Where to watch the most iconic sunsets in the world

Ibiza may be legendary for its nightclubs, but its sunsets are also beloved. At west-facing beaches around the Spanish island, there is always a vibe as the sun goes down. Featuring music, sacred instruments, and, of course, a lot of selfies, those who witness these sunsets never fail to applaud the sun as it crosses the horizon over the sea.

The sunset at the Taj Mahal is known as 'The Magic Hour'. Hundreds of photographers come to capture each sunset, and thousands of people watch as the spectacular palace goes from glowing in all its splendor to complete darkness. Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Surrounded by 20 beaches, Cape Town's horizon is also marked by the Table Mountain and Cape Point. This combination of sea and rocks turns the sunset into one of the most magical spectacles human beings can imagine. For the best views, watch it from a high point.

In the heart of Italian Tuscany, Asciano is a small town that gives a seemingly endless sunset. Its infinite green landscape, bathed by the Ombrone River, creates a contrast with the orange of the sunset that prevents you from ever looking away or closing your mouth until the sun has set completely.

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and a pilgrimage point for people all over the world. This compendium of temples is so large that one must deliberate where to see the sunset at its maximum splendor. The usual recommendation is to see it from the side of the garden to cover all the temples.

The beaches across the Pacific Mexican state of Oaxaca offer really spectacular shows, but the sunset at Zipolite is an absolute must. It has a very liberal atmosphere and isn't the safest beach for swimming, but it truly is a sight to behold.

The Atacama Desert is the driest in the world and there lies one of its most striking features. The famous desert's landscape are arid but not sandy. You can find salt flats, hot springs, geysers, and huge copper mines. When the sun goes down, the light is reflected on the salt crust of the desert, creating a wonderful play of light.

Everyone who's seen Mount Fuji agrees that it has a perfect shape. The highest mountain in Japan, it crowns the island of Honshu at 3,776 meters. It's ideal for a memorable sunset.

Photo: Michael Sum / Unsplash

With an extension of 124,000 km2, this desert occupies parts of California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Named Mojave by the indigenous people of the same name, it has a majestic sunset. Scenes from 'Terminator 2', Madonna's 'Frozen' and Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Scar Tissue' video clips were shot on its sand. In addition, Apple named its June 2018 MacOS operating system 'Mojave' in its honor.

Thousands of years old are some of the trees presiding over the avenue of the baobabs. A protected area since 2007, some of these baobabs exceed 25 meters, turning sunsets into a spectacle of elongated shadows that seem to have no end.

Photo: Gemmmm / Unsplash

Jimbaran Beach offers two ways to enjoy a sunset. First, from one of the restaurants on the beach while tasting freshly caught seafood. And second, on the middle of the beach, allowing you to see all of its natural spectacle.

The town of Chamonix has no more than 9,000 inhabitants, but it receives 5 million tourists a year. The reason is none other than to be part of one of the most spectacular areas of the Alps. Enjoying a sunset from a thousand meters above sea level is a life experience that everyone should be able to enjoy once in their lives.

Photo: Tim Jones / Unsplash

Watching the sunset in the Thar desert means spending the night in this monumental sea of sand. In silence, the light disappears until it leaves the desert in complete darkness. Its immensity can be overwhelming.

Photo: Arshla Jindal / Unsplash

The best way to enjoy the sunset at Deira Creek is on an Abra (water taxi), where the views will be fantastic from all angles. Seeing the old town of Dubai as the sun reflects its last rays on the water is a unique experience.

The beauty of Florence is such that there are up to four recommended spots to enjoy its sunset. They are Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, San Miniato del Monte, and Piazzale Michelangelo. A perfect excuse to spend several nights in the city.

Watching the sunset next to the Great Pyramid of Giza is just one of the many options Cairo has to offer. The majestic capital of Egypt has a wonderful sunset and offers both the terraces of the city's buildings and the desert itself, where the sunlight reflects on the sand until it meets the horizon.

Any point in the Swiss Alps is ideal for watching one of the best sunsets the planet has to offer. The Grand Combin has a special spot among its peaks. The same goes for the Matterhorn, the best known in the area, but that is also the most visited peak. Depending on the time of year, the colors of the sunset in these mountains range from bright pink to orange.

Also known as the Palais de la Cité, this is a legendary building in the capital of France which runs along the Quai de l'Horloge on the Ile de la Cité. It was a residence of Kings until the 14th century and became a state prison in 1392. Its image reflected in the Seine and its walls (dyed orange) make for an unforgettable sight.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an intoxicating and majestic monument, raised in honor of the first president of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Built of bright white marble, it has a lighting system that reflects the phases of the moon. The spectacle begins at sunset when orange flashes are reflected on the marble while the sky turns purple. It is best to walk around the building as the sun goes down while enjoying its magnificent gardens.

Photo: Daniel Olah / Unsplash

Lake Inle is surrounded by more than 200 villages. They make up an aquatic state where everyone moves in boats and fishing is done with acrobatics. Being able to watch the sunset on one of those barges is an experience within the reach of only a few chosen people.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a protected savannah area that runs along the southwest of Kenya, bordering Tanzania. Its sunsets are red as fire and the environment is wild as few others. Lions, zebras, elephants, cheetahs and hippos accompany those who come to see the sunset in the area.

Located near the famous Grand Canyon, Monument Valley is the great jewel of the Navajo people. Its spectacular monoliths reach as high as 300 meters. Seeing them turn red when the sun goes down will take away any person's breath. This was the area where John Ford filmed the legendary film 'The Searchers.'

The Ligurian Riviera connects the Ligurian Sea with the Maritime Alps and the Apennines. Its sunset is enjoyable from a coastal town like San Remo, or from a cliff with several meters of fall.

The island of Santorini seems to be designed for enjoying sunsets. Watching the sun go down is one of the tourist attractions of the area. Its impressive, cliff-fringed towns and majestic white landscape turn orange during the minutes that the sun sets. That moment is pure magic, and the Aegean Sea is a luxurious spectator.

The Arabian Desert surrounds the city of Dubai and is one of the most arid and extensive on the planet. Silent and imposing, it consists of dunes that seem to have no end. The sunset can be the moment of the greatest silence and inner reflection that a person has in his life.

This unique natural park is famous for its sunsets and sunrises, with its desert landscape, gentle grasses and the ever changing light of the rock at its center. It is such a great place to observe this spectacle that there are five viewing areas specifically dedicated to catching a photo, though you can also venture out on your own.