How many hours of daylight does Denmark get in winter?
How the daylight changes from October to February.
Short answer
In winter Denmark has short days. Around 22 October the day drops below 10 hours, around 5 November below 9 hours and around 20 November below 8 hours. At the winter solstice just before Christmas there are only about 7 hours of daylight. The light then returns slowly: around 21 January the day is back at 8 hours, and around 20 February at 10 hours.
Why
- December and early January are the darkest weeks.
- North Jutland has shorter winter days than Lolland and Falster.
- Light returns slowly at first: the first extra hour takes about a month.
Details
In late October the day is about 10 hours 2 minutes in the far south and 9 hours 46 minutes in the far north.
Tip
In December plan museums and indoor sights for the afternoon, as it is dark before 16.00.
What may differ
The dates are approximate and move by a day or so between years.
Common misconception
Many think Denmark has polar night with no sun in winter.
What actually happens
Even at the winter solstice Copenhagen gets about 7 hours of daylight, and Aalborg about 6 hours 42 minutes.
People also ask
- When is the shortest day in Denmark?
- How fast do the days get longer after Christmas?
- How dark does it get in Denmark in December?
Sources
- DMI: Day length drops below ten hoursChecked at:
- DMI: Day length at full speedChecked at:
- DMI: The shortest day of the year marks the turn to lighter timesChecked at:
- DMI: On Monday daylight has gained an hourChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.
Weather and seasonsRelated questions
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Is there an official weather app for Denmark?
The official weather app for Denmark is DMI Vejr, made by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
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What should you do in a thunderstorm in Denmark?
In Denmark 85 % of thunderstorms come in June, July and August, so they matter most for summer trips.
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How do I know if the water is clean enough to swim in Copenhagen?
The City of Copenhagen publishes the daily bathing water quality for its bathing spots on badevand.dk, with the weather and a three day forecast for each place.
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When are there lifeguards at the Copenhagen harbour baths?
Copenhagen has three municipal harbour baths: Islands Brygge, Fisketorvet and Sluseholmen.