Cities with the Shortest Days in Winter
Winter at high latitudes means short days but exceptional photography conditions. When the sun barely rises above the horizon, the entire day becomes golden hour. Cities with 7 to 8 hours of winter daylight see perpetual warm, low-angle light, making every hour ideal for photography.
City Comparison: Today's Times
| City | Country | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik | Iceland | 08:20 | 19:00 | 10h 41m |
| Helsinki | Finland | 07:06 | 17:59 | 10h 53m |
| Saint Petersburg | Russia | 07:44 | 18:38 | 10h 53m |
| Oslo | Norway | 07:02 | 17:56 | 10h 54m |
| Tallinn | Estonia | 07:06 | 18:01 | 10h 55m |
| Stockholm | Sweden | 06:32 | 17:28 | 10h 55m |
| Perm | Russia | 07:58 | 18:56 | 10h 58m |
| Tyumen | Russia | 07:20 | 18:20 | 11h 00m |
| Riga | Latvia | 07:05 | 18:06 | 11h 01m |
| Yekaterinburg | Russia | 07:39 | 18:40 | 11h 01m |
| Tomsk | Russia | 08:02 | 19:03 | 11h 01m |
| Nizhny Novgorod | Russia | 06:45 | 17:48 | 11h 02m |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which city has the shortest days in winter?
- Above the Arctic Circle, cities like Tromso experience polar night (no sunrise) for weeks in winter. Among major cities, Reykjavik, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, and Edinburgh have the shortest winter days, around 5 to 7 hours.
- Is winter good for photography?
- Yes. Winter at high latitudes creates all-day golden hour conditions. With the sun low in the sky from morning to evening, the light is always warm and directional, ideal for landscape and portrait photography.
- What is polar night?
- Polar night occurs above the Arctic Circle in winter when the sun never rises above the horizon. It lasts from a few days near the Arctic Circle to months near the pole.