Sunrise Calculator
Sunrise, sunset, solar noon and day length for any date, for ten major German cities or your own coordinates, shown in German time (CET/CEST).
Calculate sunrise and sunset for a location in Germany.
Note: These calculations are for informational purposes only and do not replace professional tax or financial advice. All information without guarantee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How are sunrise and sunset times determined?
Sunrise and sunset times depend on your geographic location (latitude and longitude), the date, and your time zone. They change daily due to the Earth's axial tilt and orbital position.
What is the shortest and longest day in Germany?
The shortest day (winter solstice) is around 21 December, with about 7 h 13 min between sunrise and sunset in Flensburg and about 8 h 21 min in Munich. The longest day (summer solstice) is around 21 June, with up to about 17 h 23 min on Sylt and about 16 h 4 min in Munich. The further north, the bigger the difference between summer and winter.
How accurate are the calculated sunrise and sunset times?
The calculator uses an astronomical approximation with the standard definition: sunrise is the moment the upper edge of the sun appears on the horizon (zenith angle 90.833°, which accounts for the sun's radius and atmospheric refraction). It assumes a clear, flat horizon; mountains, buildings or an elevated viewpoint shift the times you actually observe, and the values can also be off by a few minutes in general. Times are always given in German time (MEZ = UTC+1 or MESZ = UTC+2), even if you enter coordinates outside Germany.
Guide
What is the Sunrise Calculator?
The sunrise calculator computes sunrise, sunset, day length and solar noon for any date you choose – for one of ten major German cities or for any coordinates.
How does the Sunrise Calculator work?
Choose a date and one of the ten preset cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Hanover) or enter latitude and longitude in decimal degrees. Using an astronomical approximation, the calculator determines sunrise, sunset, day length and solar noon and shows the times in German time – CET (MEZ) or CEST (MESZ) depending on the date, including on the days the clocks change.
Key Data and Facts
Sunrise in Germany: between about 4:30 (mid-June in the north-east, Rügen; Berlin about 4:43) and about 8:51 (Sylt, around 1 January). Longest day (around 21 June): up to about 17 h 23 min (Sylt), about 16 h 4 min in Munich. Shortest day (around 21 December): about 7 h 13 min in Flensburg, about 8 h 21 min in Munich.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to use the sunrise calculator step by step: 1. Choose the date – today's date is filled in when the page opens. 2. Set the location – pick one of the ten preset cities or switch to "Enter coordinates" and type latitude and longitude in decimal degrees (e.g. 54.91 and 8.31 for Westerland on Sylt). There is no search by place name or postal code; any map app shows the coordinates of a place. 3. Read the result: sunrise, sunset, day length and solar noon (the midpoint between sunrise and sunset, when the sun is highest). The time zone (CET or CEST) follows the selected date. 4. What is measured: sunrise or sunset is the moment the upper edge of the sun appears on or disappears below a clear, flat horizon; atmospheric refraction is included. The calculator does not compute twilight times – it gets light before sunrise, and after sunset it takes a while until it is dark. 5. Seasons in Germany: around 21 June the day is longest – up to about 17 h 23 min on Sylt, about 16 h 50 min in Berlin and about 16 h 4 min in Munich. Around 21 December it is shortest – about 7 h 13 min in Flensburg, about 7 h 39 min in Berlin and about 8 h 21 min in Munich. 6. Location differences: in the north, day length varies more over the year than in the south. From east to west, solar noon shifts by 4 minutes per degree of longitude – in Görlitz the sun is highest a good 36 minutes earlier than in Selfkant on the Dutch border. Tip: for photographers the golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) is especially attractive.
Calculation Example
Berlin, 21 June 2026: sunrise approx. 4:43, sunset approx. 21:33, day length approx. 16 h 50 min. Berlin, 25 October 2026 (the day clocks go back to winter time): sunrise approx. 6:49, sunset approx. 16:51 CET, day length approx. 10 h 2 min.
Sources
Official sources
Calculations are based on applicable German laws and official data:
Full methodology at Methodology.
Reviewed by Konstantin Iakovlev · Last updated:
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