What time is sunset in Istanbul each month? Sunrise, sunset and the end of twilight in one table, plus how to turn those times into a dinner reservation.
When you plan an evening in Istanbul, the first question is usually the same: what time does the sun go down? The answer moves by almost two and a half hours across the year. In June a dinner can start in full daylight, while in December the same hour is already dark. The table below gives monthly values calculated for the Ulus and Etiler ridge, and the notes after it explain how to turn them into a dinner plan.
How the table was made
The values come from an astronomical calculation of the sun's position for the coordinates of Ulus Park, written for the 15th of each month. Times are in local time, UTC+3. Turkey does not change its clocks, so the table works in every month as it is.
It is an estimate rather than a measurement, and it assumes a clear, unobstructed horizon. In practice, the sun sets behind the viewer on the European side. From Ulus and Etiler you look east across the Bosphorus, so the sun disappears behind the western hills a few minutes before the time in the table, and what you see over the water is the light rather than the sun itself: warm color on the opposite shore and a changing tone on the water. Read the table as an approximate hour.
Sunset times in Istanbul by month
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | End of twilight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:27 | 18:00 | 18:30 |
| February | 07:59 | 18:38 | 19:06 |
| March | 07:16 | 19:10 | 19:38 |
| April | 06:25 | 19:44 | 20:12 |
| May | 05:46 | 20:15 | 20:46 |
| June | 05:31 | 20:38 | 21:12 |
| July | 05:44 | 20:35 | 21:07 |
| August | 06:13 | 20:03 | 20:32 |
| September | 06:44 | 19:13 | 19:41 |
| October | 07:15 | 18:24 | 18:51 |
| November | 07:51 | 17:45 | 18:15 |
| December | 08:22 | 17:36 | 18:07 |
The "end of twilight" column marks the moment when the sun is about six degrees below the horizon and the last glow has left the sky. The stretch between sunset and that moment is what photographers call the blue hour.
Three things the table shows
1. Day length changes by almost six hours. Around 21 June the day lasts about 15 hours 8 minutes; around 21 December about 9 hours 13 minutes. In June the sun rises at about 05:32 and sets at about 20:40. In December it rises at 08:25 and sets at 17:38.
2. The fastest drift is in autumn and early spring. Through June the sunset moves by only about 10 minutes. In September the gap between the first and the last day of the month is about 49 minutes, in October about 45, and in March about 33. In those months, "let's go at six" is a weaker plan than checking the sunset for the actual day.
3. The blue hour is always short. Across the year it stays between about 27 and 34 minutes. It is a little longer in summer and a little shorter in winter, but never close to an hour. If you want to watch it from your table, you have to time your seating around that narrow window.
Turning sunset into a dinner plan
A practical rule: sit down 45 to 60 minutes before sunset. That leaves time to order, to enjoy the first plates, and to be at the table when the light turns soft. Two seasonal examples:
- Summer (June–July). Sunset is around 20:30. If you sit at 19:30–19:45, the first half of dinner is still in daylight, and the bridge lights become noticeable after about 21:00. It is a long, slow evening.
- Winter (November–January). Sunset is between about 17:40 and 18:00. A typical dinner hour is already dark, so if you want light you need a reservation closer to 16:45–17:00. In return the air is often very clear and the bridge lights come on early.
For more on choosing a dinner hour, see our guide to the best sunset dinner in Istanbul.
Weather and visibility
The table assumes a cloudless sky. Real evenings differ in two ways:
- Cloud. Low cloud hides the sun before the table time and the light fades early. Broken cloud, on the other hand, often produces the most colorful sunsets.
- Haze and humidity. A light haze on a summer evening turns the sun orange or red. In cold, clear winter air the details on the far shore become sharp.
If your plan depends on the light, check the forecast on the day and keep your reservation time a few minutes flexible.
Using the sunrise column
The table includes sunrise because it matters for morning plans too. Looking east across the Bosphorus, the sun comes up over the Asian side. In June it rises at around 05:30, so by breakfast it is already high. In December it rises at around 08:25, and breakfast happens in low, warm light. For morning ideas, see our guide to Bosphorus view breakfast in Istanbul.
Three common mistakes
- Using a start-of-month time at the end of the month. In September, October and March, sunset moves by more than half an hour inside a single month.
- Confusing sunset with darkness. The sky stays light for about half an hour after the sun goes down. If you want to see the lights, count that half hour.
- Ignoring the weather. On an overcast day the light dies tens of minutes earlier than the table says.
A short note on photos
The last hour before sunset is the golden hour: warm light, long shadows. The half hour after is the blue hour. If you want a photograph with your dinner, set the reservation near the beginning of the golden hour. For tips on shooting through glass, read our guide to photographing the Bosphorus through glass.
At 7 Hills
7 Hills sits inside Ulus Park at Adnan Saygun Caddesi No: 71/B and describes itself as a 360° panoramic restaurant in Istanbul. Its floor-to-ceiling glass dining room looks over the Bosphorus and the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, whose lights are visible from the room through the evening. When you book, you can look up the month's sunset in the table above and ask for a time that fits it. You can preview the room in the gallery.
To reserve a table, call +90 533 373 91 34 or send a message on WhatsApp.
Questions
What time is sunset in Istanbul?
It depends on the month. Around 21 December the sun sets at about 17:38, and around 21 June at about 20:40. The table in this guide gives an approximate time for the 15th of every month.
Does Turkey change its clocks?
No. Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year, so there is no daylight saving switch and the times in the table can be used in every month without adjustment.
How long does the blue hour last?
Roughly 27 to 34 minutes after sunset. The sky turns deep blue and city lights come on, but the window is short and never approaches an hour.
Are these times exact?
No. They were calculated astronomically for the Ulus area and can be off by a few minutes. Cloud makes the light fade earlier than the table suggests.