Catching a glimpse of this beautiful natural phenomenon can set the tone for the rest of your day or night, but, as we already know, not all viewing spots are created equal.
Depending on where you’re sitting your experience can be entirely altered—the intensity of the sun’s glow along with the landmarks it illuminates can potentially be blocked, and you won’t be able to appreciate a colorful cotton candy sky if you have tall buildings standing in your way (ahem, NYC). So, have you ever wondered where in NYC is the best viewing spot?
Well, Mornings.co.uk did, and then they got to work on finding the answer.
Mornings.co.uk did an extensive TripAdvisor search for the best places to watch the sunrise and sunset around the world. By searching “things to do” and using the keywords “sunrise” and sunset,” they gathered together the places that had the highest number of mentions of these keywords, and then compiled a list of the best places to get a front row seat to the show out of every country and US state, and the results are in!
When it came to waking up with the birds to catch the sunrise, mountains, lakes, and national parks made up many of the world’s best locations, but here in the Concrete Jungle The Empire State Building took the crown for the best spot to view the sunrise, and it was the highest-rated sunrise viewing spot on a built landscape out of the states.
Rumor has it that the 86th floor boasts the most stunning sunrise experience as the sun reflects off every Manhattan building on its way up.
Beaches, boardwalks, and bridges offer wide horizons, giving you the perfect opportunity to angle yourself towards the west and catch a glowing red sky before settling down for the night. However, in New York City it’s suggested you head to Top of the Rock for the best sunset viewing.
Top of the Rock came in 2nd for being the best sunset viewing spot in the states behind Mallory Square, a waterfront plaza in Key West, Florida that hosts a nightly sunset celebration.
If you’re interested in finding out what other spots made the list, you can view the results on their website. And though New York City didn’t actually come in at the number one spot, watching the sunrise or sunset with the city skyline as a backdrop definitely makes it the number one viewing spot in our hearts.