Sometimes, you crave a vacation filled with activities, sights, sounds, and adventures—an endless parade of new and exciting things. But other times, you need to just sit quietly with your thoughts. And that’s where the perfect sunset destination comes in.
In February, AllClear, a travel insurance company, released its study on the best sunset destinations in the world. It named Cappadocia in Turkey the best sunset location on Earth.
Methodology
To come to its conclusion of which spots offer the best views it first created a seed list of 100 destinations around the world that are known for their impressive sunsets. Then, each of those places was scored on five key weather factors that influence sunset quality, including cloud cover (which is actually good for sunsets in small doses as it “enhances the scattering of sunlight to create vivid colors”), wind speed, precipitation, humidity, and its number of hashtag mentions.
“The serene landscapes of Cappadocia in Turkey take the crown—offering tourists a magical experience (often via hot air balloon) with a blend of vibrant colors set against the unique backdrop of the region’s fairy chimneys,” the team noted. It added that the destination scored an 86.1 out of 100, making Cappadocia a “golden hour that few other places on Earth can match.”
Waikiki in Hawaii came in a close second, with a score of 79.8 out of 100. It ranked so highly thanks to its “unobstructed ocean vistas and palm trees beautifully framing the deep red and light pink hues of an iconic Hawaiian sunset.”
One more spot in the U.S. made its way to the top of the list, with the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona rounding out the top three. “Another golden hour hotspot, the sun setting on the vast, layered rock formations of the Grand Canyon scores it an impressive sunset score of 79.6 out of 100,” the rankings noted. The Grand Canyon, it added, is “renowned among travelers for many reasons, but sunsets here offer something particularly special. The enormous canyon walls, with all their layers, radiate golden exuberance when the sun hits them, with travelers recommending locations like the South Rim or Mather Point to watch the sun go down.”
Other top sunset spots include Ayers Rock in Australia, which ranked fourth, followed by Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming rounding out the top five.
“Dramatic sunsets are universally adored, inspiring awe and wonder at the phenomenal beauty of nature. Many of us actively seek out stunning sunsets, both at home and when we travel abroad,” Sarah Collinson at AllClear shared. “For travelers 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. Whether it’s the mystical landscape of Cappadocia, Hawaii’s iconic and palm tree-dotted beaches, or the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Grand Canyon, there are vivid sunsets to be found all over the world, providing an awesome light show above nature’s most spectacular landscapes.”
