For many travelers, Golden Hour is the highlight of the day: as the sun sets, the sky is bathed in warm hues and temperatures become more comfortable. A new Sunshine Hours Index shows where in the world you can enjoy these magical moments for the longest time.
Long summer evenings by the sea are a decisive factor for many vacationers when planning their trip. A current "Sunshine Hours Index" from the provider "Boat&Click" compares 40 popular coastal destinations in Europe and shows where the conditions for long summer days and intense golden hours are particularly good. The Mediterranean coast is therefore particularly predestined for enjoying unforgettable sunsets.
Both meteorological and tourist factors were included in the assessment, including hours of sunshine, rainy days, cloud cover, wind conditions at sunset and the time of day. The popularity of the beaches and the costs at the vacation destination were also taken into account. On this basis, each destination was given an overall rating from 0 to 100 points.
The Mediterranean region dominates the ranking and offers the best conditions for atmospheric evenings and long golden hour moments. Greece and Spain are particularly well represented, with several destinations in the top group.
Heraklion on Crete is at the top of the index. The decisive factors are the high sunshine duration in summer, hardly any cloud cover at sunset, well-rated beaches and the large number of travel ratings within the analysis. All in all, this is the best combination for intensive evening hours by the sea.
Antalya follows in second place. The Turkish coastal town impresses with many hours of sunshine, stable sunsets and comparatively low costs for gastronomy. This makes it one of the most attractive destinations for travelers looking for sunny evenings on a moderate budget.
Third place went to Ciutadella de Menorca. The destination benefits from long days of sunshine and very good beach ratings. It is also one of the cheapest places in the ranking.
1. Heraklion, Crete, Greece - 81.47/100
2. Antalya, Turkey - 74.37/100
3. Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain - 72.66/100
4. Zakynthos, Greece - 69.97/100
5th Faro, Algarve, Portugal - 68.77/100
6. Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain - 68.04/100
7th Ibiza, Spain - 67.91/100
8th Limassol, Cyprus - 67.41/100
9th St. Paul's Bay, Malta - 66.74/100
10th Mykonos, Greece - 65.63/100
