Florida has the sunshine and Hawaii has the rainbows, but when it comes to the best place to watch the day end, a panel of experts says California wins. Santa Monica, the beachside enclave in Los Angeles County, has been ranked the top city in the United States for sunsets — and the second best on the planet.

The ranking comes from European photo-printing company Cewe, working with award-winning travel photographer and blogger Bella Falk, who compiled a global list of the top ten sunset and sunrise spots. Judged on visual impact and photography potential, Santa Monica landed just behind Paphos in Cyprus, a UNESCO World Heritage site that took the world crown. Third place went to Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, whose glowing savanna sundowns are counted among the New Seven Wonders of the World.

There's real science behind Southern California's nightly light show. As sunlight filters through water and airborne particles above the vast Pacific, shorter wavelengths scatter away, leaving the longer ones to drench the sky in pink, purple and amber. With roughly 280 days of sunshine a year, Santa Monica gives you plenty of chances to catch it — one visitor on Reddit described a first LA sunset as an "almost spiritual experience."

You don't need a secret spot to enjoy it, either. The Santa Monica Pier is the classic choice: arrive early to enjoy the amusement park — the only one on a West Coast pier — then walk out past the Ferris wheel for a full panorama as the sun drops into the ocean. Right next door, Santa Monica State Beach offers 3.5 miles of golden sand, best enjoyed with a blanket and a jacket, since it cools down fast once the light goes.

For a loftier vantage, head up to Palisades Park, a 26-acre strip of greenery along Ocean Avenue at the top of the bluffs, laced with walking paths, public art and ocean-facing benches. And if you'd rather watch with a drink in hand, two local institutions deliver. The Penthouse, on the rooftop of the Huntley Hotel, wraps its dining room in windows with 360-degree views, while The Lobster has been serving seafood beside the pier since 1923. Both run happy hour until 6 p.m., which lines up neatly with winter's earlier and often most dramatic sunsets.

For travellers, this is an easy win: Santa Monica pairs a world-class golden hour with walkable beaches, food and hotels all within a few blocks. Timing matters — winter evenings offer the richest colours and the earliest shows, while summer lets you linger on the sand well past eight. Either way, bring a layer and get there before the sky does its thing.