5 of the best sunsets in the world

One of the most magical moments of any holiday is watching the sun set over stunning scenery. The sunset becomes part of the daily routine, as you sip a cold cocktail or crisp glass of wine while watching the sky become a canvas of crimson, orange and pink. Here are some of my favourite spots in the world to watch the sun go down.  I’ve experienced the first two personally and the other three are very much on my bucket list! The terrace at Ikies, Santorini While hundreds of people gather in high season to watch the spectacular sunset over the caldera of Santorini, suites in the Ikies boutique hotel in Oia have their own private terrace, which means you get your own ringside seat for the most spectacular show in town. The Santorini sunsets are so famed for their beauty that many couples choose to marry here, saying their wedding vows just as the sky turns from pristine turquoise to pink and orange. Sunset Ashram bar in Ibiza Close to San Antonio but a world away in terms of atmosphere, the Sunset Ashram bar in Ibiza is one of the best places on the White Isle to watch the sun go down. The clientele is eclectic, with island hippie-types mingling with couples on holiday and businessmen fresh from the office. Here you can dine on sushi or speciality salads while the sky turns from dusk to dark. It isn’t cheap, but you pay as much for the view as the food. Casa do Rio, Portugal Sitting on top of a hill on Alvor’s harbour front, Casa do Rio offers the perfect view of the setting sun casting reflections over the bobbing boats on the estuary. Here you can see as far as Lagos on the other side of the bay. Try the traditional Cataplana with monkfish, washed down with a crisp white Planalto. Book in advance and ask for the best table in the house, the one on the very edge of the hilltop with uninterrupted views of the harbour. Redington Long Pier, Florida

St Petersburg and Clearwater in Florida are rightly famous for their sugar-like sands. But the sunsets here are equally as stunning. For a traditional Floridian experience, take a stroll along Redington Long Pier, which stretches 1,000ft into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a paradise for keen fishermen as the pier is so long you can catch tarpon and sharks usually only obtainable in the open water. But even if you don’t fish, you can take a picnic or a bottle of wine and watch those who do landing their catch.

Camps Bay’s seaside strip, Cape Town The most exclusive area of Cape Town, a sundowner in Camps Bay is as much about watching the beautiful people as it is about seeing the sunset. Here, the great and good of the city gather beneath the towering Twelve Apostles Mountain Range as the Atlantic waves lap the shore. There are countless cocktail bars and restaurants with balconies, terraces and tables that spill out onto the street so you can view the changing colours of the sky. Try the new Mezepoli which, as the name suggests, offers up delicious meze platters, or the Paranga, which has floor to ceiling windows to take advantage of the view. So there you have it, my favourite spots to watch the sun set. Because no matter that it happens once a day, the ever-changing interplay between clouds, sky and sun means you can never tire of seeing the sun dip below the horizon, wherever you are in the world. Rajul Chande is Owner of London Hotels Insight. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.