Sunrise and Sunset in Rome: Times by Month, Golden Hour and the Best Spots
In Rome the sun rises between 5:34 in June and 7:35 in January, and sets between 16:40 in December and 20:46 in June. Here are the times for every month, when golden hour falls, and where to be for each: we plan every photoshoot around this light, so these are the spots we actually use.
In this guide
Sunrise and sunset times in Rome by month
Times for the 15th of each month in central Rome, local time. At the start or end of a month, add or subtract up to about 20 minutes.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Evening golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:35 | 17:02 | 16:19–17:02 |
| February | 7:07 | 17:41 | 17:02–17:41 |
| March | 6:24 | 18:15 | 17:38–18:15 |
| April | 6:31 | 19:49 | 19:12–19:49 |
| May | 5:50 | 20:22 | 19:42–20:22 |
| June | 5:34 | 20:46 | 20:04–20:46 |
| July | 5:47 | 20:45 | 20:03–20:45 |
| August | 6:17 | 20:13 | 19:34–20:13 |
| September | 6:49 | 19:22 | 18:45–19:22 |
| October | 7:21 | 18:30 | 17:53–18:30 |
| November | 6:59 | 16:51 | 16:09–16:51 |
| December | 7:30 | 16:40 | 15:55–16:40 |
Summer time runs from 29 March to 25 October 2026, which is why sunrise jumps later between March and April.
When is golden hour in Rome?
Golden hour is the time when the sun is low, less than about six degrees above the horizon, and the light turns warm and soft. In Rome it lasts around 40 minutes after sunrise and 40 minutes before sunset, a little longer in winter.
Right after sunset comes blue hour: about 30 minutes when the sky turns deep blue and the city’s lights come on. It is the best time to photograph the Colosseum with its arches lit.
Why sunrise is the best time in Rome
Not only for the light. At sunrise the most famous places in Rome are nearly empty, which is almost impossible later in the day. On a May morning we were at the Trevi Fountain at 7:13 and at the Colosseum at 7:37, and we had both almost to ourselves.
There is a practical reason too: the area by the water at the Trevi Fountain is free until 9:00, and needs a €2 ticket after that (Trevi tickets and hours).
Where to watch the sunrise in Rome
The Trevi Fountain
Soft, even light and the basin almost to yourself. By 10am there are rows of people in front of it.
The Colosseum
The road beside it and the terrace above it are nearly empty early. The Colosseum itself opens at 8:30, so the outside is quiet until then.
Ponte Sant’Angelo
Bernini’s angels, the castle and the Tiber, with hardly anyone on the bridge in the first hours of the day.
The Spanish Steps
Empty before about 9am, with Trinità dei Monti at the top. More in our Spanish Steps guide.
Want photos of the two of you here? A Rome photographer plans the route around the crowds and directs you from the first minute. See Rome photoshoots
Where to watch the sunset in Rome
The Pincio terrace
Above Piazza del Popolo, facing west towards the dome of St Peter’s. A ten-minute walk from the top of the Spanish Steps.
The Orange Garden on the Aventine
A small park of orange trees with a terrace over the Tiber and the rooftops, looking towards St Peter’s. Nearby is the famous Aventine keyhole.
The Janiculum Hill
One of the widest panoramas of Rome, on the hill above Trastevere, with the domes and rooftops spread out below.
The Colosseum at golden hour and blue hour
The stone turns gold in the last hour of light, and the arches are lit soon after sunset. We often photograph here from golden hour into blue hour.
A sunrise or sunset photoshoot in Rome
Most of our sessions start around sunrise, and early starts cost the same. Sunset sessions work well from October to April, when the heat is gone and the evening light is long. See our prices and Colosseum photoshoot.
Rome at first light, without the crowds
From €180 · sunrise starts at no extra cost · 24/7 WhatsApp support
Sunrise and sunset in Rome: questions
What time is sunrise in Rome?
Between 5:34 in mid-June and 7:35 in mid-January. In spring and autumn it is around 6:30 to 7:20.
What time is sunset in Rome?
Between 16:40 in mid-December and 20:46 in mid-June. In September it is around 19:20, in October around 18:30.
When is golden hour in Rome?
About 40 minutes after sunrise and 40 minutes before sunset. In June the evening golden hour runs from about 20:05 to 20:45; in December from about 15:55 to 16:40.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Rome?
The Pincio terrace, the Orange Garden on the Aventine and the Janiculum Hill all face west over the city. For photos with a monument, the Colosseum at golden hour and blue hour.
Is it worth getting up for sunrise in Rome?
Yes, if you want the famous places without crowds. The Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum are nearly empty before 8am, and the light is soft.
Times calculated for central Rome (41.90° N, 12.50° E) for the 15th of each month in 2026, rounded to the minute. Golden hour is taken as the sun below 6° above the horizon.
