Brandenburg Gate: when is the facade in the sun?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Sun on the east side (Pariser Platz) 07:25–10:10, most frontal around 07:25; golden light 07:25–08:45.
The Quadriga drives east, so the classic view from Pariser Platz is lit in the morning. In the afternoon the sun is behind the gate and the Pariser Platz side is backlit; the Tiergarten side is lit instead.
Fri 6 November 2026 · sunrise 07:13, sunset 16:29
Sun on the facade 07:25–10:10
Sun on the east side (Pariser Platz) 07:25–10:10, most frontal around 07:25; golden light 07:25–08:45.
| Direct sun | Golden light | |
|---|---|---|
| East side (Pariser Platz) faces east, with the Quadriga facing you | 07:25–10:10 Most frontal 07:25 | 07:25–08:45 |
| West side (Tiergarten) faces west, towards the Tiergarten | 12:50–16:25 Most frontal 16:20 | 15:05–16:25 |
Hour by hour
| Time | East side (Pariser Platz) | West side (Tiergarten) |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Dark | Dark |
| 07:30 | Golden light on the facade | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 08:00 | Golden light on the facade | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 08:30 | Golden light on the facade | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:00 | Side light: strong relief | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:30 | Side light: strong relief | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:00 | Side light: strong relief | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:30 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:00 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 12:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 12:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 13:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Side light: strong relief |
| 13:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Full sun on the facade |
| 15:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Golden light on the facade |
| 16:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) | Golden light on the facade |
| 16:30 | Dark | Dark |
Plan it
For a lit Quadriga from Pariser Platz, come before about 11:00. The gate is floodlit after dark.
Through the year
| 15th of | East side (Pariser Platz) | West side (Tiergarten) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 08:20–10:30 | 13:20–16:20 |
| February | 07:35–10:45 | 13:20–17:15 |
| March | 06:30–10:55 | 13:05–18:10 |
| April | 06:20–12:00 | 13:50–20:05 |
| May | 05:20–12:05 | 13:40–20:55 |
| June | 04:55–12:15 | 13:40–21:30 |
| July | 05:15–12:20 | 13:50–21:20 |
| August | 06:00–12:05 | 13:50–20:30 |
| September | 06:50–11:45 | 13:50–19:20 |
| October | 07:40–11:25 | 13:45–18:10 |
| November | 07:40–10:10 | 12:50–16:10 |
| December | 08:25–10:15 | 13:05–15:50 |
Brandenburg Gate light by month
Questions
What time is the sun on the Brandenburg Gate facade?
6 Nov 2026: Sun on the east side (Pariser Platz) 07:25–10:10, most frontal around 07:25; golden light 07:25–08:45. Pick your own date above; the window moves through the year.
Is Brandenburg Gate better in the morning or the afternoon?
The east side (Pariser Platz) faces east, with the Quadriga facing you. On 15 June 2027 it is lit 04:55–12:15; on 15 December 2026, 08:25–10:15. The west side (Tiergarten) faces west, towards the Tiergarten.
When is the golden light on Brandenburg Gate?
On 6 November 2026, 07:25–08:45. Golden light needs the sun low and on the same side as the facade.
How is this calculated?
For every 5 minutes of the day we compute the sun's direction and height and compare it with the way the facade faces. Within 40° of straight on is full front light, 40° to 70° is side light that brings out the carving, and beyond that the facade is mostly in shade. Below 10° above the horizon the light is golden. Where cliffs or mountains stand in front of a facade, the sun also has to clear them.
Calculated from the sun's position and the facade's direction (measured from OpenStreetMap building outlines). Nearby buildings and trees can shade the lower part of a facade earlier than shown; clouds remove direct light altogether. Times are local (Europe/Berlin).