The world’s best beaches for beautiful sunsets

Discover the best beach backdrops for sunset-seekers, ranging from mystical Indian temples to pastel-hued Spanish marinas, according to global travellers.*

Kanyakumari, India

Right at the tip of southern India, the town of Kanyakumari is a pilgrimage site for Hindus but also for sunset-seekers. The place where three seas meet (the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean), there’s something deeply soothing about watching the glowing sun sink into the misty horizon here. The rough, rocky shoreline is dominated by the orange domes of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial (built in honour of a Hindu monk and spiritual leader who is said to have attained enlightenment upon the rock) and the enormous dark stone Thiruvalluvar statue (celebrating the eponymous Tamil poet). Catch these monuments cast powerful silhouettes in front of the setting sun from atop a hill called Murugan Kundram, where you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of Kanyakumari. See the memorial and statue from your bedroom window while staying at Hotel Ocean Heritage.

Graal-Müritz, Germany

This tiny, picturesque spa town on the Baltic coast has a wide, 5km-long white sandy beach, punctuated by a pretty wooden pier. Join the fishermen that gather here each evening and watch the sunset over the gorgeous Zingst peninsula with a sundowner in hand. Check into Hotel Haus am Meer, where you can relax on the sun terrace, in the peaceful garden or stroll one minute to the beach.

Port Saplaya, Spain

Nicknamed ‘Little Venice’ on account of its pastel-hued buildings and series of quiet canals, the marina of this seaside Valencian town is a glorious place to watch the sun go down. Wander past pretty houses with stone balustrade balconies while the smell of freshly-grilled seafood fills the air, to join locals having beers by the waterside as the sun sets. Sip a sangria on your beachside balcony at Apartamentos Valencia Port Saplaya.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, USA

This attractive town close to Fort Lauderdale has a distinctly low-key atmosphere, so expect all of the gleaming white sand and palm trees of Florida’s bigger cities but without the billionaire-style yachts and huge parties. The best place to watch the sunset is the wide wooden pier lined with baby blue lamp shades that complement the turquoise colour of the ocean. Check into a bright and airy suite at the Sea Spray Inn, just a 2-minute walk from the beach.

Camber, United Kingdom

The undulating, windswept sand dunes of the village of Camber in East Sussex make this one of the most magical places in the UK to watch the sun go down. Walk the long coastal path following the wide beach’s fine and silty soft golden sands, with the rays glinting off the sea, and finish up in a welcoming pub in the medieval, timber-framed town of Rye. Either stay in the 15th-century Standard Inn in Rye, or head back to your delightful holiday home, Saltwater Cottage, in Camber.

**These beaches were the most highly rated for ‘sunsets’, according to people travelling with Booking.com.