The Holiday and Travel Magazine

Exciting News! The readership of this Magazine has recently passed 10 million. An innovative new way of promoting tourism in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales in Australia, selected Australian cities and featured overseas countries. Featuring MICE and Corporate Travel news, destinations, hotels, musicals and events. On the right hand side of the page you will find an index of articles by date, by world location, and by popularity. Happy reading!

Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Study Reveals the Best Cities for Sunrises: Australia Takes the Top Two Spots

Bondi Beach, Sydney

International tourism has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, and as more travelers search for their next adventure, one question remains: where can you wake up to the most stunning sunrise?

To find out, MattressOnline analyzed air quality (AQI), sunshine hours, and social media engagement to determine the best places in the world to wake up. The results? Australia takes the lead, with Sydney and Melbourne ranking first and second, proving that the country offers some of the most breathtaking mornings on the planet.

Key findings:

Australia takes the top two spots, with Sydney and Melbourne leading as the best cities to wake up in.
Both cities also have the cleanest air, boasting the lowest AQI in the ranking.
Sydney tops Instagram for sunrise posts with 123,306, over three times more than second place Miami (37,925).

The best cities to wake up in:

1st Place: Sydney, Australia

Sydney takes the crown as the best city to wake up in. With a scenic sunrise score of 9.40/10, the city's AQI stands at an impressive 14, making it the second cleanest in the ranking, ensuring clear skies to witness the dawn. Sydney also enjoys 2,468 average sunshine hours per year, significantly more than Taipei’s 1,374 hours.

However, Sydney truly sets itself apart with its overwhelming presence on social media. The city boasts 123,306 Instagram posts dedicated to its sunrises, a staggering 85,381 more than Miami, which comes in second. Additionally, the Emerald City surpasses even Dubai in Google searches related to sunrises, with an average of 51,100 monthly searches for terms like "sunrise in Sydney" and "Sydney sunrise spots." With its golden beaches and scenic waterfronts, it’s no surprise that Sydney claims the top spot as the best city to wake up in.

2nd Place: Melbourne, Australia

Australia dominates the ranking, with Melbourne securing second place. With a scenic sunrise score of 9.17/10, the city boasts the lowest AQI in the study at just 9, ensuring exceptionally clean air to enjoy sunrise views. Melbourne also benefits from 2,363 average yearly sunshine hours, slightly less than Sydney.

On social media, Melbourne holds its own with 13,469 Instagram posts dedicated to its sunrises, placing it fifth in this category, ahead of Dubai and Paris. In terms of Google searches, Melbourne records 50,200 monthly searches, just 900 fewer than Sydney. Top sunrise spots include the Twelve Apostles and St Kilda Beach, where visitors can witness the first light of day over stunning coastal landscapes.

3rd Place (tied) : Miami, USA and Toronto, Canada

Miami and Toronto share the third spot in the ranking, each offering a breathtaking sunrise experience in their own way. Toronto edges ahead in air quality with an AQI of just 19 compared to Miami’s 22, making it one of the cleaner cities for sunrise viewing. However, Miami makes up for it with significantly more sunshine, averaging 3,154 hours per year, placing it fourth in this category, behind Las Vegas, Dubai, and Los Angeles, while Toronto ranks 19th with 2,066 hours.

Both cities stand out on social media, with Miami ranking second for Instagram sunrise posts (37,925 hashtags, including #MiamiSunrise), while Toronto follows in fourth place with 14,451 posts. Toronto, however, has a stronger search interest, placing fourth for Google searches with 50,200 average monthly queries, compared to Miami’s 17th place with 5,050 searches.

For those seeking a stunning sunrise to wake up to, Miami’s South Pointe Park offers an incredible view over the Atlantic, while Toronto’s Humber River and Don River provide picturesque spots to watch the city wake up.

Last Place: Frankfurt, Germany

At the bottom of the ranking, Frankfurt am Main struggles to impress sunrise enthusiasts with a scenic sunrise score of 3.82/10. The city has a high AQI of 69, meaning pollution can often obscure the morning sky. It also receives just 1,662 yearly sunshine hours, ranking 34th between Prague and Amsterdam.

Despite its stunning cityscape, Frankfurt has only 276 Instagram posts dedicated to its sunrises, with only Zurich and Taipei recording lower numbers. Additionally, the city ranks last in Google searches for sunrise-related terms, with an average of just 50 monthly searches. While Frankfurt may not be the top destination for sunrise lovers, its skyline might offer better opportunities for sunset viewing.