Sun path · Paris
Sunrise & sunset direction in Paris
See which way the sun rises and sets in Paris, with the full arc showing elevation against compass direction. Dashed curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice for comparison.
Drag the timeline to see where the sun will be in the sky.
Sun path in Paris on Thu, Sep 24
The sun rises at 90°, E and sets at 270°, W in Paris, reaching a peak elevation of 41° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 5m, measured from sunrise to sunset.
The chart above plots the full arc of the sun across the sky. The horizontal axis is compass direction, the vertical axis is elevation. Dashed reference curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice so you can see how the arc shifts through the year.
Use the scrubber to walk through the day and read the sun's compass bearing and elevation at any moment. For photography, check which direction light will come from at your planned shoot time and whether your subject will be front-lit, side-lit or backlit.
Sunrise and sunset direction in Paris
Bearings are measured clockwise from north and calculated from the sun path for this location.
| Date | Sun rises | Sun sets |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 90°, E | 270°, W |
| June solstice | 52°, NE | 308°, NW |
| Equinox | 89°, E | 271°, W |
| December solstice | 126°, SE | 234°, SW |
Shooting the light in Paris
Paris is shaped for long sightlines: the Seine, formal gardens and broad avenues let low sun travel through a city that is otherwise tightly built. At this latitude summer evenings linger, while winter keeps the sun low across the southern sky and gives stone facades extended directional light.
The pale limestone reads differently at each end of the day—cool and quiet before sunrise, then warm when a clear western sky sends light along the river. Overcast days flatten the skyline but turn courtyards, arcades and street portraits into evenly lit subjects.
Where photographers go
Trocadéro
The raised terrace faces the Eiffel Tower across open space, strongest around dawn before the foreground fills.
Pont Alexandre III
The bridge offers long river views, gilded detail and several alignments toward the evening sky.
Arc de Triomphe terrace
A radial view down the avenues that makes the city’s geometry visible in late light and blue hour.
Île Saint-Louis quays
Low river-level angles catch reflected sky, bridges and warm light on the opposite stone embankments.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Paris?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun rises in Paris at 90°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Paris in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Paris at 234°, SW (southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Paris?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point in Paris.
