Ibiza · Sunset planner
Sunset in Ibiza: time, golden hour and the best spots
In Ibiza the sun sets at about 21:24 in late June and as early as 17:33 in early December. This planner works out sunset, golden hour, blue hour and the direction of the sun for any date, for the west coast, where the sun goes down straight into the sea. It's what we plan our shoots for beach clubs, hotels, restaurants and villas in Ibiza with.
Today in Ibiza
17:53
Sunset
- Golden hour
- 17:15 to 18:10
- Blue hour
- 18:10 to 18:20
- Sunrise
- 07:24
- Golden hour · Morning
- 07:07 to 08:02
- Direction
- 251° WSW
- Daylight
- 10 h 29 min
Times for the west coast (Sant Antoni, Cala Comte) with a clear sea horizon, Ibiza local time, accurate to about a minute. Behind hills or on the east coast the sun disappears earlier.
Sunset
Golden hour, blue hour, sunset: what's what?
Golden hour
Golden hour is the time when the sun stands between 6 degrees above and 4 degrees below the horizon: soft, warm light and long shadows. In the evening it lasts 51 to 61 minutes in Ibiza, depending on the season.
Sunset
Sunset is the moment the upper rim of the sun touches the sea horizon. From here the light cools quickly, but the sky over the sea often keeps glowing for another ten minutes.
Blue hour
During blue hour the sun stands between 4 and 6 degrees below the horizon. The sky turns deep blue, and the lights of bars, pools and villas balance with the sky. In Ibiza it lasts only 10 to 13 minutes, because the sun sets more steeply this far south than in northern Europe.
Direction
In June the sun sets in the west northwest in Ibiza (302° WNW), in December in the west southwest (240° WSW). At the equinoxes in March and September it sets due west. That's how you check in advance whether spot and subject line up.
Year table
Sunset in Ibiza: every time of the year
For the 1st and 15th of every month, in local time with summer and winter time. The times repeat every year within about a minute. You're free to use the table with credit and a link to this page (CC BY 4.0).
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour from | Sunset | Blue hour until | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 08:14 | 17:01 | 17:42 | 18:12 | 241° WSW |
| 15 January | 08:12 | 17:15 | 17:55 | 18:25 | 243° WSW |
| 1 February | 08:02 | 17:36 | 18:15 | 18:43 | 248° WSW |
| 15 February | 07:47 | 17:54 | 18:31 | 18:58 | 254° WSW |
| 1 March | 07:28 | 18:11 | 18:47 | 19:13 | 261° W |
| 15 March | 07:07 | 18:25 | 19:01 | 19:27 | 268° W |
| 1 April | 07:40 | 19:42 | 20:17 | 20:44 | 276° W |
| 15 April | 07:19 | 19:55 | 20:31 | 20:58 | 283° WNW |
| 1 May | 06:57 | 20:10 | 20:46 | 21:15 | 290° WNW |
| 15 May | 06:43 | 20:22 | 21:00 | 21:30 | 295° WNW |
| 1 June | 06:31 | 20:35 | 21:14 | 21:45 | 300° WNW |
| 15 June | 06:29 | 20:42 | 21:22 | 21:54 | 301° WNW |
| 1 July | 06:33 | 20:44 | 21:24 | 21:56 | 301° WNW |
| 15 July | 06:41 | 20:41 | 21:20 | 21:51 | 299° WNW |
| 1 August | 06:55 | 20:29 | 21:07 | 21:37 | 294° WNW |
| 15 August | 07:08 | 20:15 | 20:51 | 21:20 | 289° WNW |
| 1 September | 07:23 | 19:52 | 20:27 | 20:55 | 282° WNW |
| 15 September | 07:36 | 19:30 | 20:05 | 20:32 | 275° W |
| 1 October | 07:50 | 19:04 | 19:39 | 20:06 | 267° W |
| 15 October | 08:03 | 18:41 | 19:18 | 19:44 | 260° W |
| 1 November | 07:21 | 17:18 | 17:55 | 18:23 | 252° WSW |
| 15 November | 07:37 | 17:02 | 17:42 | 18:10 | 247° WSW |
| 1 December | 07:54 | 16:52 | 17:33 | 18:03 | 242° WSW |
| 15 December | 08:06 | 16:51 | 17:33 | 18:03 | 240° WSW |
Calculated with the solar position method of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for 38.98° N, 1.30° E (Sant Antoni de Portmany), local time Europe/Madrid. Golden hour and blue hour follow the angles photography apps use.
Spots
The best sunset spots in Ibiza
In Ibiza the sun sets in the west, so almost all classic sunset spots are on the west and southwest coast. Add one bay in the north and the lighthouse on Formentera.
Sant Antoni, west coast
Sant Antoni: Café del Mar and Café Mambo
The island's most famous sunset strip: bars and terraces right on the rocks of the bay of Sant Antoni. In July and August there's hardly a free seat an hour before sunset.
For shoots: Arrive early and shoot over the crowd with a long lens. Filming on the bars' terraces only with the venues' agreement.
Sant Josep, west coast
Cala Comte
Turquoise water, small islands off the coast and a sun that sinks into the sea between them. One of the most popular beaches for sunset, with beach bars above the rocks.
For shoots: You'll find frames without loungers and umbrellas on the rocks around the bay. In summer the car park fills up early.
North of Sant Antoni
Punta Galera
Flat, terraced rock slabs right above the sea, much quieter than the sunset strip. The path down is steep, so wear proper shoes.
For shoots: The rock terraces make a strong foreground for portraits, fashion and product shots.
Sant Josep, southwest coast
Cala d'Hort and Es Vedrà
The rock of Es Vedrà is the island's best known view. From Cala d'Hort it lies to the southwest: in winter the sun sets closest to the rock from there, in summer further to the right. The Torre des Savinar watchtower stands above the coast.
For shoots: The area is part of the Cala d'Hort natural park. Drones and larger productions follow their own rules there.
Sant Josep, highest point
Sa Talaia
At 475 metres the highest point of Ibiza, looking out over the southwest as far as Es Vedrà. A good choice when the beaches are packed.
For shoots: Wide angles and time-lapses over the island while the light over the sea is at its best.
Sant Joan, north coast
Benirràs
This bay in the north is known for the drummers who play the sun down on Sundays. Off the beach stands the rock of Cap Bernat, which shows up in almost every sunset shot from here.
For shoots: Atmospheric but busy on Sundays; quieter on weekdays.
Sant Antoni, on the water
From a boat: the bay of Sant Antoni
Many sunset trips by boat and catamaran leave from Sant Antoni. On the water the horizon is open, with the coast and its sunset bars behind you.
For shoots: Strong for yacht, hotel and lifestyle content. Check the forecast for calm seas first.
Ibiza Town, old town
Dalt Vila
The old town on the hill above the harbour is a UNESCO World Heritage site and glows in warm evening light. Here the sun disappears behind the hills to the west, so earlier than on the coast.
For shoots: Good for architecture, hotels and restaurants in the old town; plan for the light ending earlier here.
Formentera, southern tip
Formentera: Cap de Barbaria
The lighthouse on the southern tip of Formentera is the neighbouring island's classic sunset spot: bare rock, an open horizon, hardly any lights.
For shoots: Check the seasonal access rules before you go.
Shoots in Ibiza
How we plan golden hour shoots in Ibiza
A sunset shoot is planned backwards from sunset: setup about 90 minutes before, the key shots in golden hour, shots with lights in the blue hour. What that means by industry:
Beach clubs
Guests, drinks and music in the light before sunset, then the moment itself. That becomes the reels for the season's sunset sessions.
Villas and real estate
Exteriors and pool in golden hour, the twilight shot with warm interior light in the blue hour: the frame that stands out most in a listing.
Hotels and restaurants
Terraces, pools and guests in warm light, the restaurant as the first candles are lit. That's how pictures show the mood guests book for.
Photo shoots
Portraits, fashion and products in warm side light: choose the spot by the direction of the sun so subject and sky line up.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What time is sunset in Ibiza?
Depending on the season, the sun sets in Ibiza between about 17:33 (early December) and 21:24 (late June). The planner at the top of this page shows the exact time for today and any other date.
When is golden hour in Ibiza?
In the evening, golden hour in Ibiza starts about an hour before sunset and ends about 20 minutes after it, in mid-July for example from 20:41 to 21:39. There's a morning one too, around sunrise.
Where is the best sunset in Ibiza?
The best known sunset spots are on the west coast: the sunset strip in Sant Antoni with Café del Mar and Café Mambo, Cala Comte and the view of Es Vedrà from Cala d'Hort. Quieter options are Punta Galera, Sa Talaia and Benirràs in the north.
In which direction does the sun set in Ibiza?
In summer the sun sets in the west northwest in Ibiza (302° WNW in June), in winter in the west southwest (240° WSW in December). At the March and September equinoxes it sets due west.
How long does blue hour last in Ibiza?
Blue hour lasts only about 10 to 13 minutes in Ibiza. The sun sets more steeply this far south than in northern Europe, so there's little time for shots with lights.
Can you fly a drone at sunset in Ibiza?
Only with notice: according to the Ibiza Film Commission, the airspace over the whole island counts as controlled from 0 metres, so every drone flight needs coordination with air traffic control, requested about 20 working days ahead. Natural parks such as Ses Salines also need a permit from the Balearic government, and no drone may fly over crowds. ENAIRE's official drone map shows which zone applies where; on commissions we check, location by location, which permit is needed.
What time is sunset in Formentera?
In Formentera the sun sets about one to two minutes earlier than on Ibiza's west coast in summer, and at almost the same time in winter. So the planner's times work there too.
How do I plan a sunset photo shoot in Ibiza?
Plan backwards from sunset: be at the spot 90 minutes before, use golden hour for the key frames and blue hour for shots with lights. Check the direction the sun sets in beforehand so spot and subject line up. For hotels, beach clubs, restaurants and villas we handle the whole production.