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What Time Is Sunrise in Istanbul Today? 2026 Sunrise Times
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Sunrise in Istanbul today is at 06:57; first light at 06:30. To meet the morning on the water: our private breakfast cruise, or a private yacht charter with a departure time you choose (from €150 per hour for the whole yacht, 2-hour minimum). Evening times are on the sunset times page.
What time is sunrise in Istanbul today?
The sun rises today at 06:57. First light comes about half an hour earlier, at 06:30 (civil dawn), and today has 11h 55m of daylight. The time is calculated for the Karaköy shore, where our yachts depart, and it moves through the year: 05:31 in mid-June, 08:29 at the start of January, a full three hours apart. Türkiye does not use daylight saving time, so the clocks stay on UTC+3 all year and nothing shifts in spring or autumn.
Next 7 days
| Date | First light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 Sep | 06:30 | 06:57 | 18:52 | 11h 55m |
| Tomorrow · 29 Sep | 06:31 | 06:58 | 18:50 | 11h 52m |
| Wed · 30 Sep | 06:32 | 06:59 | 18:49 | 11h 50m |
| Thu · 1 Oct | 06:33 | 07:00 | 18:47 | 11h 47m |
| Fri · 2 Oct | 06:34 | 07:01 | 18:45 | 11h 44m |
| Sat · 3 Oct | 06:35 | 07:02 | 18:44 | 11h 41m |
| Sun · 4 Oct | 06:36 | 07:03 | 18:42 | 11h 39m |
First light = civil dawn (sun 6° below the horizon; enough light to see outdoors). Sunrise = the upper edge of the sun appearing on the horizon. Daylight = sunrise to sunset.
Istanbul Sunrise Times 2026 — Month by Month
| Month | First light (1st) | Sunrise (1st) | Sunrise (15th) | Sunrise (last day) | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:58 | 08:29 | 08:27 | 08:16 | 9h 32m |
| February | 07:46 | 08:15 | 07:59 | 07:41 | 10h 38m |
| March | 07:12 | 07:39 | 07:17 | 06:50 | 11h 53m |
| April | 06:21 | 06:48 | 06:26 | 06:04 | 13h 17m |
| May | 05:33 | 06:03 | 05:47 | 05:35 | 14h 27m |
| June | 05:02 | 05:34 | 05:31 | 05:35 | 15h 06m |
| July | 05:02 | 05:35 | 05:44 | 05:58 | 14h 50m |
| August | 05:28 | 05:59 | 06:13 | 06:29 | 13h 50m |
| September | 06:02 | 06:30 | 06:44 | 06:59 | 12h 30m |
| October | 06:33 | 07:00 | 07:15 | 07:33 | 11h 09m |
| November | 07:06 | 07:34 | 07:51 | 08:08 | 9h 54m |
| December | 07:39 | 08:09 | 08:22 | 08:29 | 9h 14m |
Times are Türkiye time (UTC+3, no daylight saving) and are computed with the NOAA solar position algorithm for the Karaköy shore (41.02° N, 28.97° E). The real moment on the horizon can slip by a minute or two: in Istanbul the sun rises over the Asian side, behind the Çamlıca hills, so from the European shore you see it a few minutes after the table says.
Earliest and latest sunrise of the year
The earliest sunrise is on 11 June at 05:31; the latest on 1 January at 08:29. The longest day falls around 21 June (15 hours 7 minutes of daylight), the shortest around 21 December (9 hours 14 minutes). From October to the end of December the sun rises a minute or two later every morning; after mid-January it turns, and by late March it is back below 07:00.
Where to watch the sunrise in Istanbul
On the Bosphorus the sun rises in the east, over the Asian side, so the best spots are on the European shore, facing east.
- Karaköy and the Galataport waterfront: the sun comes up behind Üsküdar and the Maiden’s Tower; when the first light hits the water the tower is a silhouette. This is where our yachts board; see getting to Karaköy.
- Ortaköy waterfront: sunrise under the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and over Beylerbeyi Palace, with the mosque and the bridge in one frame.
- Sarayburnu and the Gülhane shore: a wide horizon opening onto the Sea of Marmara; in winter the sun rises further south, over Kadıköy, and stays in view longer from here.
- From the water, on a yacht: the only unobstructed view. On shore, buildings and hills hide the first minutes; from mid-strait you watch the sun clear the horizon. Morning water is usually the calmest of the day, and traffic is close to nil.
Meeting the sunrise on the water
On a private yacht charter you set the departure time: yacht, captain and crew are yours alone, and the hourly rate covers the whole yacht, not each guest. Our private breakfast cruise is built for the morning and runs in the quietest hours of the strait, right after sunrise. When planning an early start, work from the first-light column: the light begins half an hour before the sun shows, and those are the softest minutes for photographs. We confirm the exact boarding time on WhatsApp before you book.
Which month should you choose?
Summer mornings (June to August) mean a 05:30 to 06:00 sunrise: early, but the air is warm, the water still and the light long. Autumn (September, October) is the balanced choice: sunrise between 06:30 and 07:15 and clear skies most days. Winter (December to February) rises after 08:00, the one season you can watch without sacrificing sleep, and the low sun keeps the Bosphorus golden for longest. What happens when it rains, and more on the route, is in our guides, starting with the Bosphorus Strait guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Istanbul Sunrise Times
What time is sunrise in Istanbul today?
Today at 06:57. The seven-day table above covers the coming week and the monthly table the whole year; all times are for the Karaköy shore.
What time does it get light in Istanbul?
About 28 to 32 minutes before sunrise, at civil dawn. Today that is 06:30. The half hour between first light and sunrise is what photographers call the blue hour.
Does Istanbul use daylight saving time?
No. Türkiye has stayed on UTC+3 all year since 2016; the clocks do not change in spring or autumn. That is why older tables are often an hour out.
How many hours of daylight does Istanbul get?
From 15 hours 7 minutes on the longest day to 9 hours 14 minutes on the shortest. Evening times are on our Istanbul sunset times page.
Is there a sunrise cruise on the Bosphorus?
Our scheduled group cruise departs in the evening, timed to sunset; mornings are private charters only. You choose the departure time and the hourly rate covers the whole yacht. The breakfast cruise, designed for the morning hours, is the most popular format.
Table last updated: September 2026.