Today in Istanbul, Turkey, the sun rises at 6:20 AM and sets at 7:56 PM, giving the city exactly 13h 35m of daylight. That is 3 minutes shorter than yesterday—losing 3 minutes of daylight each day. With 122 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Istanbul is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Istanbul
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Istanbul runs from N/A to 6:58 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:19 PM and lasts until 7:56 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Istanbul sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Istanbul falls exactly at 1:08 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 52.10 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces very high UV, typical of Istanbul in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Istanbul?
At Istanbul's latitude of 41.006381°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 48.53° (NE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Istanbul are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 41.006381, 28.9758715. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Istanbul (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 Istanbul versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:20 AM | 7:56 PM | 13h 35m |
| 2025 | 6:21 AM | 7:56 PM | 13h 35m |
| 2021 | 6:21 AM | 7:56 PM | 13h 35m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Istanbul today?
In Istanbul, the sun rises at exactly 6:20 AM and sets at 7:56 PM today. This gives the city a total of 13h 35m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Istanbul today?
Today, morning golden hour in Istanbul runs from N/A to 6:58 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:19 PM and lasts until 7:53 PM.
Why does sunrise in Istanbul shift every day?
At Istanbul's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 48.53° (NE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is losing 3 minutes of daylight each day until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Istanbul at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:08 PM when the sun reaches 52.10. This produces very high UV, typical of Istanbul in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Has the sunrise time in Istanbul 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 6:21 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 6:21 AM.