Several months ago, Michelle and Richard from Chalk & Cheese Travels posted a list of their favorite sunsets they’ve witnessed and captured from around the world. Mesmerized by their picture-perfect shots of the glorious “golden hour,” I’ve since been inspired in the same vein to list some of my favorites from my travels over the years. From as west as my hometown of Los Angeles to as far as Japan, I’ve seen my fair share of beautiful sunsets, and I’d like to share some of them with you.
Yet, after going through tens of thousands of travel photos, I was surprised that I didn’t have as many sunset photos as I’d originally thought. In fact, I saw more sunrise photos (which I intend to make a separate post on), and I think my lack of sunset photos is due to the fact that I don’t typically stay out late enough to capture them. Or, at the very least, I would usually return to my accommodation early enough to rest, only to head back out once it’s already dark for dinner or nightlife. That said, I’ve missed plenty of opportunities for such photos, especially since sunsets are such a popular time for some of the best travel images out there.
All the same, I do have a few sunset photos that I’ll share in this post. Some are of nature, others of urban landscapes. In either case, they all showcase that multi-colored glow of pink, orange, and purple that draws people to its sublimity, a means of a beautiful end to a beautiful time while on the road. Without further ado, here are my picks!
10 Favorite Sunsets From Around the World
1. Easter Island, Chile

2. Sahara Desert, Morocco

3. Porto, Portugal

4. Toulouse, France (2018)

5. Valletta, Malta

6. Marseille, France

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Loch Ness, Scotland

9. Guilin, China

10. Paris, France

**bonus** Gdańsk, Poland

Where are YOUR favorite sunsets in the world? Let me know!
— Rebecca
Depending on your selection, sunsets/sunrises tend to be best when there is the reflection of water, sea, lake, river. The skies are more interesting when there are clouds. For the landscape it comes down to shapes, if possible recognizable, monuments, trees or human silhouettes. I think my favourite photo is the one of Toulouse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You make a good point! The contrast between nature and civilization can be sublime, and I’m glad we agree on that. Merci pour ton commentaire!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These sunsets are beautiful – thanks for sharing. My favorite from your list is the one from Chile. I once witnessed an incredible sunset from the Griffith Observatory in LA – it’s my favorite!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I do have a sunset photo from Griffith, taken back in March! Completely forgot about it in this post…but I can vouch it’s gorgeous, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a postcard idea … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all of these, but I think my favourite is the one in Morocco. I should go through my albums and see how many sunrise/sunset photos I have. I, too, don’t think I have taken as many as I would like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The sunset over the Sahara Desert truly was a mesmerizing experience. I’d love to see what sunrise/sunset photos you have! My sunrise post will be up soon…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifu selection! My favs: Chile, Toulouse and Gdańsk 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Love all of those places I visited. I’m sure you especially like Gdańsk, as it’s in your home country. 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous! I’m a sucker for a great sunset photo. You’ve inspired me to look through all of mine now and do a similar post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana! I’d be keen on seeing what sunset photos you have, whenever you post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, and such a great concept for a blog! My favourite is the one from Guilin, China 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! The one from Guilin was such a long time ago, but I still have fond memories of that trip. You’re welcome to do your own post on your favorite sunsets, too!
LikeLike
Thanks for the idea! I might have to do that 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seeing your photos from around the world makes me so jealous!
As we inch closer to the shortest day of the year, seeing this photo reminds me of the one year I spent the shortest day of the year in Tuktoyaktuk watching winter solstice over the arctic.
I don’t know that I would ever go to that isolated of a place again, but for a one off it was one hell of an adventure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m such a sucker for a beautiful sunset and your photos are amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually had to Google “Tuktoyaktuk,” as I didn’t know about it (although it did ring a bell). Is it north enough to see the Northern Lights? Sounds like you had quite the time there; it must’ve been exciting (and very cold)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can see the Northern Lights from where I live. You can see them into the northern states (Idaho, Montana, etc… sometimes). It’s all about the power of the solar storms. You don’t have to go that far north. You can, but you don’t have to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, just look at all these beautiful sunsets. I especially love the one from Toulouse! 😀 With the gloomy winter weather upon us, it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a colourful sunset. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 😀 Aiva
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point, Aiva! Given now that it’s wintertime, sunsets are fleeting and harder to capture as a result; I work until past 18h00, so by the time I get off work, it’s already dark! No more gorgeous sunsets on the drive home until spring, that’s for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
Love those pictures, they are lovely. I have the same issues with usually missing sunsets and sunrises. The loveliest I have seen in the past must in Hamburg (Germany). I don’t know what it is, but the sky creates beautiful and colorful paintings in that region.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not been to Hamburg, but I’ve heard good things about it! Sunsets are really a rainbow dream, just before the night falls. They emit a sort of aching feeling, of longing for the day to remain and not descend into darkness. At least, that’s how I feel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t (no, WON’T) pick just one, but the one from Malta is perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You must go to Malta someday then!
LikeLike
I’ve never met a sunset I didn’t like. I love the range of colours in the sky from Guilin and Gdansk!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s no such thing as an ugly sunset, that’s for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos .Easter Island ( place I haven’t been and plan to go there) is my favorite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Easter Island isn’t easy to get to, but it’s very rewarding once you do! Hope you can go someday. 🙂
LikeLike
All very gorgeous with a special crush on Paris and Marseille obviously!!
I didn’t know you did a camel ride in the desert in Marocco! A loooooong time ago, I did a seven-day “méharé” in the Tunisian Sahara with a girl friend from Uni. Such a great adventure… Did you like yours? How long was it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bah oui! Paris et Marseille…c’est parce que t’es française! 😉 Personally, I found the sunset in Morocco to be lovely, but the camping part not so much 😆…all the same, I don’t regret going on the adventure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are beautiful photos! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
oooh i love the first two and the bonus one! Got to love a sunset! I think my best is a sunrise – Varanasi. one of the few i have ever bothered to get up for!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve not been to Varanasi before, but from the looks of it online, it looks stunning! My sunrise post will be up soon. 😊
LikeLike
Beautiful photos. Sunset/sunrise on any beach = perfection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, definitely!
LikeLike
Those images are stunning, I’d love to experience sunset in the desert…Morocco looks gorgeous. I’ve seen some amazing sunsets in the countries I’ve travelled to and of course the sunsets in South Africa were usually spectacular, but in all honesty, the sunsets and sunrises I’ve seen right at home, either in London or now in Thanet have been sublime…so breathtakingly beautiful that I end up snapping away and end up with dozens of images of the same event.
LikeLiked by 1 person
South Africa is one country I haven’t gone to yet, but I’m keen on visiting! I can imagine the sunsets there must be breathtaking…and it is true that some of the best sunsets are those closest to home (for me, Los Angeles!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you do visit, be sure to go to one of the nature reserves, and Cape Town is a must…
LikeLiked by 1 person
יש שקיעות יפהייפיות בישראל וביוון..
LikeLike
I had to translate this to understand what you wrote…but yes! Greek sunsets are lovely; I’ve not been to Israel yet, but I can imagine they’re stunning, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your blog is very beautiful … Bravo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
welcome dear friend Rebecca 🌺☘
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great idea for a post. I would definitely like to do something similar someday. We share a few sunset locations, such as Loch Ness, Guilin and Tokyo. Much jealousy that you’ve been to Easter Island!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d definitely read your sunset post, if you end up writing one! Easter Island is a beauty, and I do hope you can go there someday (even if you’ve been to a ton more stunning places than I’ve been so far). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that is stunning Rebecca
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, thanks!
LikeLike
beautiful! but I’m not sure if I have any sunset photos:))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I don’t have nearly as many sunset photos as sunrise, so it’s all good!
LikeLike
Gorgeous pictures! I just love a beautiful sunset, and it’s such a great post idea! 😍 I don’t know where I saw the most beautiful sunset, but I remember that when living in Vienna I was amazed, almost everyday, by the beautiful pink sunsets! Too bad I was usually walking around and couldn’t really enjoy them from a high viewpoint!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, I can imagine a sunset in Vienna would be stunning! I also agree that views from a higher vantage point are gorgeous, but even walking at ground level can be romantic, especially in the woods or along a bridge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful shots (especially the one from China) and wow, you’ve got a serious travel resume!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I’m touched! China does serve up a good sunset, along with incredible architecture, nature, and history! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful sunsets! My favorite sunsets were in Hampi (Karnataka) and Almora (Kumaon, Uttarakhand) – India.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never been to India, but I can imagine the sunsets there are gorgeous! Hope to go one day to see them for myself. Thank you!
LikeLike
Lovely pictures. Only three come to mind for me – the sun setting over Mt Fuji. Over the pacific ocean in Saipan. And over the atlantic in Ibiza. Those three are etched into my memory.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve not been to any of those places for sunsets yet, but I’m sure they’re gorgeous! Will have to check them out, thanks!
LikeLike
Amazing choices 😍❤️ look at those stunning places
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! ❤
LikeLike
These are so lovely sights. I think I should find a way to travel all these places!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do in the near future! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Thanks for the share!
LikeLike
Sensational read and all those sunsets look so beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike