Europe’s most beautiful beach sunsets, according to reviews

A beach sunset can turn an ordinary holiday into the moment travelers remember most. A new study has revealed which European beaches visitors are most likely to describe as having beautiful, breathtaking or amazing sunsets.

Travel experts at Private Portugal Tours analyzed Tripadvisor reviews for some of Europe’s most popular beaches to find where sunset views are mentioned most often. The study ranked beaches based on the share of reviews that reference sunsets, highlighting the destinations where golden hour leaves the strongest impression on visitors.

Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland ranks No. 1 overall, with 1.66% of Tripadvisor reviews mentioning sunsets. Known for its black sand, basalt columns and powerful Atlantic waves, the beach already attracts visitors for its dramatic scenery. The review data suggests many travelers also leave talking about the evening sky.

Myrtos Beach in Greece ranks second, with 1.52% of reviews mentioning sunsets. Set between steep cliffs on the island of Kefalonia, the beach is known for its bright turquoise water and striking coastline, making sunset one of the highlights visitors remember most.

Praia da Falésia in Portugal ranks third, with 1.47% of reviews referencing sunsets. Famous for its long stretch of golden sand backed by red cliffs, the Algarve beach gives visitors an elevated view of the coastline as the sun goes down.

Portugal takes another spot in the top five with Ursa Beach ranking fourth, where 1.43% of reviews mention sunsets. Located near Cabo da Roca, the beach is known for its rugged rock formations and untouched setting, creating a memorable backdrop for the end of the day.

Haukland Beach in Norway rounds out the top five, with 1.27% of reviews mentioning sunsets. Surrounded by mountains and clear turquoise water, the beach shows that northern Europe offers some of the continent’s most unforgettable sunset views.

Keem Beach in Ireland ranks sixth, with 1.25% of reviews referencing sunsets. The sheltered bay on Achill Island is already loved for its peaceful setting, but many visitors also mention the evening views as part of the experience.

Sarakiniko Beach in Greece ranks seventh, with 1.24% of reviews mentioning sunsets. Its white volcanic rocks create one of Europe’s most unusual coastal landscapes, giving sunset a completely different look from traditional sandy beaches.

Ksamil Beach in Albania ranks eighth, with 1.06% of reviews mentioning sunsets. Known for its clear blue water and small islands just offshore, the beach continues to grow in popularity, with sunset becoming another reason visitors remember the destination.

Porto Katsiki in Greece ranks ninth, where 1.01% of reviews reference sunsets. The beach’s towering white cliffs and bright blue sea create a dramatic setting that stands out even more as daylight fades.

Scala dei Turchi in Italy completes the top 10, with 0.95% of reviews mentioning sunsets. The famous white limestone cliffs along Sicily’s southern coast offer visitors a unique place to watch the changing colours of the evening sky.

At the lower end of the ranking, several beaches recorded 0% of reviews mentioning sunsets using the analyzed terms. These include Santa Giulia in France, Navagio Beach in Greece, Cala Luna, Cala Goloritzé and Spiaggia dei Conigli in Italy, Praia do Porto do Seixal in Madeira, Sveti Stefan Beach in Montenegro, and Playa de Rodas and Caló des Moro in Spain. This does not mean these beaches lack beautiful sunsets. Instead, it suggests visitors are more likely to focus on other parts of the experience in their reviews.

The full ranking:

Rank	Beach	Country	Percentage of Sunset Comments
1	Reynisfjara Beach	Iceland	1.66
2	Myrtos Beach	Greece	1.52
3	Praia da Falésia	Portugal	1.47
4	Ursa Beach	Portugal	1.43
5	Haukland Beach	Norway	1.27
6	Keem Beach	Ireland	1.25
7	Sarakiniko Beach	Greece	1.24
8	Ksamil Beach	Albania	1.06
9	Porto Katsiki	Greece	1.01
10	Scala dei Turchi	Italy	0.95
11	Kynance Cove	England	0.91
12	Porto Timoni	Greece	0.73
13	Gjipe Beach	Albania	0.72
14	Zlatni Rat	Croatia	0.67
15	Playa de Maspalomas	Spain	0.62
16	Elafonissi Beach	Greece	0.58
17	Sakarun	Croatia	0.52
18	Balos Lagoon	Greece	0.43
19	Porthcurno Beach	England	0.42
20	Praia da Marinha	Portugal	0.41
21	Fig Tree Bay	Cyprus	0.35
22	Praia do Camilo	Portugal	0.34
23	Nissi Beach	Cyprus	0.34
24	Kaputas	Turkey	0.28
25	Playa de Ses Illetes	Spain	0.27
26	Playa Bolonia	Spain	0.27
27	Stiniva Beach	Croatia	0.23
28	Platja d’es Trenc	Spain	0.21
29	Playa de Cofete	Spain	0.17
30	La Pelosa	Italy	0.09
31	Cala Macarella	Spain	0.08
32	Praia de Benagil	Portugal	0.07
33	Pampelonne Beach	France	0.06
34	Spiaggia di Tuerredda	Italy	0.04
35	Cala Brandinchi	Italy	0.02
36	San Vito Lo Capo	Italy	0.02
37	Palombaggia	France	0.02
38	Santa Giulia	France	0.00
38	Navagio Beach	Greece	0.00
38	Cala Luna	Italy	0.00
38	Cala Goloritzé	Italy	0.00
38	Spiaggia dei Conigli	Italy	0.00
38	Praia do Porto do Seixal	Madeira	0.00
38	Sveti Stefan Beach	Montenegro	0.00
38	Playa de Rodas	Spain	0.00
38	Caló des Moro	Spain	0.00

Methodology

The study analyzed Tripadvisor reviews for popular European beaches and calculated the percentage of reviews that mention ‘sunset’. Beaches with a higher percentage indicating that visitors were more likely to highlight sunset views as part of their experience.

Opening picture: ID 122233181 © Mathiasrhode | Dreamstime.com