I’ve been in Greece for about a month now and so it is time to put together my top 5 locations to watch the sun go down in Greece. I made it almost a daily tradition to find a good spot to watch the sunset and if you are in Athens or visiting the Cyclades islands then you simply must observe at least one sunset!
In at number 5 is the first of two Mykonos entries.
5. Venetian Castle, Milos
At number 5 is the Venetian Castle in Milos. This 13th century castle is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over Milos Island, I recommend going to the West side for the best views, here you have the Church as the backdrop and you can also see Antimilos island in the distance too.
A strong number 4 is Naxos.
4. Temple of Apollo, Naxos
It could only have been the iconic Temple of Apollo, the most famous landmark on the island. Situated on a hill, it offers views of the island on one side and the Aegean on the other with nearby Cyclades islands in view, such as Paros.
It really is a spectacular sunset to watch, you can take a seat like I did and watch the sunset over sea or you can walk around the Temple of Apollo and watch the sunset with the temple as the backdrop. If you are more proficient than me, you might even be able to get a decent panoramic picture containing the Temple and the sun setting across the horizon.
The second of the Mykonos entries comes in at No.3.
3. Little Venice, Mykonos
A little further on from the Windmills is another excellent spot to watch the sun go down. If you time it right, the view of the sun melting into the Aegean Sea is unparalleled. The whole vista is simply stunning.
No2 spot goes to Santorini (unsurprisingly)
2. Fira, Santorini
A good sunset is not defined by the angle of the sun, or time of the season, but by the backdrop and there is no better place in Greece than Santorini with the whitewashed buildings high on the caldera and iconic blue domed churched. I was unfortunate that whilst I stayed here almost every evening was cloudy so the sunsets were hazy at best. There are quite a few places good sunset locations on this island, not least Oia which is famed for it and there even restaurants that offer sunset dinners - wrap up warm is my advice!
My best shot was in Fira, it was less than ideal conditions but it is still very impressive
And Number 1 is…
1 . Deme of Melite, Athens
It may come as a surprise to choose Athens over the Cyclades islands, but the spot I found was really quite spectacular, not just for the 360° panoramic views but because it was high up on hill where there was perfect calm and serenity - this exactly what you need if you have spent a busy day in Athens. The hill is a short walk from the Acropolis and Parthenon so you have ancient history, natural landscapes and the daily phenomenon of a sunset combined in this perfect spot.
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