A study revealed which cities best combine urban charm and unique natural spectacles, ideal for those looking to end their day of exploration with an unforgettable sunset.
The study looked at a combination of factors to determine the best places to enjoy the sunset, including the number of hashtags on Instagram, average annual hours of sunshine, the air quality index ( AQI ) and popular sunset viewing sites.
Below are the cities that stand out as top options for sunset-loving travelers and should be on your bucket list:
Paris, France
It should come as no surprise that the City of Love takes the top spot for the city with the most Instagrammable sunsets. Paris earned a perfect score of 100 thanks to its iconic photo spots, including the Eiffel Tower , Sacré-Cœur Basilica , and Pont Alexandre III .
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai took second place with a score of 98.6. The city is known for its famous sunsets, which include views of the Burj Khalifa and Jumeirah Beach . It’s worth noting that this city has more than 3,500 hours of sunshine per year, making it easy to see a spectacular sunset virtually any day of the year.
Los Angeles, California, USA
The third city was Los Angeles , which earned its spot thanks to the second-highest number of annual sunshine hours, at 3,254. The city also boasts several stunning sunset viewing spots, including the Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Observatory .
Barcelona, Spain
Although Barcelona is undergoing some changes in terms of tourism, the city managed to clinch fourth place on the list. It has an excellent air quality index of 27 and has its own standout spots for enjoying the sunset, such as Park Güell and Barceloneta beach .
San Francisco, California, USA
San Francisco is the second city in California to make the list. It is considered an excellent city for watching the sunset thanks to its high air quality index and stunning sunset viewing spots, such as Baker Beach and Twin Peaks .
Cannes, France
Despite having a much smaller population than other cities on the list, Cannes is still a popular city to watch the sunset, both by locals and visitors. Some of the popular places to enjoy this spectacle include La Croisette and Sainte-Marguerite Island .
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is the second Spanish city to appear on the list, with top sunset spots including the Debod Temple and Parque del Oeste . Madrid also has an excellent air quality index of 27, similar to nearby Barcelona.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Turkey ’s largest city has over 133 million sunset-related hashtags on Instagram, which is no surprise to anyone who has visited Istanbul . The city boasts one of the most beautiful skylines in the world, with iconic sunset viewing spots such as Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower located along the Bosphorus Strait .
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Honolulu is the third US city to make the list. It boasts more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and stunning sunset spots like Waikiki Beach and Tantalus Observatory .
