Sunrise and sunset at the Trocadéro
The Trocadéro is the place for dawn photos: at 7am the esplanade is almost empty, while it is packed in the afternoon. You just need to know when the sun comes up. Here are the exact 2026 times, month by month, then where to stand and what to do at sunset.
Today, 25 September 2026, the sun rises at 7:43 and sets at 19:41 in Paris. At the summer solstice it rises around 5:49 and sets around 21:56; at the winter solstice it rises around 8:43 and sets around 16:54. The sky brightens 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise: that is dawn, the best time for photos without the crowds.
Sunrise and sunset times in Paris in 2026
Paris local time (summer time from 29 March to 25 October 2026). Civil dawn is when the sky is bright enough to see without artificial light. Civil dusk is when it gets properly dark: the Tower's lights then shine at their best.
| Date | Civil dawn | Sunrise | Sunset | Civil dusk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | 8:07 | 8:46 | 17:03 | 17:42 |
| January 15 | 8:03 | 8:40 | 17:20 | 17:58 |
| February 1 | 7:47 | 8:22 | 17:47 | 18:22 |
| February 15 | 7:26 | 8:00 | 18:10 | 18:44 |
| March 1 | 7:01 | 7:34 | 18:32 | 19:06 |
| March 15 | 6:33 | 7:06 | 18:54 | 19:27 |
| April 1 | 6:57 | 7:30 | 20:20 | 20:53 |
| April 15 | 6:27 | 7:02 | 20:41 | 21:16 |
| May 1 | 5:55 | 6:32 | 21:04 | 21:42 |
| May 15 | 5:31 | 6:11 | 21:24 | 22:04 |
| June 1 | 5:11 | 5:54 | 21:44 | 22:27 |
| June 15 | 5:04 | 5:48 | 21:54 | 22:38 |
| July 1 | 5:09 | 5:53 | 21:56 | 22:40 |
| July 15 | 5:23 | 6:05 | 21:48 | 22:30 |
| August 1 | 5:47 | 6:26 | 21:28 | 22:06 |
| August 15 | 6:08 | 6:45 | 21:05 | 21:41 |
| September 1 | 6:34 | 7:09 | 20:32 | 21:06 |
| September 15 | 6:55 | 7:28 | 20:02 | 20:35 |
| October 1 | 7:19 | 7:51 | 19:28 | 20:01 |
| October 15 | 7:39 | 8:12 | 19:00 | 19:33 |
| November 1 | 7:04 | 7:39 | 17:29 | 18:04 |
| November 15 | 7:25 | 8:01 | 17:09 | 17:45 |
| December 1 | 7:46 | 8:24 | 16:55 | 17:33 |
| December 15 | 8:00 | 8:39 | 16:52 | 17:31 |
Source: official IMCCE table (Paris Observatory) for Paris in 2026, converted from Universal Time to local time and rounded to the minute. Between two dates, times shift by 1 to 2 minutes a day. At the Trocadéro, the difference from these times is under one minute.
Where to stand, and when
At sunrise in winter, the sun comes up almost behind the Tower. From the square, the Eiffel Tower lies to the south-east. According to the IMCCE azimuths, around the winter solstice (December and early January) the sun rises a few degrees to the left of that line, then climbs towards the Tower. It is the most striking moment of the year, and at a reasonable hour: around 8:40.
At sunset, the sun is never behind the Tower. It sets in the south-west in winter, on your right, and in the north-west in summer, behind the Palais de Chaillot. From the square you do not see it drop behind the Tower. Instead, the golden light hits the Tower head-on: the time for warm photos. In June, from the Pont d'Iéna or the Champ de Mars, it is the other way round: the sun sets almost in line with the palace.
After sunset, wait for dark: the Tower lights up, then sparkles for 5 minutes every hour. For a different view, the gardens and fountains below and the Pont de Bir-Hakeim are a few minutes away.
Three tips for a dawn photo shoot
What to do at sunset
Have a drink with a view. Several terraces and rooftops around the Trocadéro look onto the Eiffel Tower: see our pick of rooftops with an Eiffel Tower view. Book in summer, as seats facing the Tower go fast.
Get on the Seine. A one-hour cruise at the end of the day lets you watch Paris turn from day to night, and the Tower light up from the water. Piers are at the foot of the Tower and at the Pont de l'Alma: see all the cruises.
Things to do nearby
Getting there
Source (checked on 25/09/2026): IMCCE, sunrise and sunset in Paris in 2026 (FR). Some links to ticket sites are affiliate links (see Transparency).
Frequently asked questions
What time is sunrise at the Trocadéro?
It depends on the date: around 8:46 in early January, 7:30 in early April, 5:54 in early June, 7:09 in early September and 8:24 in early December (2026 local times, IMCCE table). On 25 September 2026 it rises at 7:43.
What time is sunset in Paris?
Around 17:03 in early January, 20:20 in early April, 21:44 in early June, 20:32 in early September and 16:55 in early December. The latest of the year: around 21:57, in late June.
Can you see the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro?
No. From the Trocadéro the Tower lies to the south-east, and the sun sets between the south-west (in winter) and the north-west (in summer), so never behind the Tower. In winter, however, the sun rises almost behind the Tower as seen from the square.
When is the best time to photograph the Eiffel Tower without crowds?
Dawn, especially on a weekday: the Trocadéro esplanade is almost empty. Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise for the soft light of civil dawn.
Is the Trocadéro esplanade open at night and at dawn?
Yes. It is an open-air public space, free and accessible at all times.
In the evening, watch the Tower light up from the Seine
A one-hour cruise at the end of the day: Paris turns from day to night, and the Eiffel Tower lights up in front of you.