These Are the Best Places in the World to See the Sunrise and Sunset
If you’re hopeful that easing COVID-19 restrictions means travel might soon be on the horizon soon, allow the pros at Mornings.co.uk to provide ample inspiration for your upcoming trips. The U.K.-based sleep resource company dug through Tripadvisor reviews to find the places with the highest number of sunrise and sunset mentions around the world, and it turns out the most popular sunset on the planet can be found stateside in Key West, Florida.
Among the comprehensive list of best sunrises and sunsets, you’ll find interactive galleries with all kinds of useful info, including the top 10 places in the world to be an early riser thanks to unbeatable sunrise views. The best place to watch the sunrise is at the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, boasting more than 10,400 mentions of “sunrise” in Tripadvisor reviews.
In fact, eight out of 10 of the best places for sunrise fans are in Asia and Oceania, which means you’ll need to dust off your passport if you want to see them all. Stateside, you’ll find the sunrises at the Grand Canyon sitting pretty in fifth place, with more than 1,200 mentions, thanks to the way the sun reflects off the stunning multicolor rock formations in the early morning hours.
If you’re not so much a morning person, don’t fret. The top 10 sunsets in the world provide equally breathtaking views, with top honors going to Mallory Square, a waterfront square located in Florida’s Key West. This hidden gem even features a nightly festival called the sunset celebration, in which hundreds of tourists arrive to watch and celebrate the sunset, surrounded by arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, and food stalls for unique local entertainment.
Coming in third and ninth place, respectively, are the sunsets at New York City’s famed Top of the Rock, which serves as the tallest building in the Rockefeller complex and includes three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks and 360-degree views of the sunset in the Big Apple. Just down the block in ninth place you’ll find the iconic Empire State Building, which offers up crystal-clear sunset views of the city as well.
Check out the full study and be sure to bring your binoculars and camera of choice no matter where you end up trying to spot the sun in all its vibrant glory.