Best Sunset Watching Spots

Hit the road today, to explore the skies of Europe's best sunset spots.

With city skylines, colossal mountains and sun kissed beaches, Europe has some of the best spots for sunset watching in the world. Whether you enjoy capturing the warm colours of the fading sun on your camera, or simply love to sit and watch the sun set with friends and family, Europe is the best place for it. To get you inspired for your next journey across the Channel, we've put together a list of some of the best sunset spots, from Paris to Matterhorn.

France

Paris

Paris is home to many great sights and views, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré-Cœur, but one of the greatest is watching the sunset over the city's skyline. The perfect viewing spot for watching the orange glow envelop the city, is from the 360° windows of Tour Montparnasse's panoramic floor. Whilst gazing at the illuminated skyline, stop for a bite to eat in the 360 Café, the highest panoramic bar in Europe and a place that offers delicious salads, croque-monsieurs and mouth-watering desserts.

Île de Ré

For postcard-perfect sunset views, head to Plage de la Conche, a charming beach located on the Île de Ré, an island just off the west coast of France. Situated close to St. Clement des Baleines, the beach has a long stretch of glistening, white sand, met with crystal clear water that gently laps the shore. As the evening begins and the sun starts setting, make your way over to the soft sand and relax with a picnic or bottle of wine, and watch as the warm glow ripples across the water.

Lac d'Annecy

Located in the Haute-Savoie region of France is Lac d'Annecy, or Lake Annecy, the third largest lake in France. A sheet of deep turquoise blue surrounded by green, forested mountains and snow-dusted hills, it makes for the perfect holiday destination, regardless of the time of year. Once the evening begins to settle in, be sure to grab a spot on the lake's shores, and watch as the sun catches on the lake, and disappears behind the mountains.

Italy

Cortina D'Ampezzo

Cortina D'Ampezzo is a skiing resort and town in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, and is located deep within the Dolomites. As the sun sets over the small town, the red and yellow light illuminates the jagged rock formations of the Dolomitic Alps, and a pink glow saturates the blue sky. For the perfect view of the sun setting, head out early in the day for a hike across the nearby valleys, pitch up at the perfect point for you, and relax in the cool evening air.

Florence

Located in the city of Florence, is the Ponte Santa Trinita, a Renaissance bridge that covers the River Arno, and is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world. From the bridge, you can take in beautiful views of the city, admiring the architecture that lines the Arno. As the afternoon fades away, and the evening sets in, stand and watch from the bridge, as the sun moves from one point of the sky, to the top of the river and beyond. The yellow and white light reflecting on to the flowing Arno makes the perfect photo, so be sure to have your camera at the ready.

The Netherlands

Amsterdam

A city known for its breathtaking architecture and enchanting culture, Amsterdam is also home to one of the best sunset watching spots in Europe, the city's canals. With 165 canals covering over 100-kilometres, they are the best way to explore the city's sights, and as the evening settles in, the best place to watch the sun set. There are plenty of cruise companies to choose from, so all you have to do is pick a late sailing, and enjoy the orange, pink and yellow colours that engulf the dusk sky.

Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is a small village close to the city of Rotterdam, and is most famous for the charming 19 windmills that make up Kinderdijk's UNSECO World Heritage Site. The windmills are divided into different areas, and were once used for completing different roles in water drainage. If you're feeling inspired, you can even wander inside the Nederwaard Museum and Blokweer Museum, which both provide a great insight into the mills' history. To make the most of your visit, aim for a slightly windy day, and hike to a point where you can see most of the windmills. Once the evening begins to draw in, just sit back, relax, and watch as the orange and red light disappears behind the windmills.

Switzerland

Matterhorn

Located in the Alps, along the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is one of the most iconic mountains in Europe. Shaped like a pyramid, and reaching a height of 14,692 feet, the Matterhorn is an enchanting mountain, and as such, has become a great place for watching the sun set. There are many 'photo points' dotted around the surrounding area, so there are plenty of places to set up your camera, or a deck chair, so that you can watch the sun's beams hit the jagged points of the mountain. One of the best points to witness this moment of natural beauty is on a small bench at Höhbalmen, a place that faces the north side of the Matterhorn. At 2,665 metres, it's a bit of hike, but you'll soon see it's definitely worth the effort, when the fading sunlight brightens the mountain's sharp peak.

Mount Pilatus

Overlooking the city of Lucerne, Mount Pilatus is a beautiful mountain made up of several summits that each make for perfect viewing points. If you don't fancy hiking to the top of each of the mountain's peaks, then try one of the three aerial options, which allow you to enjoy bird's eye views of Lucerne and the mountainous landscape, without the need for hiking boots. Take a ride on the Aerial Panorama Gondola, and journey over the vast forest and jagged cliffs, all the way up to the Fräkmüntegg summit. For the perfect sunset spot, ride the gondola for around 20-minutes before the sun sets, and witness the entire mountain light up with the sun's departing warm glow.

Getting there and around

Are you feeling inspired to travel around Europe to enjoy the beautiful sunset spots across the continent? If so, book your journey with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. It only takes 35-minutes to cross the Channel, which means you'll be on your way in no time at all.

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