Golden Hour City

Solar almanac · 2026-11-02 · Brazil

Golden hour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

22.9068° S
43.1729° W
America/Sao_Paulo

Times shown in local time for Rio de Janeiro (America/Sao_Paulo).

Golden hour & blue hour

WindowStartsEnds
Blue hour (morning)04:1504:43
Golden hour (morning)05:0605:37
Golden hour (evening)17:3518:05
Blue hour (evening)18:2918:57

Light profile · calculated

Golden hour in Rio de Janeiro through the year

Midsummer
33 min
Equinox
30 min
Midwinter
33 min

Length of the evening golden-hour window.

Rio de Janeiro lies at 22.91° S, in the tropics, where the sun climbs steeply and sets fast. Its longest measured day falls on Fri 18 December 2026 with 13h 33m of daylight, and its shortest on Thu 18 June 2026 with 10h 44m — a difference of 2h 49m between the two extremes.

Evening golden hour in Rio de Janeiro runs for roughly 33 minutes at the height of summer, 30 minutes around the March equinox and 33 minutes at midwinter. The warm window is at its most generous in summer, so summer shoots allow more time to work a location.

The sun sets toward 295° WNW in late June and toward 244° WSW in late December, a shift of about 51° in where the last light lands — worth checking before committing to a west-facing viewpoint. In Rio de Janeiro, the sky reaches full darkness between evening and morning twilight year-round.

Field notes for photographers

Where to shoot golden hour in Rio de Janeiro

Rio’s granite peaks, Atlantic beaches and dense neighborhoods create dramatic elevation changes within a small area. Warm light can rake across mountains while bays and lagoons hold broad reflections.

  1. 01

    Corcovado Viewpoint

    Best for sunrise

    Use the high viewpoint to separate Sugarloaf, bays and beach districts into distinct layers.

    Sun rises
    106° ESE
    Sun sets
    253° WSW
  2. 02

    Sugarloaf Mountain

    Best for sunset

    Frame Guanabara Bay between the mountain slopes for depth and scale.

    Sun rises
    106° ESE
    Sun sets
    253° WSW
  3. 03

    Mirante Dona Marta

    Best for both

    Use a medium lens for a tighter relationship between Sugarloaf and the city below.

    Sun rises
    106° ESE
    Sun sets
    253° WSW

Seasonal light. Southern summer brings longer days and later coastal light; winter shortens sessions slightly and often gives a lower, clearer sun path.

Today’s solar record

+1 min/day

Sunrise
05:06

rises at 106° ESE

Sunset
18:05

sets at 253° WSW

Solar noon
11:36
Day length
12h 59m

Evening golden hour starts at 17:35

Add to calendar

Solar trajectory

Maximum 82°
05:0682° at 11:3618:05
East · sunriseHighest point of the sun today: 82° above the horizon. The shaded band near the horizon is golden-hour light.West · sunset

Twenty-four hours of light

05:06Sunrise11:36Solar noon18:05Sunset
NightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Next 7 days

DateSunriseSunsetDay length
2026-11-0205:0618:0512h 59m
2026-11-0305:0618:0613h 00m
2026-11-0405:0518:0713h 01m
2026-11-0505:0518:0713h 03m
2026-11-0605:0418:0813h 04m
2026-11-0705:0418:0813h 05m
2026-11-0805:0318:0913h 06m

Annual light rhythm · Rio de Janeiro

10h 44m—13h 32m
JFMAMJJASOND
Longest days in December (13h 32m), shortest in June (10h 44m).

Questions

When is golden hour in Rio de Janeiro today?
Evening golden hour in Rio de Janeiro starts at 17:35 and ends at sunset, 18:05. Morning golden hour runs from sunrise, 05:06, until 05:37 local time (America/Sao_Paulo).
How long does golden hour last in Rio de Janeiro?
Evening golden hour in Rio de Janeiro runs from 17:35 to 18:05, and morning golden hour from 05:06 to 05:37.
When is blue hour in Rio de Janeiro?
Morning blue hour in Rio de Janeiro begins at 04:15, before sunrise. Evening blue hour begins at 18:29, just after sunset.
What time is sunrise in Rio de Janeiro today?
Sunrise in Rio de Janeiro is at 05:06 local time (America/Sao_Paulo), rising toward 106° ESE.
What time is sunset in Rio de Janeiro today?
Sunset in Rio de Janeiro is at 18:05 local time (America/Sao_Paulo), setting toward 253° WSW.
How long is the day in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has 12h 59m of daylight today.

Other views for Rio de Janeiro

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