Date of publication 26/08/2026
The best sunsets around the world
At our hotels with ocean views, every sunset is a ritual. Turn dusk into your magical moment of the day with a cocktail on the terrace, an early dinner overlooking the horizon, or a leisurely walk along the shore.
Here, we reveal some of the best sunsets you can experience from our beachfront resorts in Spain, Europe, the Americas, and Africa. We also share tips for photographing them and experiencing them, at just the right time and during the ideal season.
But first, what makes a sunset unforgettable?
What makes a sunset unforgettable
Some moments stay with you. Moments that seem to have no end, untouched by time. An unforgettable journey. One-of-a-kind experiences that bring you closer to your surroundings. The sunset of a lifetime.
What does it take for a sunset to remain in your memory forever? The company and the setting both matter. Chances are, some of the most incredible sunsets you have ever seen are part of a living postcard by the sea. Perhaps you remember one of those idyllic places where the golden hour leaves you speechless with its unspoiled beauty. The world's best sunsets share one thing: the natural character of the scenery around them. Take it all in while staying at a beachfront hotel.
The best sunsets in Spain
Mallorca and Ibiza
On an island like Mallorca, with its idyllic coastline, sunset is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the day, when the golden hour makes everything seem even more beautiful. Which one should you choose? Sa Foradada, Cala Deià, and Es Trenc are three you shouldn't miss. At Iberostar Selection Es Trenc, you can enjoy a unique vantage point from one of those beach hotels in Mallorca that seems made for collecting sunsets. Es Trenc Beach welcomes you with untouched stretches of coastline and other areas where you can watch the colors move across the sky from the comfort of a lounge chair. At Playa de Muro, meanwhile, memorable sunrises come with the freedom and calm of staying at a resort beside S'Albufera Natural Park.
The sunsets on Ibiza's quieter beaches feel like a well-kept secret. Beyond the iconic views of Es Vedrà and Cala Benirràs, watching the sun go down around Cala Comte, home to several inviting beach bars, is a favorite ritual for locals and travelers alike. If sunrise is more your style, wake up beside one of Es Canar's most special little coves and head to the shore at just the right moment. Iberostar Selection Santa Eulalia Ibiza, opposite s'Argamassa, is one of the island's best beachfront hotels for doing exactly that.
Cádiz
Cádiz is home to some of the most beautiful sunsets in Andalusia. La Barrosa has received numerous distinctions for the quality of its natural surroundings, including the Ecoplaya flag, the Q for Tourism Quality, and Blue Flag status. Among the beach hotels in Cádiz made for sunset chasing is Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus, a great choice for a peaceful family vacation. The same relaxed feeling continues at Iberostar Selection Andalucía Playa, an ideal place to stay as a couple. Other celebrated sunsets include those at Bolonia, Tarifa, and the Trafalgar Lighthouse.
Málaga
Además de en Cádiz, los mejores atardeceres de Andalucía te encontrarán en Málaga. En concreto, en Benalmádena, Fuengirola y Marbella. La desembocadura del río Guadaiza y los alrededores de Puerto Banús y el casco antiguo marbellí son lugares desde los que ver una puesta de sol diferente, tanto si deseas conectar con la naturaleza como si prefieres un entorno elegante y con un ambiente emocionante cerca de zonas de hoteles en Málaga selectas. Iberostar Selection Marbella Coral Beach se sitúa en el paseo marítimo y a tan solo un kilómetro de Puerto Banús. No te olvides de visitar su beach club al atardecer.
Islas Canarias
Los atardeceres de Lanzarote son una leyenda. Además del –casi lunar– del volcán del Cuervo, el sereno y poco concurrido de Playa Montaña Bermeja o el panorámico del Mirador del Golfo de Lanzarote, te recomendamos asistir al atardecer de Playa Blanca, en Yaiza. Se trata de una de las puestas de sol más fotografiadas de Canarias. Allí, Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park, un alojamiento con el sello de César Manrique, forma parte de una generación de hoteles en primera línea de mar en las Islas Canarias que se integra en el entorno.
Los mejores atardeceres de Europa
Grecia
De los mejores atardeceres en Creta, a los ocasos más increíbles de las Islas Cícladas, Grecia tiene mucho que ofrecer en cuanto a puestas de sol. Una buena manera de conocer el archipiélago es moverse en barco de isla en isla y alojarse varios días en cada una. El sunset en Milos, Naxos y Mykonos te cautivará.
La costa de Rethymnon se localiza en la ciudad cretense del mismo nombre, una de las más bonitas del lugar, con un casco histórico lleno de rincones por los que perderse. Iberostar Waves Creta Panorama & Mare, un alojamiento familiar con acceso directo a dos calas típicamente mediterráneas, e Iberostar Selection Creta Marine, uno de esos hoteles para parejas en Creta con zona de playa privada, se ubican en este núcleo conocido por sus atardeceres.
Portugal
If you want to see some of the best sunsets in Portugal on your next vacation, make time for the Algarve, sometimes called the "Portuguese Caribbean." Here, you can watch the same sun sink toward the horizon that once accompanied sailors setting out across the Atlantic toward the Americas. Experience that view, and the history behind it, from an ocean-view hotel such as Iberostar Selection Lagos Algarve in Meia Praia, a long stretch of coastline just four minutes from the center of Lagos.
Montenegro
Montenegro remains a less explored corner of Europe, increasingly appealing to travelers who want to discover somewhere new while spending their vacation in a private, distinctive setting. The Adriatic offers one of the best sunsets in Europe from Budva, a coastal city with a medieval past that was once part of the Venetian Empire. Iberostar Waves Slavija is a beautiful walk from Slovenska Beach. Its infinity pool is an ideal spot for watching the sunset from one of Montenegro's beach hotels.
The best sunsets in the Americas
Mexico
Our beach resorts in Mexico offer a front-row seat to some of the best sunsets in the Americas and the Caribbean. Imagine what awaits at JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar in the Riviera Maya, where sunset feels like a moment when time slows, and everything grows quiet. Let the soothing atmosphere of late afternoon surround you at an Iberostar hotel with a spa, where everyday routines fade into the background and relaxation takes over. And just along the same Caribbean coast, Cozumel and Cancún offer more places in Mexico where switching off comes easily.
Dominican Republic
The last glow of sunlight seen from the Dominican Republic. One image may be all it takes to make its sunsets an essential part of the experience. Discover Bávaro Beach, where evening colors spread across turquoise water and white sand dotted with palm trees, or Saona Island, where sunset settles over an unspoiled tropical setting. Alongside its beauty, this destination offers plenty of ways to reconnect with nature. Experience them from beachfront hotels in the Dominican Republic such as Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro.
Brazil, Jamaica, and Aruba
Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte is one of those beach hotels in Brazil where time seems to be measured in sunsets. There is no need to look at the clock, only at the view stretching out before you. If you are looking for 5-star hotels in Jamaica on the beachfront where you can unwind at the end of the day, consider beaches such as Montego Bay and Doctor's Cave. In Aruba, the 5-star JOIA Aruba by Iberostar is an adults-only retreat where sunsets come with personalized service and spaces with character.
Explore other Caribbean destinations and let the sunsets of your vacation become memories worth holding on to.
The best sunsets in Africa
Morocco by the Mediterranean
From Marrakech to the beaches of Agadir and Saïdia, Morocco offers very different settings for watching the sunset. The character of Marrakech’s rooftops and gardens contrasts with the shores of Agadir and Saïdia: the former faces the Atlantic Ocean, while the latter lies on the Mediterranean Sea. In both, the golden sand blends with the blue tones of the water. In the Sahara Desert, it is the dunes that take on changing hues as the sun sets.
Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean
On the Indian Ocean, sunset is an experience for all five senses in places such as Zanzibar. Find your spot along the island's western and northern coasts. Consider watching the sun set from the clear-water beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa, where open skies, a lively atmosphere, traditional dhow boats, and beach bars with live music set the scene.
Iberostar Selection Zanzibar is a 5-star hotel in Zanzibar on the beachfront at Mbuyuni Beach. From its panoramic suites, you can enjoy a front-row seat to beautiful sunrises, the perfect counterpart to the evenings you spend on the island.
How to photograph the perfect sunset
Golden hour and blue hour
Hotels with ocean views offer a natural frame for photographing the perfect sunset. Whether you head to the beach with an analog camera or simply use your phone, there are two key moments worth capturing: golden hour and blue hour. Golden hour arrives when the sun is already very close to the horizon, washing the scene in warm shades of gold, red, and orange and casting longer, more defined shadows. Blue hour comes just after sunset, when cooler blue tones fill the sky, shifting from violet to soft pastel pink.
Tips for taking great photos with your phone
Stay present and pay attention to what is around you before trying to capture it through the lens. Your phone, used well, can do the moment justice. When photographing the sun directly, tap it on the screen to adjust the exposure and focus. This will help the colors appear clearer and more defined. Use the grid to compose your shot, and avoid zooming so you do not lose image quality or detail. Backlit photos have a special quality at sunset. Use golden hour to bathe the scene in soft, direct light, then turn to blue hour for images naturally softened by a pastel-colored glow.
When to see the best sunsets
Some of Spain's best sunsets take place during the summer and fall, around the weeks leading up to the solstice, particularly in coastal regions such as Cádiz, Málaga, and the Balearic Islands. In the Balearics especially, those memorable colors can be seen throughout the year. In the Canary Islands, which are in a different time zone, sunset season comes into its own from the beginning of spring.
Elsewhere in Mediterranean Europe, including Greece, summer and its clear skies make an ideal combination. Head to the Caribbean and you can enjoy spectacular sunsets throughout the year. In destinations such as Cancún and Aruba, any season is a good time to watch the day fade. In Morocco, spring and fall have a golden light all their own, while Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean are at their best for sunsets during the dry seasons, from June to October and from December to February.
Book your next sunset with Iberostar
Once you have chosen the time and destination, all that remains is to find a place to stay that shares your love of sunsets. When choosing, look for rooms with a balcony or terrace and beautiful views. Direct beach access is another advantage, as are outdoor spaces that connect you with the surroundings, including pools, spas, and restaurants with terraces. Book your next sunset with Iberostar at our hotels with ocean views.
