Today in Sofia, Bulgaria, the sun rises at 5:56 AM and sets at 9:08 PM, giving the city exactly 15h 11m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Sofia is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Sofia
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Sofia runs from N/A to 6:39 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 8:25 PM and lasts until 9:08 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Sofia sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Sofia falls exactly at 1:32 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 62.82 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces very high UV, typical of Sofia in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Sofia?
At Sofia's latitude of 42.6977028°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 409.30° (NE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Sofia are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 42.6977028, 23.3217359. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Sofia (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Sofia versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:56 AM | 9:08 PM | 15h 11m |
| 2025 | 5:57 AM | 9:08 PM | 15h 11m |
| 2021 | 5:57 AM | 9:08 PM | 15h 11m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Sofia today?
In Sofia, the sun rises at exactly 5:56 AM and sets at 9:08 PM today. This gives the city a total of 15h 11m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Sofia today?
Today, morning golden hour in Sofia runs from N/A to 6:39 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 8:25 PM and lasts until 9:04 PM.
Why does sunrise in Sofia shift every day?
At Sofia's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 409.30° (NE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Sofia at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:32 PM when the sun reaches 62.82. This produces very high UV, typical of Sofia in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Has the sunrise time in Sofia changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:57 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:57 AM.