How to Find the Best Sunset Views

If you want to discover the best spots nearby to watch the sunset, then you need the Sunset Atlas. Choosing a good local spot to watch the sun disappear below the horizon can involve a fair amount of trial and error. Sunset Atlas takes some of the guesswork out of finding the perfect sunset viewpoint by mapping sunset viewing conditions across Europe.

The interactive map uses a colourful heatmap to show the quality of sunset views, with warmer colours indicating locations where the setting sun has a more unobstructed line of sight. You can click on the map to see the Sunset Score for any location, rated from 0 to 100. Or click on the 'Find Best Spots' button to instantly discover the highest-scoring sunset spots near your location.

The scores are calculated for every 30-by-30-metre grid cell using a combination of terrain, vegetation and spatial data. The map uses the Copernicus GLO-30 Digital Elevation Model to identify hills, valleys, ridges and other terrain that might obstruct the horizon. It also incorporates canopy-height and land-cover data to account for trees and other vegetation.

There are some limitations to the approach. A 30-metre grid inevitably smooths out some of the details you encounter on the ground. My favorite sunset location scores poorly on Sunset Atlas. I assume this is because of the nearby tree canopy, which, while it doesn't actually obscure the sunset, may affect the location's ranking.

It's also worth remembering that Sunset Atlas is measuring the view of the setting sun, rather than the quality of the scenery. My spectacular hilltop location overlooking London might receive a mediocre score because the sun itself disappears behind distant buildings rather than directly on the horizon.

If you're looking for somewhere to watch the next spectacular sunset, Sunset Atlas could be a useful place to start. Just remember that a map can tell you where the sun should be visible - you'll still have to decide whether the view is worth the walk. Unfortunately, the map currently only covers Europe, so if you live elsewhere you'll have to discover your own Sunset Point.