A world tour of the most beautiful sunsets

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1 What is a sunset ?
2 The benefits of sunset
3 The top 5 sunsets over the ocean
4 The best five spots to see a sunset
5 The top 5 sunsets by a lake
6 The top 5 Mountain Sunsets
7 Find more articles on “It’s in the Air”

Along with the Northern Lights, sunsets are one of Nature’s most spectacular natural phenomena. Whether traveling to the other side of the world or sitting quietly at home, sunsets always offer magical moments where you feel that time stands still. The sky gradually changes color. It goes from blue to orange through purple and yellow. White clouds are, after a few minutes, tinged with pink. And think: who among you has never posted a picture of a sunset on social networks ? Come on, raise your hand. On Instagram, the hashtag #sunset beats all records: more than 283 million publications against its morning counterpart, #dawn, which can go back to sleep with its meager 5.5 million… Dream and find inspiration for a future voyage through our selection of the most beautiful sunsets worldwide. We have chosen sunsets that dear to our heart. Still, this selection is necessarily subjective, each sunset being unique because it is attached to a particular moment, a memory, and an experience.

What is a sunset ?

What a pleasure to see a spectacular sunset. The spectacle is so stunning that we almost forget to ask ourselves, « why ». Why does the blue sky of the day turn to red as here in the Etosha National Park in Namibia, and orange or yellow as evening comes ?

« I love the evenings, passionless and fair; I love the evens,
Whether old manor fronts their ray with golden refulgence leaven,
In numerous leafage bosomed close;
Whether the mist in reefs of fire extends its reaches sheer,
Or a hundred sunbeams splinter in an azure atmosphere
On cloudy archipelagos ».
(Sunset by Victor Hugo 1802-1885)

An orange sun in a glowing sky... In Etosha National Park, the sunrise is like a work of art. The canvas is changing its colors every minute.

Namibia, Etosha National Park at sunset

Not to break the poetry of the moment, but knowing is also enjoyable. Everyone knows that sunset occurs when the sun bows out for the night and then disappears behind the western horizon. In reality, the sun does not set; the Earth’s rotation simply gives us this impression. The same is true for sunrise when the sun appears above the eastern horizon. The colors of the sky change at sunset: yellow, pink, red, and even dark blue tending to purple. The distance that light travels in the atmosphere causes such variations. The longer the journey for light to reach the Earth means that the shorter wavelengths (on the blue and violet side) of the spectrum are increasingly scattered, leaving the red, orange or yellow wavelengths to reach us or reflect on the clouds. During the day, when the sun is vertical, the path through the atmosphere is short and the sky blue because the short wavelengths are little scattered. Everything results from the path of light in the atmosphere !

« Atmosphere ! Atmosphere ! Do I have an atmosphere face ? »
(French actress Arletty in the film Hotel du Nord)

The colors seen at sunset are a combination of circumstances. The distance light travels in the atmosphere, weather conditions (humidity in the air and clouds), and pollution are all obstacles that influence the colors of the sky at sunset. The twilight glow is pure when the cloudless sky gives us an orange sunset. A change in color to pink or yellowish gray means an increase in dust or humidity on the air. As for the clouds, they take on more contrasting hues the lower they are in the sky.

The benefits of sunset

Have you ever stopped whatever you were doing to admire the spectacle offered by a sunset? Far from being trivial, this daily outdoor show is good for our eyes, hearts, and minds. Like a meditation session, it is said that this ephemeral spectacle soothes the conscience and gives us a brief feeling of fulfillment after a tiresome day. Admiring a sunset also means, above all, taking the time to do so, a rare sacrifice in a hyperactive society.

« One day, you said to me, I saw the sunset forty-four times !
And a little later, you added.
You know… we love the sunset, when we are so sad… »
(The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

In the city, in the country, in summer or in winter, in the United States, in Africa or in France, with a clear or cloudy sky, some sunsets reveal many wonders and transport us into a world apart. When the light fights with the night before the latter wins, shadows and light pass-through fascinating colors. Why are sunsets so captivating? The writer André Aciman (author of the best-seller Call Me By Your Name) answers this question by saying that a sunset is an enchantment because it brings us a feeling of fullness similar to the feeling of love !

« We fall in love with sunsets and beaches, with tennis, with works of art, with places like Tuscany and the Rockies and the south of France, and, of course, with other people — not just because of who or what they are, but because they promise to realign us with our better selves, with the people we’ve always known we were but neglected to become, the people we crave to be before our time runs out. »
(André Aciman)

The Tsiribihina River at sunset in Madagascar

As you can see, the vertigo we feel in front of a sunset is not just specific to the vast sky colored by a fading sun. It also seems existential: time stops, and we become one with the world. What if you took the time to contemplate a sunset and to enjoy its benefits ?

The top 5 sunsets over the ocean

People slowly gather on the beach as if drawn by a mysterious force, their conversations mingling with the sound of the waves and the cries of the seagulls. All eyes are on the sun as it slowly descends into the ocean. This magical solar spectacle, entirely free of charge, is played out every evening, but is different every day. Here is our selection of the five best places to watch the sunset over the ocean.

The California Coast: A seagull at sunset

In the United States, the Pacific Coast Highway runs along the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to San Diego offering magnificent views of the coast. One observes many birds on the rocks (cormorants, seagulls, pelicans, gulls…,) but also sea lions, lazy seals… and squirrels. As we get closer to Santa Maria, the coast becomes softer, and we can see some other natives (seals and sea lions) basking on the beach at sunset. We can join them to fully enjoy the show of the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean: a magnificent representation of the Cirque du Soleil, the American Dream, Baby !

As we get closer to Santa Maria, the coast becomes softer. You can easily stop to enjoy the sunset and the flight of the seagulls.

USA, Pacific Coast at sunset

Costa Rica, Playa Palo Seco: un coucher de soleil dans une ambiance de fin du monde

Playa Palo Seco is located on the Pacific Ocean in the canton of Parrita, Costa Rica, an hour and a half from the capital San José. It is a true paradise where you feel alone, only 30 minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park and 1 hour from Carara National Park. Imagine a beach of grey volcanic sand lost at the end of a stony road and stretching nearly 8 miles in front of the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean. During our sunset walk on Palo Seco beach, only black urubus, long-tailed grackles, and some shorebirds accompany us. An end-of-the-world atmosphere in 3D, Technicolor, H.D., and cinemascope–whatever you want.

The sunset on the Playa Palo Seco is just gorgeous ! Playa Palo Seco is an unspoiled beach surrounded by tropical vegetation that stretches nearly 8 miles with sand as far as the eye can see.

Costa Rica, Playa Palo Seco at sunset

Martinique, Diamant Beach: a sunset straight off a postcard

The Beach of Diamant is one of the most famous in Martinique. Nearly 2 miles long, with rock of the same name just in front of it and the coconut trees leaning over the sand, it has everything for a postcard. Surrounded by the Larcher and Clochette hills, lined with shady undergrowth, Diamant Beach is simply magnificent: golden sand, tables under the shade of coconut trees, and a view of Diamant rock! At sunset, when an orange light bathes the shore with the Diamond rock in the background, the site’s beauty overwhelms.

In Martinique, the beach of Diamant is beautiful at sunset when an orange light bathes the shore with the Diamond rock in the background.

Martinique, The Beach of Diamant at sunset

Madagascar, Ifaty Beach: the return of the fishermen’s pirogues at sunset

Ifaty Beach is 16 miles north of Tuléar on the Southern end of the island of Madagascar. At the edge of the Indian Ocean, this marvelous white sand beach is bordered by pleasantly warm crystalline water. Reminiscent of the paradise beaches of the Caribbean, Ifaty beach is ideal for underwater fishing, diving, and snorkeling activities. When the sun begins to weaken on the horizon, we admire the parade of myriad pirogues returning from fishing at sunset, sails hoisted and carried by the wind along the beach.

At sunset on Ifaty Beach in Madagascar, we admire the parade of myriad pirogues returning from fishing at sunset, sails hoisted and carried by the wind along the beach.

Madagascar, Ifaty Beach at sunset

Cap Vert, île de Maio: un coucher de soleil en 50 nuances de gris

The island of Maio in the Cape Verde archipelago was named after the date of its discovery, May 1, 1460. It’s small and still unknown to tourists. It is almost flat with vast, long white sandy beaches… The highest point Monte Penoso rises 1,430 feet above sea level. On this « postcard » island, you can contemplate the sea, walk along the beaches, and rediscover the pleasure of swimming in crystal clear water… until the bizarre sunset. It is as if all the colors had suddenly vanished, the canvas leaving only shades of gray. We witness a sunset in 50 shades of gray !

On the island of Maio in the Cape Verde archipelago, the sunset is in 50 shades of gray ! It is as if all the colors had suddenly vanished, the canvas leaving only shades of gray.

Cape Verde, Maio island at sunset

The best five spots to see a sunset

There is nothing better to end your day by admiring a sunset in the heart of Mother Nature. Here is our world tour of the most beautiful spots to see the sun caress the Earth !

Sunset in the American West

Have you always dreamed of seeing a sunset in the American west ? The American West and its breathtaking natural landscapes are the perfect places to capture your most beautiful sunsets. Near lake Powell in Utah, the sun sets quickly as if pulled by a gigantic hand, offering a sparkling display. The sky gradually changes color, orange shades vary from minute to minute and contrast with the cliffs. The scene is constantly evolving, embraced by the soft light of the sunset. You can’t help but cry out in amazement. A true spectacle of Nature !

In the American West, near Lake Powell, the sunsets are magical. In a final burst, the sky seems to flare a thousand fires before Darkness !

Western USA, a beautiful sunset around Lake Powell

Madagascar, coucher de soleil sur l’allée des Baobabs

The last witnesses of a primary forest disappeared today. A dozen endemic baobabs in Madagascar (Adansonia grandidieri) form the famous « Alley of the Baobabs », undoubtedly the most photographed place in western Madagascar. These secular trees are majestic and ninety-eight feet high and about 16 feet wide. But it is at sunset that the magic happens when the variations of light transform this magnificent alignment of baobabs into an incredible vision.
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At the famous Alley of the Baobab in Madagascar the sun is low on the horizon, a soft glowing light, smooth trunks reflect the orange rays. Baobabs become shadows accentuating their particular shape, the sun slips between these shadows and eventually disappears.

Madagascar, the Alley of the Baobab at sunset

Cuba, sunset in the Ciénaga de Zapata reserve and its pink flamingos

In the southern part of the island of Cuba, the Ciénaga de Zapata has been declared a National Park, forming one of the most beautiful natural reserves in the country. This vast territory of 1,737 square miles is 75% swamp. The Laguna de las Salinas de Brito is home to numerous birds, such as herons, ibises, pelicans, and flamingos. At dusk, the sky is adorned with pink and purple hues to the point that the landscape seems almost unreal ! At sunset, the silhouettes of trees and pink flamingos stand out against this orange-colored sky, like Chinese shadows against the sunset. Such a picture leaves you speechless !

At the Cienaga de Zapata in Cuba, the sky seems to burst with a thousand lights, and the silhouettes of trees and birds stand out In the foreground like Chinese shadows against the sunset. Such a show !

Cuba, Cienaga de Zapata at sunset

Ile de Pâques, coucher de soleil sur les Moaï de l’Ahu Vai Uri

Ahu Vai Uri on Easter Island offers a breathtaking view: a line of five Moai turning their backs on the immensity of the ocean. These enigmatic stone giants remain a mystery that intrigues archaeologists, ethnologists, and visitors. As twilight approaches, as the sun descends, only a few horses observe the insolent birds taunting these giants by chirping on their heads… One thing is unquestionable, at nightfall the five Moai of Ahu Vai Uri become sublime at sunset, the rays gently caress these stones before descending into the immense ocean. Breathtaking.

On Easter Island, the five Moai of Ahu Vai Uri become sublime at sunset. The rays gently caress these stones before descending into the immense ocean. Breathtaking.

Easter Island Ahu Val Uri at sunset

Quebec, sunset on the Saint Lawrence River

The majestic Saint Lawrence River, runs 2,087 miles. It begins at Lake Ontario. From the banks of the St. Lawrence one can admire the second most beautiful sunset in the world (after Hawaii), according to National Geographic. In la Belle Province, you must take the time to watch the sun disappear into the St. Lawrence River because the river gives a different view every night !

From the banks of the St. Lawrence you can admire the second most beautiful sunset in the world (after Hawaii), according to National Geographic.

Quebec, the banks of the St. Lawrence at sunset

The top 5 sunsets by a lake

Sunset is a privileged moment of the day when the sky reveals all the beauty of the landscapes, particularly on the banks of a lake. The pink and red-orange reflections on the surface of the water offer a unique display every evening. So, treat yourself to a picnic by the lake and wait for the magic of dusk to happen….

USA, Lake Michigan: sunset on the Muskegon Pier Lighthouse

Located in the northeastern United States, Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. With a surface area of 22,393.92 square miles, it is the only one of the Great Lakes situated entirely within the United States. Chicago and Milwaukee are on its shores, as well as beautiful parks along the lake with fine sandy beaches and dunes like those at Muskegon State Park. Lake Michigan is so vast that it feels like a sea or rather like an ocean because it contains dangerous currents. From its shores, the eye is lost beyond the horizon. By counting the number of lighthouses along the coast (52 according to the « Lighthouse friends ») you will quickly understand that it looks more like an inland sea than a lake! After hiking one of the many trails in Muskegon State Park, you’ve earned your sunset on the lake with the Muskegon Pier Lighthouse in the background.

Lake Michigan is so vast that it feels like a sea or rather like an ocean. The number of lighthouses is huge. Here’s the Muskegon Pier Lighthouse at sunset.

USA, Lake Michigan and he Muskegon Pier Lighthouse at sunset

Costa Rica, coucher de soleil sur le lac Arenal

Lying west of the Arenal volcano, Lake Arenal is the largest lake in Costa Rica at 33 sq. mi. Water sports enthusiasts love this artificial lake for kayaking, canoeing, or paddling. Lake Arenal also attracts windsurfers and kite surfers to its western end because of strong winds reaching an average of 45 mph. If you are not attracted to water sports, there are plenty of other activities. The area surrounding the lake is home to a great diversity of fauna (wild coatis and many birds) and flora. It is a paradise for nature lovers. It is not surprising that Lake Arenal has become one of the main tourist destinations in Costa Rica! From the terrace of the Arenal Observatory Lodge, we can watch the beautiful sunset over Arenal Lake as the sky is flooded with the colors of fire that spread on the flank of the Arenal volcano and the treetops in the forest. A moment of pure magic…

From the terrace of the Arenal Observatory Lodge, you can watch the beautiful sunset over Arenal Lake as the sky is flooded with the colors of fire.

Costa Rica, Lake Arenal at sunset

Lake Léman: a French-Swiss sunset

Lake Geneva, or Lake Léman, is the largest alpine lake in Western Europe. It lies 1,220 feet above sea level. It is a deep lake and shared between France and Switzerland. A natural inland sea of 224 sq. mi., bordered by the peaks of Chablais and Valais to the South and the Jura chain to the north. Around Lake Geneva, there is no shortage of places to watch the sunset in summer and winter, whether on the French side (Yvoire, Mont Salève, or Thonon-Les-Bains) or the Swiss side (the vineyards of Lavaux, Nyons, or Lausanne.)

Lake Geneva, or Lake Léman, is the largest alpine lake in Western Europe. Around Lake Geneva, there is no shortage of places to watch the sunset in summer and winter.

Suisse, Lake Léman at sunset

Canada, le lac Ontario

Lake Ontario is the easternmost and smallest (7,320 mi²) of the five Great Lakes and a link between the United Statesand Canada. The Canadian province of Ontario is on its north, west, and southwest shore and the U. S. State of New York on the south and east. It is possible to see the exceptional site of Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario on the border with the United States. On the northeast end, Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River through the Kingston Basin. The lake’s name is derived from « Skanadario », an Iroquois word meaning « beautiful lake ». It is beautiful: the scenery, the light, and the colors are truly magnificent. The sunsets on Lake Ontario are simply enchanting !

The lake's name is derived from Skanadario, an Iroquois word meaning « beautiful lake ». It is beautiful: the scenery, the light, and the colors are truly magnificent. The sunsets on Lake Ontario are simply enchanting !

Canada, Lake Ontario at sunset

USA, Lake Erie: copper-colored sunset over the megalopolis of Cleveland

If skyscrapers and sunset sometimes go poorly together, they can also complement each other. Full marks to the city of Cleveland, located on the south shore of Lake Erie! It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes. Its average depth is only 62 feet over an area of 9,940 mi². Lake Erie remains unpredictable and often calm, but it can quickly become furious when a strong wind picks up. At the end of the day, as the sun declines and the storm rumbles on, the last rays of the sun come to nestle among the skyscrapers of downtown Cleveland. We witness the most wonderful of Nature’s shows in an end-of-the-world atmosphere.

« Behind the cloud, the sun is still shining. » (Abraham Lincoln)

The last rays of the sun come to nestle among the skyscrapers of downtown Cleveland. If skyscrapers and sunset sometimes go poorly together, they can also complement each other as here in Cleveland on the south shore of Lake Erie.

USA, Lake Erie and Cleveland at sunset

The top 5 Mountain Sunsets

Whether you’re an early riser or more of a groundhog, the mountain sun can be admired both at sunrise and sunset. At the end of a beautiful day of hiking on the summits, take time to watch the sun illuminate the mountains. Our five mountain spots are golden colors, pink tones, or orange palettes.

Les Estables: sunset in the heart of France

Located on the high plateaus of the Massif Central in France, at the foot of Mount Mézenc, the village of Les Estables is perched at 4.430 feet above sea level. It is the highest village in the Auvergne and the highest point in the Haute-Loire. In this corner of France, Mother Nature offers us a natural playground. At this accessible altitude you can have your first mountain experiences accompanied by the north wind called « la Burle ». Discovering the « sucs » (volcanic peaks), the mountains, the high plateaus, strolling in the forests of the Meygal, or relaxing with your feet in the source waters of « la Loire » are just some of the discoveries to be made in this region. Meeting the inhabitants of the mountains, the « padgels » as opposed to the « raïols » (people of the valley) or tasting Fin Gras (seasonal marbled beef meat served from February to June) is also a must! As for the sunset, what can I say ? In Les Estables, the lights at the end of the day are magnificent, but they fade quickly. Night falls suddenly and the air is cold (thanks to the Burle), but the feeling of plenitude is also there. Complete calm reigns on the summits; the moment is peaceful.

In France, les Estables is located at the foot of Mount Mézenc. Perched at 4.430 feet above sea level, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset on the hills, the mountains and the high plateaus of the Massif Central.

France, Les Estables at Sunset

Switzerland, Interlaken: sunset on the Jungfrau

The city of Interlaken is in the heart of the Oberland Highlands, Switzerland, between the emerald-colored water of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Many celebrities, such as the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, spent some time in the region of Interlaken. But its three stars are Eiger (13,015 feet), Mönch (13,484 feet), and Jungfrau (11,362 feet). To visit Interlaken is to take a deep breath on the Alpine summits ! Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2007, the snow-capped Jungfrau Mountains highlight any trip to Switzerland ! The highest cog railway in Europe runs 5.6 miles from Kleine Scheidegg at 6,762 feet to the Jungfraubahn) at 11,332 feet above sea level on the Jungfraujoch. The icy air caresses your face when you get off the train; snow crunches under your feet. The panorama is breathtaking; on one side, the view of the Swiss Mittelland up to the Vosges, and on the other, the Aletsch glacier, bordered by peaks over 13,000 feet above sea level.

From the city of Interlaken located in the heart of the Oberland Highlands, in Switzerland, you can experience the beautiful sunset on the snow-capped Jungfrau Mountains.

Switzerland, Interlaken: Jungfrau at sunset

France, Mont Blanc: sunset on the ceiling of Europe

The Mont Blanc, meaning « white mountain », is undoubtedly the mythical summit and the highest point in the Alps, rising 15,774 feet above sea level. Mont Blanc lies between France (department of Haute-Savoie), Italy (Aosta Valley), and Switzerland (canton of Valais.) Michel Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat were the first mountaineers to successfully climb this, the highest peak in Western Europe, in 1786. In 1808, Marie Paradis was the first woman to reach the summit. Mont Blanc is a top tourist destination. Every year, 15,000 to 20,000 aspirants and pseudo-mountaineers come from all over the world to try to reach Mont Blanc’s summit. In 2022, French authorities established a decree to protect Mont Blanc by limiting the number of climbers and restraining their incivilities. Far from this overcrowding, one can still enjoy the last rays of sunshine on Mont Blanc bathed in a beautiful pink light.

You can enjoy the last rays of sunshine on Mont Blanc bathed in a beautiful pink light. The Mont Blanc is undoubtedly the mythical summit and the highest point in the Alps, rising 15,774 feet above sea level.

France, the Mont Blanc at sunset

Montenegro: sunset in the national park of Biograska Gora

The Biogradska Gora National Park is a superb natural jewel in Montenegro between the rivers Tara and Lim. Established in 1878, it is the smallest of five national parks and the oldest nature reserve in Montenegro. One of the park’s unique features is its primary forest, with trees over 131 feet high and over five hundred years old. The park also includes six glacial lakes (nicknamed the “eyes of the mountain” by the locals.) the largest of which is Biogradsko. The park is a destination outside of the traditional tourist circuits. Shepherds mainly visit it in search of fresh meadows for their sheep. The few travelers come to discover the off-the-beaten-track trails and magnificent sunsets. The park also allows us to experience the highest peaks of the Bjelasica Mountains: Crna Glava (7,018 feet), Zelkova Glava (6,945 feet), and Troglava (6,798 feet). This diversity of landscapes, flora, and fauna places Biogradska Gora National Park among the world biosphere reserves registered with UNESCO.

In Montenegro, the Biogradska Gora National Park offers magnificent sunsets on the highest peaks of the Bjelasica Mountains.

Montenegro Biograska Gora National Park at sunset

Sunset on Uluru/Ayers Rock, the most famous rock in Australia

Even if you have never been to Australia, you will know Uluru ou Ayers Rock, the iconic landscape reproduced in millions of tourist brochures. This gigantic red monolith rises in the middle of the desert in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, more than 270 miles South-west of Alice Springs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site jointly managed by the Commonwealth of Australia and Aboriginal landowners. Anangu, Ayers Rock, also known by its aboriginal Uluru name, constitutes, according to geologists, one of the largest inselbergs in the world, i.e., an isolated residual relief dominating a plateau. This sandstone rock is five hundred million years old, stands 1,142 feet high, and has a circumference of about 6 miles. Its colors constantly change, depending on the time of day and the sun’s path: Ayers Rock turns from ochre-orange to red-brown and dark pink at sunset. For a brief moment, the dying sun’s rays transform this majestic rock, painting it in ochre, red, or mauve.