The world’s most beautiful sunset spots ‘according to science’ have been revealed, with destinations in the UK and USA making the top 10.
The research, by the travel insurance company AllClear, looked at 100 different locations around the world to determine the best spots to watch the sun go down.
A ‘Sunset Score’ was created for each destination based on key factors including cloud coverage, wind, humidity and rainfall.
The study also considered the number of times each sunset had been shared on Instagram to create the ranking.
Sarah Collinson at AllClear commented: ‘Dramatic sunsets are universally adored, inspiring awe and wonder at the phenomenal beauty of nature. For travellers chasing the world’s most vivid sunsets, our study provides some unique insights into the world’s most incredible places to enjoy the golden hour.’
Scroll down to the very bottom to find out which country is home to the world’s most beautiful sunset…
15. DUBAI DESERT – SUNSET SCORE 65.0: The Dubai Desert spans 225 sq km/86 sq miles and is home to the Arabian Oryx, sand gazelles, the red fox, Gordon’s Wildcat and the lappet-faced vulture. Tourists can go on desert safaris to see them and enjoy sun-soaked views of the Dubai city skyline
14. DUOMO DI MILANO – SUNSET SCORE 65.7: The Duomo di Milano took almost six centuries to complete with construction beginning in 1386 and finally finishing in 1965. The cathedral is the largest in Italy and has 55 stained-glass windows
13. TROCADERO GARDENS – SUNSET SCORE 66.2: Paris’s Jardins du Trocadero are a public park with fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower and ornamental ponds and fountains. The Warsaw Fountain pictured above has 20 water cannons
12. BURJ KHALIFA – SUNSET SCORE 68.5: Standing at a height of 829.8m/2,722 feet, Dubai’s 163-storey Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest structure. It has two observation decks on floors 124 and 148 that offer incredible sunset-viewing opportunities
11. ULUWATU – SUNSET SCORE 69: A cliffside village on the southwestern tip of Bali in Indonesia, Uluwatu is a popular coastal tourist destination known for its stunning views and the Uluwatu Hindu temple
10. ARTHUR’S SEAT, EDINBURGH – SUNSET SCORE 69.4: Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano, the highest point of Holyrood Park (at 251m/823ft) and a ‘surprising’ entry in the top 10, say the researchers, who add that it’s reached by a ‘short but steep hike’ from Edinburgh’s city centre, with the effort rewarded by ‘panoramic views over the city’ (above)
9. HALEAKALA SUMMIT, MAUI, HAWAII – SUNSET SCORE 71.2: The summit of Haleakala is a dizzying 10,023 feet (3,055 metres) above sea level and is such a popular spot for watching sunrises and sunsets that drivers, who reach the top of the dormant volcano via the winding Crater Road, must secure a reservation before arriving
![8. IPANEMA BEACH, RIO DE JANEIRO - SUNSET SCORE 72: AllClear describes Ipanema Beach as the 'more relaxed counterpart to Rio¿s Copacabana Beach' with 'vivid sunsets framed by the Dois Irmaos peaks'. They add: 'With a fresh caipirinha in hand and samba music filling the air, tourists [should] head to Ipanema¿s Posto 9, a lifeguard station and prime spot that's recommended by locals for sunset'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/17/11/95291979-14405353-image-a-8_1739793468516.jpg)
8. IPANEMA BEACH, RIO DE JANEIRO – SUNSET SCORE 72: AllClear describes Ipanema Beach as the ‘more relaxed counterpart to Rio’s Copacabana Beach’ with ‘vivid sunsets framed by the Dois Irmaos peaks’. They add: ‘With a fresh caipirinha in hand and samba music filling the air, tourists [should] head to Ipanema’s Posto 9, a lifeguard station and prime spot that’s recommended by locals for sunset’
7. PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO, FLORENCE – SUNSET SCORE 73.8: Florence becomes ‘even more impressive at sunset’, according to the researchers, who declare that one of the most ‘enchanting’ places to watch the sun dip below the horizon is Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers views (above) of the Tuscan hills and landmarks such as Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze) and the Ponte Vecchio arch bridge
6. TAJ MAHAL, INDIA – SUNSET SCORE 74.8: Located in the city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is ‘considered one of the most impressive feats of engineering of all time’, note the researchers. They add: ‘Many visit it at dawn to watch the sun rise over the temple’s intricate architecture, but it’s just as spectacular at sunset, with the “secret” sunset spot at the Mehtab Bagh gardens highly recommended’
5. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING – SUNSET SCORE 77.3: The Grand Teton National Park is a ‘dream for adventurous explorers’ and sunset lovers alike, with tourists often visiting viewpoints such as Jackson Lake (pictured above) to ‘witness the explosion of colours and reflection of the looming Teton Range in the water’
4. ULURU, AUSTRALIA’S NORTHERN TERRITORY – SUNSET SCORE 79.6: Uluru, a 500million-year-old monolithic sandstone formation, is one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, note the researchers – and it looks like it changes colour during sunsets
![3. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - SUNSET SCORE 79.6: The Grand Canyon National Park 'comes alive' when the sun sets, say the researchers, 'with spots like the South Rim [above] well known and loved for visits to watch the sun go down'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/17/12/95291719-14405353-image-a-13_1739794277707.jpg)
3. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK – SUNSET SCORE 79.6: The Grand Canyon National Park ‘comes alive’ when the sun sets, say the researchers, ‘with spots like the South Rim [above] well known and loved for visits to watch the sun go down’
2. WAIKIKI BEACH, HONOLULU, HAWAII – SUNSET SCORE 79.8: Waikiki Beach, with Diamond Head volcano in the background, offers a ‘quintessential tropical sunset’ worthy of a computer screensaver, say the researchers
1. CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY – SUNSET SCORE 86.1: Watching a sunset at this Unesco World Heritage site – known as the hot air balloon capital of the world – is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’, say the researchers. The sunsets produce ‘vibrant red skies’ and ‘pink glows from the volcanic rock’, and the ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations add to the eye-catching spectacle