Golden Hour City

Solar almanac · 2026-11-02 · United Kingdom

Golden hour in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

55.9533° N
3.1883° W
Europe/London

Times shown in local time for Edinburgh (Europe/London).

Golden hour & blue hour

WindowStartsEnds
Blue hour (morning)05:5706:41
Golden hour (morning)07:2108:19
Golden hour (evening)15:3216:30
Blue hour (evening)17:1017:54

Light profile · calculated

Golden hour in Edinburgh through the year

Midsummer
64 min
Equinox
49 min
Midwinter
79 min

Length of the evening golden-hour window.

Edinburgh lies at 55.95° N, in the high latitudes, where summer evenings stretch and winter days are brief. Its longest measured day falls on Sat 20 June 2026 with 17h 37m of daylight, and its shortest on Fri 18 December 2026 with 6h 58m — a difference of 10h 39m between the two extremes.

Evening golden hour in Edinburgh runs for roughly 64 minutes at the height of summer, 49 minutes around the March equinox and 79 minutes at midwinter. The warm window is actually widest in the colder months, which makes winter evenings unusually forgiving here.

The sun sets toward 317° NW in late June and toward 226° SW in late December, a shift of about 91° in where the last light lands — worth checking before committing to a west-facing viewpoint. In Edinburgh, around midsummer the sky never reaches full darkness — evening blue hour runs into morning twilight.

Field notes for photographers

Where to shoot golden hour in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s northern latitude and volcanic hills create dramatic seasonal changes in both day length and sun angle. The Old Town ridge, castle and Firth of Forth can appear together from several elevated public paths.

  1. 01

    Calton Hill

    Best for both

    Use the National Monument columns as a frame for the castle and Old Town skyline.

    Sun rises
    116° ESE
    Sun sets
    244° WSW
  2. 02

    Arthur’s Seat

    Best for sunrise

    Shoot wide from the summit area to connect the city, Salisbury Crags and the sea.

    Sun rises
    116° ESE
    Sun sets
    244° WSW
  3. 03

    Vennel Viewpoint

    Best for sunset

    Use the steps and walls as converging lines toward Edinburgh Castle.

    Sun rises
    116° ESE
    Sun sets
    244° WSW

Seasonal light. Summer produces very long evenings and extended twilight; winter offers brief, low-angle light and long shadows across the stone city.

Today’s solar record

−4 min/day

Sunrise
07:21

rises at 116° ESE

Sunset
16:30

sets at 244° WSW

Solar noon
11:56
Day length
9h 09m

Evening golden hour starts at 15:32

Add to calendar

Solar trajectory

Maximum 19°
07:2119° at 11:5616:30
East · sunriseHighest point of the sun today: 19° above the horizon. The shaded band near the horizon is golden-hour light.West · sunset

Twenty-four hours of light

07:21Sunrise11:56Solar noon16:30Sunset
NightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Next 7 days

DateSunriseSunsetDay length
2026-11-0207:2116:309h 09m
2026-11-0307:2316:289h 04m
2026-11-0407:2516:269h 00m
2026-11-0507:2716:238h 56m
2026-11-0607:3016:218h 52m
2026-11-0707:3216:198h 48m
2026-11-0807:3416:178h 44m

Annual light rhythm · Edinburgh

7h 00m—17h 34m
JFMAMJJASOND
Longest days in June (17h 34m), shortest in December (7h 00m).

Questions

When is golden hour in Edinburgh today?
Evening golden hour in Edinburgh starts at 15:32 and ends at sunset, 16:30. Morning golden hour runs from sunrise, 07:21, until 08:19 local time (Europe/London).
How long does golden hour last in Edinburgh?
Evening golden hour in Edinburgh runs from 15:32 to 16:30, and morning golden hour from 07:21 to 08:19.
When is blue hour in Edinburgh?
Morning blue hour in Edinburgh begins at 05:57, before sunrise. Evening blue hour begins at 17:10, just after sunset.
What time is sunrise in Edinburgh today?
Sunrise in Edinburgh is at 07:21 local time (Europe/London), rising toward 116° ESE.
What time is sunset in Edinburgh today?
Sunset in Edinburgh is at 16:30 local time (Europe/London), setting toward 244° WSW.
How long is the day in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has 9h 09m of daylight today.

Other views for Edinburgh

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