find the best place to see the sunrise and sunset in every country and every US state.

Methodology

Mornings.co.uk used Tripadvisor to gather data on the best places to watch a sunrise and sunset by searching Things To Do using keywords “sunset” and “sunrise” in each country of the world and each US state.

Places with the highest number of mentions of, respectively, “sunset” and “sunrise” in their reviews were deemed the best places to watch sunset or sunrise.

Anywhere which included “sunrise” or “sunset” in the name was removed from the dataset.

Attractions offering tours, adventures, excursions to various locations around them were also removed from the dataset.

The selection of places is limited to physical locations, i.e. public spaces, mountain peaks, beaches, buildings, establishments, etc.

The best places to see the sunrise in every country

Aside from being attractive to watch, something about a new day breaking creates a sense of gratefulness and a mood reset. In fact, according to a study conducted by Jia Wei Zhang a the University of California, engagement with natural beauty showed a positive relation between connectedness with nature and psychological well-being.

But where are the best places in every country to watch the sunrise? Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is the best spot to watch the sunrise from in the world, with 10,404 mentions on Tripadvisor.

Map of the best places to see the sunrise in every country
RankCountrySunrise PlaceMentions Count
1CambodiaAngkor Wat10404
2United States of AmericaHaleakala Crater3933
3IndiaTaj Mahal2819
4IndonesiaBorobudur Temple1600
5AustraliaUluru1085
6NepalSarangkot981
7MyanmarBagan Temples797
8Sri LankaAdam's Peak (Sri pada)649
9Czech RepublicCharles Bridge581
10PeruSantuario Historico de Machu Picchu470
11United Arab EmiratesBurj Khalifa379
12VietnamWhite Sand Dunes348
13BangladeshKanyakumari Beach328
14South KoreaSeongsan Ilchulbong311
15MalaysiaMount Kinabalu295
16ChileGeyser del Tatio256
17IsraelMasada National Park239
18MexicoPunta Sur236
19ChinaMt. Huangshan232
20South AfricaLion's Head226
21LaosMount Phousi222
22PhilippinesKiltepan220
23EgyptMount Sinai218
24IcelandSun Voyager216
25United KingdomStonehenge212
26ThailandKo Lipe190
27ItalyPiazzale Michelangelo187
28JapanMount Fuji187
29GuatemalaAcatenango Volcano185
30CanadaMoraine Lake151
31NamibiaSossusvlei151
32TaiwanAli Mountain (Alishan)146
33PanamaVolcan Baru National Park108
34BrazilPico do Papagaio107
35JordanWadi Rum Protected Area103
36TanzaniaMount Kilimanjaro95
37MoroccoMerzouga Desert77
38TurkeyMount Nemrut77
39KenyaMount Kenya74
40SpainParc Guell69
41NorwayOutdoorlife Norway68
42New ZealandMount Maunganui Summit Track64
43NicaraguaVolcano Day61
44BoliviaSalar de Uyuni60
45GreeceKamari Beach60
46FrancePromenade des Anglais58
47MadagascarAvenue of the Baobabs58
48PortugalPico do Arieiro56
49HungaryHalaszbastya48
50SwitzerlandThe Matterhorn46
51ZimbabweMosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls National Park45
52CyprusFig Tree Bay41
53QatarThe Corniche37
54Ireland (Republic of)Bru na Boinne33
55ArgentinaCerro Fitz Roy32
56GermanyBrandenburg Gate30
57SingaporeMerlion Park30
58SloveniaLake Bled25
59BotswanaKubu Island24
60OmanRas Al Jinz Turtle Reserve21
61TunisiaSahara Desert20
62Costa RicaPlaya Guiones16
63DenmarkThe Little Mermaid16
64LebanonCorniche Beirut16
65IranNasir al-Mulk Mosque14
66MaldivesHulhumale Beach14
67MauritiusVitamin Sea13
68SudanMeroe Pyramids13
69ColombiaWalled City of Cartagena12
70EthiopiaRock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela12
71CroatiaWalls of Dubrovnik11
72Saudi ArabiaEdge of The World11
73UgandaMurchison Falls National Park10

The best places to see the sunset in every country

Sunsets are calm, romantic, and Instagram-able, yet most of us only make time to slow down and enjoy the experience while we are on vacation. No matter who you are or which corner of the world you are from, watching the sunset is an experience that will humble us all.

World map to see the best places to see the sunset in every country
RankCountrySunset PlaceMentions Count
1United States of AmericaMallory Square9811
2United Arab EmiratesBurj Khalifa5275
3ItalyPiazzale Michelangelo3440
4IndonesiaTanah Lot Temple3265
5AustraliaMindil Beach2701
6CambodiaAngkor Wat2596
7FranceEiffel Tower2557
8MyanmarShwedagon Pagoda1758
9BrazilSugarloaf Mountain1705
10United KingdomLondon Eye1579
11CroatiaDubrovnik Cable Car1268
12LaosMount Phousi1258
13ChinaVictoria Peak (The Peak)1238
14MexicoMalecon Boardwalk1212
15IndiaRadhanagar Beach1152
16GreeceLittle Venice1146
17Czech RepublicCharles Bridge1031
18South AfricaSignal Hill923
19SingaporeGardens by the Bay852
20SpainTemplo de Debod848
21PhilippinesWhite Beach807
22ThailandAo Nang Beach806
23MalaysiaCenang Beach757
24CanadaCN Tower735
25ChileValle De La Luna652
26Costa RicaTamarindo Beach609
27New ZealandSkyTower526
28IcelandSun Voyager456
29PortugalCastelo de S. Jorge440
30TurkeyCalis Beach438
31South KoreaN Seoul Tower437
32GermanyReichstag Building425
33JamaicaNegril Cliffs410
34VietnamBitexco Financial Tower400
35Sri LankaGalle Face Green373
36JordanWadi Rum Protected Area363
37JapanFushimi Inari-taisha Shrine353
38HungaryHalaszbastya339
39TaiwanElephant Mountain (aka Nangang District Hiking Trail)330
40NorwayMount Floyen and the Funicular253
41TanzaniaNungwi Beach248
42MadagascarAvenue of the Baobabs224
43SerbiaThe Belgrade Fortress209
44NepalSwayambhunath Temple208
45Ireland (Republic of)Cliffs of Moher207
46MauritiusFlic en Flac Beach188
47NicaraguaVolcano Day185
48PeruMiraflores Boardwalk176
49UruguayMuseo – Taller de Casapueblo175
50DenmarkNyhavn171
51OmanQurum Beach169
52LebanonPigeon Rocks in Raouche166
53EgyptLuxor Temple158
54QatarThe Corniche143
55BoliviaSalar de Uyuni139
56CyprusChurch of Profitis Elias139
57SeychellesBeau Vallon Beach136
58NetherlandsA'dam Lookout128
59BelizeCaye Caulker121
60GuatemalaPacaya Volcano119
61IranGreek Ship Khoula F117
62MaltaAzure Window109
63MoroccoPlage d'Agadir105
64HondurasWest Bay Beach100
65NamibiaSwakopmund Jetty98
66Saudi ArabiaKingdom Centre Tower94
67SlovakiaUFO Observation Deck94
68VanuatuMount Yasur90
69BangladeshCox's Bazar Beach87
70SwitzerlandLake Zurich78
71PanamaAmador Causeway (Calzada de Amador)77
72SwedenMonteliusvagen75
73BahrainQal'at al-Bahrain73
74SloveniaThe Ljubljana Castle68
75ArgentinaPuerto Madero66
76FijiRobinson Crusoe Island53
77FinlandSea Fortress Suomenlinna53
78EcuadorLaguna Grande52
79AlbaniaLekuresi Castle50
80BotswanaOkavango Delta48
81KuwaitKuwait Towers48
82PakistanWagah Border45
83ZimbabweLake Kariba44
84KazakhstanKok-Tobe Hill43
85KenyaMida Creek42
86Macedonia, NorthLake Ohrid41
87GeorgiaBatumi Boulevard39
88LithuaniaGediminas Castle Tower38
89RomaniaHerastrau Park38
90MontenegroKotor City Walls37
91ArmeniaCafesjian Center for the Arts36
92BulgariaOld Nessebar36
93EstoniaToompea Hill36
94BruneiSultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque35
95AzerbaijanBaku Boulevard30
96PolandPalace of Culture and Science30
97Bosnia and HerzegovinaOld Bridge (Stari Most)29
98EthiopiaSimien Mountains National Park26
99LatviaJurmala Beach26
100AustriaDanube Tower25
101RussiaCape Burkhan/Shamanka Rock23
102TunisiaHammamet Beach23
103KosovoKalaja Fortress22
104MaldivesBikini Beach22
105MalawiKuti Wildlife Reserve21
106ZambiaVictoria Falls19
107BelgiumMAS - Museum aan de Stroom18
108TurkmenistanDarvaza Gas Crater18
109El SalvadorPlaya El Tunco17
110MongoliaFlaming Cliffs17
111UkraineLviv High Castle17
112UzbekistanItchan Kala17
113BhutanTashichho Dzong (Thimpu Dzong)16
114Sierra LeoneLumley Beach15
115SudanMeroe Pyramids15
116Swaziland (Eswatini)Hlane Royal National Park15
117TongaMapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes14
118GhanaLabadi Pleasure Beach13
119RwandaAkagera National Park13
120UgandaMurchison Falls National Park13
121DjiboutiLake Abbe11
122Cape VerdePonta Preta Beach10

The Best Place in Each U.S. State to Watch a Sunrise

The US boasts a range of landscapes – from tropical sand beaches in Florida to the peaks in the Rocky Mountains, barren deserts in the West to dense wilderness in the North. But which state offers the best setting to marvel at the sky as the day breaks?

The Haleakala Crater, located on the Hawaiian Island of Maui, is one of the world’s largest volcanic craters. Towering above the island at 10,023 feet, it boasts beautiful sunrise views at the summit. Popular with tourists since the 1800s, the location has 3,933 mentions on Tripadvisor when it comes to the best place to see the sunrise in the US.

The map of the Best Place in Each U.S. State to Watch a Sunrise
RankStateSunrise PlaceMentions Count
1HawaiiHaleakala Crater3933
2ArizonaGrand Canyon South Rim1212
3MaineCadillac Mountain955
4UtahBryce Canyon National Park932
5CaliforniaZabriskie Point247
6WashingtonMount Rainier225
7ColoradoGarden of the Gods219
8NevadaRed Rock Canyon National Conservation Area209
9New YorkEmpire State Building188
10GeorgiaDriftwood Beach178
11FloridaSt. Augustine Beach163
12VirginiaVirginia Beach Boardwalk138
13South CarolinaColigny Beach106
14New MexicoWhite Sands National Monument99
15WyomingLamar Valley76
16MarylandOcean City Beach72
17TennesseeClingmans Dome48
18TexasThe Seawall48
19South DakotaLoop Road47
20Rhode IslandCliff Walk45
21OregonCrater Lake National Park44
22North CarolinaSalem God's Acre Cemetery39
23ArkansasMount Nebo State Park33
24New JerseyCape May City Beaches31
25North DakotaTheodore Roosevelt National Park24
26DelawareRehoboth Beach Public Beach21
27MassachusettsNauset Beach21
28NebraskaAudubon Rowe Sanctuary21
29IllinoisLake Michigan19
30MontanaLake McDonald19
31KentuckyThe Big Four Bridge17
32MichiganArch Rock16
33MinnesotaLakewalk16
34KansasMonument Rocks12
35New HampshireHampton Beach State Park11
36MississippiBiloxi Beach10
37WisconsinCave Point County Park10
38Alabamano datano data
39Alaskano datano data
40Connecticutno datano data
41Idahono datano data
42Indianano datano data
43Iowano datano data
44Louisianano datano data
45Missourino datano data
46Ohiono datano data
47Oklahomano datano data
48Pennsylvaniano datano data
49Vermontno datano data
50West Virginiano datano data

The Best Place in Each U.S. State to Watch a Sunset

Whether you’re watching the sunset over the city from the tallest building or listening to rolling waves as the sun melts into the sea on the horizon, watching the sun go down ignites you with a sense of calm and gratefulness. But in a country with such a vast landscape, which are the best US states for connecting with nature and silently watching those rays disappear?

Mallory Square is a waterfront plaza in Key West’s historic Old Town, which can be seen from the Gulf of Mexico. Each night, the square attracts hundreds of visitors to its “Sunset Celebration.” Tourists and locals can enjoy food carts, market stalls, and street performers while they wait to celebrate the sunset. The view gets 9,811 mentions on Tripadvisor, making it the best place to watch the sunset in the US.

Map of the Best Place in Each U.S. State to Watch a Sunset
RankStateSunset PlaceMentions Count
1FloridaMallory Square9811
2New YorkTop of the Rock4968
3ArizonaGrand Canyon South Rim2063
4HawaiiWaikiki Beach1639
5CaliforniaGriffith Observatory1507
6NevadaHigh Roller1133
7New MexicoSandia Peak Tramway1073
8UtahBryce Canyon National Park1069
9WashingtonSpace Needle862
10TexasCongress Avenue Bridge811
11Illinois360 Chicago Observation Deck689
12MississippiBetsy Ann Riverboat584
13MaineCadillac Mountain570
14South CarolinaThe Schooner Pride551
15North CarolinaJockey's Ridge State Park520
16PennsylvaniaPresque Isle State Park424
17ColoradoGarden of the Gods395
18OregonHaystack Rock288
19VermontWhistling Man Schooner Company281
20WisconsinSail Door County252
21MassachusettsHerring Cove Beach249
22TennesseeWalnut Street Bridge232
23New JerseyBlack Pearl Pirate Excursion219
24AlabamaFairhope Municipal Pier215
25MichiganHolland State Park Beach208
26MarylandBlue Crab Chesapeake Charters196
27Rhode IslandOcean Drive185
28GeorgiaDriftwood Beach183
29LouisianaSteamboat Natchez178
30KentuckyThe Big Four Bridge117
31South DakotaMount Rushmore National Memorial104
32OhioThe Wilds92
33VirginiaChincoteague National Wildlife Refuge89
34WyomingLamar Valley86
35North DakotaTheodore Roosevelt National Park77
36DelawareCape May-Lewes Ferry72
37MinnesotaBroken Paddle Guiding Co.62
38New HampshireGundalow Company62
39ArkansasMount Nebo State Park53
40MissouriTable Rock Lake53
41ConnecticutGouveia Vineyards51
42OklahomaHefner Lake & Park51
43MontanaLake McDonald49
44AlaskaPoint Woronzof45
45IndianaIndiana Dunes State Park41
46IdahoCoeur d'Alene Lake38
47NebraskaAudubon Rowe Sanctuary32
48KansasThe Keeper of the Plains26
49IowaHigh Trestle Trail Bridge12
50West VirginiaProspect Peak11

The Best Sunrises in Canada

Moraine Lake is a beautiful turquoise alpine lake nestled away in the mountains of Banff National Park in Alberta, which draws in millions of visitors a year thanks to its scenic beauty. The lake may be best known for its appearance on the back of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill, but with 151 mentions on Tripadvisor, the view of the sunrise here is priceless.

RankSunrise PlaceLocationMentions Count
1Moraine LakeBanff National Park151
2Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic SiteSt. John’s106
3Lake LouiseBanff National Park99
4Niagara Falls CanadaOntario62
5Vermilion LakesBanff National Park41
6Pyramid and Patricia LakesJasper National Park29
7Perce RockPercé18
8Hillcrest ParkThunder Bay12
9Two Jack LakeBanff National Park8
10Herbert LakeBanff National Park7

The Best Sunsets in Canada

According to 735 mentions on Tripadvisor, the best place to watch the sunset in Canada is the CN Tower in downtown Toronto. Currently, the ninth tallest free-standing structure in the world, this communications and observation tower is a signature icon of Toronto’s skyline and offers panoramic views of the city.

RankSunset placeLocationMentions Count
1CN TowerToronto735
2English BayVancouver440
3Stanley ParkVancouver339
4Fort Henry National Historic SiteKingston259
5Vancouver LookoutVancouver204
6Chesterman BeachTofino200
7Vancouver SeawallVancouver149
8Crescent BeachSurrey124
9Peggy’s Cove LighthouseHalifax121
10Vermilion LakesBanff National Park91

The Best Sunrises in the United Kingdom

Stonehenge is a famous prehistoric monument that stands on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire, England. The giant free-standing stones can be seen from miles around. Dating back to around 3000 BC, it is thought that people once gathered at the henge for religious ceremonies. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, and its rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge.
According to 212 mentions on Tripadvisor, it is the best place to enjoy the sunrise in the UK.

RankSunrise PlaceLocationMentions Count
1StonehengeAmesbury212
2Calton HillEdinburgh88
3Glastonbury TorGlastonbury58
4Tower BridgeLondon29
5Primrose HillLondon21
6Lulworth Cove and Durdle DoorWest Lulworth20
7SnowdonSnowdonia National Park14
8Nairn BeachNairn7
9Roker & Seaburn BeachesSunderland7
10Ness PointLowestoft7

The Best Sunsets in the United Kingdom

No visit to London is complete without a trip on the London Eye, a Ferris wheel located on the south bank of the River Thames, which offers views across the city. A popular tourist attraction, the Eye is an experience at any time of day. But if you want to see London in all its glory, 1,579 mentions on Tripadvisor would highly recommend heading there at sunset.

RankSunset placeLocationMentions Count
1London EyeLondon1 579
2Sky GardenLondon643
3Calton HillEdinburgh422
4Arthur’s SeatEdinburgh389
5Up at The O2London317
6StonehengeAmesbury252
7Thermae Bath SpaBath230
8Corbiere LighthouseJersey136
9Neist PointGlendale126
10Hunstanton BeachHunstanton103

The Best Sunrises in Australia

Uluru is an ancient sandstone monolith located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It is one of Australia’s most indigenous sites and most recognizable natural landmarks, which has been a popular destination for tourists since the late 1930s. With 1,085 mentions on Tripadvisor, it is the best place in Australia to watch the sun come up.

RankSunrise PlaceLocationMentions Count
1UluruUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park1085
2Kata Tjuta – The OlgasUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park278
3Cape Byron LighthouseByron Bay234
4Mount Coot-Tha Summit LookoutBrisbane93
5Anzac HillAlice Springs87
6Vlamingh Head LighthouseExmouth84
7Lighthouse TrailByron Bay84
8Castle HillTownsville83
9Valley of the WindsUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park67
10Newcastle Memorial WalkNewcastle62

The Best Sunsets in Australia

Mindil Beach is popular with tourists and locals alike, thanks to its convenient proximity to the city of Darwin, its famous sunset markets that run throughout the “dry season,” and its stunning tropical sunset views. With 2,701 mentions on Tripadvisor, Mindil beach is the best place to sit back, relax, and watch the sun go down.

RankSunset PlaceLocationMentions Count
1Mindil BeachDarwin2701
2Cable BeachBroome1546
3UluruUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park1283
4Eureka SkydeckMelbourne656
5The Broken Hill Sculptures & Living Desert SanctuaryBroken Hill500
6Vlamingh Head LighthouseExmouth402
7Anzac HillAlice Springs368
8Kata Tjuta – The OlgasUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park330
9UbirrKakadu National Park301
10Cottesloe BeachPerth240

Best Sunrises in New Zealand

Mauao, which means “caught by the dawn,” is a beautiful mountain in New Zealand and is one of the country’s most famous landmarks. The Mount Maunganui Summit Track is a well-loved trek up mountain, which draws in tourists and locals who climb to the summit to greet the sun as day breaks. Sure the mountain is beautiful, but the view is even more impressive when you’re standing at its summit-vouched for by 64 mentions on Tripadvisor.

RankSunrise PlaceLocationMentions Count
1Mount Maunganui Summit TrackTauranga64
2Mount EdenAuckland51
3Moeraki BouldersOamaru51
4Roys Peak TrackWanaka42
5Cathedral Cove WalkHahei41
6East Cape LighthouseGisborne40
7Lake Matheson WalkWestland Tai Poutini National Park,31
8Te Mata PeakHastings29
9The Church of the Good ShepherdLake Tekapo25
10Hahei Beach WalkHahei17

The Best Sunsets in New Zealand

The Sky Tower is a telecommunications and observation tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Standing at 1,076 feet tall, it is the 27th tallest tower globally. It is considered an iconic landmark in Auckland’s skyline due to its height and design. Attracting an average of 1,150 visitors per day, and with 526 mentions on Tripadvisor, the tower is the best spot to enjoy a sunset in New Zealand.

RankSunset PlaceLocationMentions Count
1SkyTowerAuckland526
2Hokitika BeachHokitika173
3Mount EdenAuckland165
4Te Mata PeakHastings57
5Piha BeachPiha47
6Lake Te AnauFiordland National Park47
7Pilot BayTauranga40
8Bluff Hill LookoutNapier33
9Lake RotoruaRotoura32
10Redwoods TreewalkRotoura28

Findings

  • The best place to watch a sunrise is at the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, and 10,404 mentions in the reviews of this landmark would attest to that.
  • 8 out of the 10 best places for sunrise fans are in Asia and Oceania.
  • The best place for watching a sunset in the world is Mallory Square in Key West, Florida, with 9,811 mentions of sunset in the Tripadvisor reviews.
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