Lisbon golden hour: sunrise and sunset times by month

Light makes or breaks a photo, and Lisbon's light is famous — soft, warm and reflected off pale stone and the wide river. The best of it comes in two short windows every day: golden hour, just after sunrise and just before sunset, and blue hour, the deep-blue twilight after the sun has gone. Every session we plan starts from these times.

Sunrise, sunset and golden hour by month

Times are for the 15th of each month in central Lisbon, in local time. We calculate them from the sun's position for Lisbon's coordinates, and they shift by only a minute or two over a few days. Golden hour here means the sun is between 6° above and 4° below the horizon; blue hour is between 4° and 6° below.

Portugal's clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October, which is why April's sunset is so much later than March's.

Where to be for sunrise

• Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol — the sun comes up across the river over Alfama's rooftops, and the viewpoints are almost empty. Alfama guide.
• Praça do Comércio and Cais das Colunas — gold light on the water and the arch, and a square with nobody in it. Praça do Comércio guide.
• Senhora do Monte — busy at sunset, peaceful at dawn, with soft light across the city.

Where to be for sunset

• Senhora do Monte and Miradouro da Graça — the city and the castle in front of you, the sun going down beyond them. Senhora do Monte guide.
• São Pedro de Alcântara — you face east, so the castle and the Baixa glow in the last warm light.
• Belém and the MAAT roof — the river, the bridge and wide skies.
• Cascais and Cabo da Roca — the sun sinks straight into the Atlantic. Cascais guide.

What the seasons mean for your session

Summer: late sunsets, early sunrises

In June and July the sun sets around 21:00, so a sunset session runs into dinner time — plan a late reservation, as the Portuguese do. Sunrise is around 06:15 to 06:25, which is early but rewards you with empty streets and cool air.

Winter: easy sunrises

From November to January the sun rises around 07:20–07:55, which makes sunrise sessions surprisingly easy — you can be back at your hotel for breakfast. Sunsets come early, around 17:15–17:40.

Spring and autumn: the sweet spot

Comfortable temperatures, softer light and reasonable hours at both ends of the day. Unsurprisingly, these are the most popular months for proposals and couples sessions.

What about cloudy days?

Thin cloud is a gift: it softens the light and makes skin look beautiful all day long. Heavy cloud flattens the view but works well in the lanes and under the arcades. Only real rain changes the plan, and even then we have covered spots. If the whole day looks bad, we move your session to another day of your trip.

Month-by-month notes for photos

• January–February: low sun all day, soft light even at midday, sunrise around 07:30–07:55. The quietest months.
• March–April: clocks change at the end of March; spring showers bring dramatic skies and clean air.
• May–June: long evenings and warm light; sunsets after 20:40. Book sunset slots early.
• July–August: hot afternoons and hazy midday light — sunrise or the last hour before sunset only.
• September–October: our favourite light of the year: warm, golden and less crowded than summer.
• November–December: early sunsets around 17:15–17:25 and easy sunrises; festive lights in the Baixa in December.