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How dark does it get in Denmark in December?

Long nights and short twilight around Christmas.

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Short answer

In December Denmark has long, dark nights. On the longest night, around the winter solstice, the sun is below the horizon for about 16 hours 59 minutes in Copenhagen, 17 hours 29 minutes in Skagen and 16 hours 45 minutes in Gedser. The sun sets about 15.40 in Copenhagen, and after sunset there is a period of twilight before it gets fully dark. At midnight in midwinter the sky is pitch dark, unlike the light summer nights.

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. Skagen in the far north has the longest nights.
  2. In civil twilight, with the sun less than 6 degrees below the horizon, you can still see well outdoors.
  3. Real darkness comes when the sun is more than 18 degrees below the horizon.

Details

In nautical twilight, with the sun less than 12 degrees below the horizon, outlines are visible but the horizon is hard to see.

Tip

Wear a reflective vest or band when you walk or cycle in the dark afternoons, especially on country roads.

What may differ

Night length varies by a few minutes between years.

Common misconception

Some think Denmark is dark almost all day in December.

What actually happens

Even on the shortest day there are about 7 hours of daylight, from about 8.37 to 15.39 in Copenhagen.

People also ask

  • What time does the sun rise and set in Copenhagen in December?
  • When is the shortest day in Denmark?
  • Does Denmark have white nights?

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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