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Does Denmark have white nights or midnight sun in summer?

Light summer nights, but the sun still sets.

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Short answer

Denmark has light nights, lyse nætter, when the sun is never more than 18 degrees below the horizon, so there is at least some twilight all night. In Copenhagen they last roughly from 5 May to 8 August, in Skagen from about 28 April to 14 August and in Gedser from about 10 May to early August. Around midsummer the sun is only about 11 degrees below the horizon at midnight. Denmark has no midnight sun: that is only found north of the Arctic Circle.

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. The light nights start first in the north, in Skagen.
  2. Gedser in the far south is the last place to get them.
  3. Even at midnight in June there is a faint glow of sunlight in the sky.

Details

In Aarhus the light nights run from about 4 May to 6 August, and in Odense from about 7 May to 4 August.

Tip

For stargazing come after mid August, when the light nights have ended all over Denmark.

What may differ

The start and end dates move by a day or so from year to year.

Common misconception

Many visitors expect the midnight sun in Denmark, as in northern Norway.

What actually happens

The sun sets every night in Denmark; you only get midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle, for example in northern Sweden.

People also ask

  • When is the longest day in Denmark?
  • How dark does it get in Denmark in December?
  • Does Denmark have daylight saving time?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.

Weather and seasons
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