Golden hour · Costa Blanca · Light for photography
Golden hour in Cartagena
Golden hour is the time just after sunrise and before sunset, when the sun is low and the light is warm and soft. Here are today's times in Cartagena, tonight's cloud forecast and the calendar for the whole year. It's what we use to plan our photo and video shoots on the Costa Blanca.
Today in Cartagena
Working out today's times…
Golden hour calendar for Cartagena
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour · morning | Golden hour · evening | Sunset | Blue hour · evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September | 07:35 | 07:18–08:08 | 19:59–20:49 | 20:34 | 20:50–21:00 |
| 15 September | 07:46 | 07:30–08:20 | 19:38–20:28 | 20:12 | 20:29–20:38 |
| 1 October | 08:00 | 07:44–08:34 | 19:13–20:03 | 19:48 | 20:04–20:13 |
| 15 October | 08:13 | 07:56–08:47 | 18:52–19:43 | 19:27 | 19:44–19:53 |
| 1 November | 07:29 | 07:13–08:05 | 17:29–18:22 | 18:06 | 18:23–18:32 |
| 15 November | 07:44 | 07:27–08:22 | 17:15–18:10 | 17:54 | 18:11–18:20 |
| 1 December | 08:01 | 07:43–08:40 | 17:06–18:03 | 17:46 | 18:04–18:14 |
| 15 December | 08:12 | 07:54–08:52 | 17:06–18:04 | 17:47 | 18:05–18:15 |
| 1 January 2027 | 08:19 | 08:01–08:59 | 17:16–18:14 | 17:57 | 18:15–18:25 |
| 15 January 2027 | 08:18 | 08:01–08:57 | 17:30–18:26 | 18:09 | 18:27–18:37 |
| 1 February 2027 | 08:08 | 07:51–08:45 | 17:50–18:44 | 18:28 | 18:45–18:55 |
| 15 February 2027 | 07:54 | 07:38–08:30 | 18:07–18:59 | 18:43 | 19:00–19:09 |
| 1 March 2027 | 07:36 | 07:20–08:11 | 18:23–19:13 | 18:58 | 19:14–19:23 |
| 15 March 2027 | 07:16 | 07:00–07:50 | 18:37–19:26 | 19:11 | 19:27–19:36 |
| 1 April 2027 | 07:50 | 07:34–08:24 | 19:52–20:42 | 20:27 | 20:43–20:52 |
| 15 April 2027 | 07:30 | 07:14–08:04 | 20:05–20:55 | 20:40 | 20:56–21:06 |
| 1 May 2027 | 07:09 | 06:52–07:45 | 20:18–21:11 | 20:54 | 21:12–21:22 |
| 15 May 2027 | 06:55 | 06:38–07:32 | 20:30–21:24 | 21:07 | 21:25–21:35 |
| 1 June 2027 | 06:45 | 06:26–07:22 | 20:42–21:38 | 21:20 | 21:39–21:50 |
| 15 June 2027 | 06:42 | 06:24–07:21 | 20:48–21:45 | 21:28 | 21:46–21:58 |
| 1 July 2027 | 06:47 | 06:28–07:25 | 20:51–21:48 | 21:30 | 21:49–22:00 |
| 15 July 2027 | 06:55 | 06:36–07:32 | 20:48–21:43 | 21:26 | 21:44–21:55 |
| 1 August 2027 | 07:08 | 06:50–07:44 | 20:36–21:30 | 21:13 | 21:31–21:41 |
| 15 August 2027 | 07:20 | 07:03–07:55 | 20:22–21:13 | 20:58 | 21:14–21:24 |
Local time in mainland Spain, including summer time. Calculated for the centre of Cartagena; on the coast or up high it can differ by a minute or two.
The light in Cartagena
- The Roman theatre and the harbour at sunset; coastal batteries such as Castillitos for sea views from above.
- The Costa Blanca faces east: the sun rises over the sea. For shots with the sun on the water, mornings beat evenings.
- In the evening the sun sets inland, so the golden light falls straight onto the coast, the buildings and people's faces.
- Thin high clouds usually give the most beautiful sky; low, thick cloud switches it off.
Frequently asked questions
What is golden hour?
The time when the sun is between about 6° above the horizon and 4° below it. The light comes from the side, warm and soft, with no harsh shadows on faces.
How long does golden hour last in Cartagena?
In the evening, between 50 and 59 minutes depending on the season: shortest near the equinoxes, longest in midsummer and midwinter.
What is blue hour?
Right after golden hour, with the sun between 4° and 6° below the horizon. In Cartagena it lasts about 11 minutes and is the best time to photograph houses with the lights on.
What if it's cloudy?
Low cloud blocks the sun, but the diffused light is still good for portraits. That's why we check the cloud forecast by layer — low, mid and high — before every shoot.
A golden hour shoot in Cartagena?
Weddings, portraits, real estate and video across the Costa Blanca. We choose the day and time around the light and the forecast, and send you a link with the weather for your shoot.
Services: Weddings and events · Portraits · Real estate
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