Sunset Time in Svalbard Today

Sunset & Daylight Patterns Specific to Svalbard

Svalbard sits at 78.2° N in the polar zone. It is autumn there now, and the sun currently spends 7 hours above the horizon each day.

Sunsets are latest in June around the summer solstice and earliest in December. Near the solstices, the sunset time barely shifts day to day; near the equinoxes (March, September), it moves up to 2 minutes per day. Svalbard swings 24 hours between its longest and shortest day (24 h versus 0 h). Today gives you 7 hours, which is the hard ceiling on any outdoor plan regardless of how good the forecast looks.

Golden hour in Svalbard runs roughly 281 minutes today — the shallow approach angle at 78.2° holds the sun near the horizon long enough to work several compositions in one session.

The most photogenic sunset conditions in Svalbard come in April, May, June, when the atmosphere is clearest and high-pressure systems push cloud layers away from the western horizon. During Svalbard's "polar twilight" in February-March, the entire day exists in a perpetual golden-blue hour — the sun barely skims the horizon, bathing glaciers and mountains in warm light for hours.

Civil twilight at Svalbard's latitude lasts approximately 113 minutes after the sun drops below the horizon — this is the "blue hour" window of soft, diffused light that photographers prize above all others. At 78.2°, this window is unusually generous compared to lower-latitude cities, stretching the usable shooting window significantly.

Sun & Moon Times in Svalbard

Sunset timing in Svalbard is driven by latitude and season. We apply atmospheric refraction corrections for accuracy within one minute. Golden hour begins roughly 60 minutes before sunset — the most valuable window for photography, outdoor dining, and evening walks.

Sunset in Svalbard shifts by several minutes each week. Summer evenings are longest, winter sunsets arrive earliest. Cloud cover near the horizon does not change the sunset time itself, though it can hide the sun a few minutes early and often produces the most dramatic color displays.

For the best sunset experience, arrive at your viewing spot 30 minutes before the listed time. Conditions can shift — check again on the day itself.

What Determines Sunset Time?

Sunset time in Svalbard is determined by the city's latitude, longitude, and the time of year. During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to take a longer path across the sky, resulting in later sunsets. In winter, the opposite occurs — shorter days mean earlier sunsets. Near the equinoxes (March and September), sunset times change most rapidly, shifting by 2–3 minutes per day. At Svalbard's latitude, the difference between the earliest and latest sunset can be several hours across the year. Our daily calculations use precise astronomical data to give you the exact sunset time accurate to the minute.