Sun path · Santorini
Sunrise & sunset direction in Santorini
See which way the sun rises and sets in Santorini, 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 Santorini on Thu, Sep 24
The sun rises at 90°, E and sets at 270°, W in Santorini, reaching a peak elevation of 53° 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 Santorini
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 | 60°, ENE | 300°, WNW |
| Equinox | 90°, E | 271°, W |
| December solstice | 119°, ESE | 241°, WSW |
Shooting the light in Santorini
Santorini’s western caldera rim is built for backlight: white villages sit high above open water with the evening sun beyond them. The eastern shore supplies the reverse view at dawn, when light reaches dark volcanic beaches and the outer slopes before the caldera lanes brighten.
The white walls act as reflectors, carrying warm low sun into alleys that have already fallen into shade. In the dry season the horizon is often clean; haze over the Aegean softens contrast and can turn the sun into a defined disk near the water.
Where photographers go
Oia Castle
The familiar westward view layers cliff houses, windmills and the sunset beyond the caldera rim.
Imerovigli
A higher, less compressed caldera view with Skaros Rock as a strong sunset foreground.
Akrotiri Lighthouse
The southwestern tip provides an open sea horizon and a view back along the island’s cliffs.
Kamari Beach
The east-facing volcanic shore receives direct sunrise, with Mesa Vouno closing the southern end.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Santorini?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun rises in Santorini at 90°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Santorini in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Santorini at 241°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Santorini?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point in Santorini.
