---
url: https://sunsetdubrovnik.com/blog/where-does-the-sun-set-in-dubrovnik/
site: Sunset Dubrovnik
updated: 2026-10-02
facts: https://sunsetdubrovnik.com/llms.txt
---

# Where does the sun set in Dubrovnik? Direction by month, and why it matters

> **In short:** In Dubrovnik the sun always sets over the sea to the west, but the exact point moves. It is about 303° (west-north-west, behind the Elaphiti islands) at midsummer, due west in late March and late September, and about 251° (west-south-west, over open sea) by the end of October.

The sun always goes down over the sea in Dubrovnik, but not in the same place. At midsummer it sets well to the north of west, behind the line of the Elaphiti islands; at the equinoxes it sets due west; by late October it has swung round to the west-south-west and drops into open sea. That swing decides whether you see the sun touch the water or watch it slide behind a hillside.

This guide gives the direction for every month, explains what stands in the way from the city, and shows where to be instead.

## Sunset direction in Dubrovnik, month by month

Bearings are compass directions measured clockwise from north: 270° is due west, anything above it is north of west. These are for 2027; they change by only a fraction of a degree from year to year.

| Date | Sunset (local time) | Sun sets toward | On the horizon, seen from the water off Lapad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April | 19:13 | 277° west | Open sea |
| 15 April | 19:29 | 284° west-north-west | Open sea |
| 1 May | 19:47 | 292° west-north-west | Koločep and the Elaphiti islands |
| 1 June | 20:19 | 302° west-north-west | The Elaphiti islands |
| 21 June | 20:29 | 304° west-north-west | The Elaphiti islands (furthest north) |
| 15 July | 20:24 | 301° west-north-west | The Elaphiti islands |
| 15 August | 19:50 | 290° west-north-west | Koločep |
| 1 September | 19:23 | 282° west-north-west | Open sea |
| 24 September | 18:42 | 270° due west | Open sea |
| 15 October | 18:06 | 259° west | Open sea |
| 31 October | 16:42 | 251° west-south-west | Open sea |

In winter it keeps going south, to about 238° at the December solstice. For the times of every fortnight of the year, see our [Dubrovnik sunset times by month](/blog/dubrovnik-sunset-times/).

## Why the setting point moves

The earth's axis is tilted, so the sun rises and sets north of due east and west in summer and south of them in winter. Dubrovnik sits at about 42.6 degrees north, where the swing is wide: roughly 66 degrees of compass between the June and December sunsets, and about 53 degrees inside the April to October boating season.

The change is not even. Around the solstices the setting point barely moves for weeks; around the equinoxes it moves quickly, more than half a degree a day in late September. That is why an evening in mid-September can look completely different from one at the start of the month.

## What stands in the way: Lapad and the Elaphiti islands

Dubrovnik faces the sea to the south and west, but the coast is not straight. Two pieces of land matter at sunset.

**The Lapad peninsula.** From the Old Town, the long ridge of Lapad and Babin Kuk runs out to the west-north-west. Standing right under the city walls or on Fort Lovrijenac, land fills the horizon north of a bearing of about 287 degrees. From roughly 21 April to 22 August the sun sets beyond that line, so it disappears behind the Lapad hills about 20 minutes before the official sunset time. The walls fall into shadow while the sky is still bright.

**The Elaphiti islands.** Further out, Koločep, Lopud and Šipan lie between about 291 and 301 degrees as seen from the Old Town. In midsummer, watched from the open water off Grebeni or south-west of the city, the sun sinks behind this line of islands a few minutes early, which gives the classic silhouette of hills against an orange sky.

In April and from late August onwards, the setting point is south of all this land. Then the sun drops straight into open sea, and you can watch it from the western side of the Old Town as well as from the water.

![Map of Dubrovnik from Daksa to Lokrum with three sunset lines computed from the sun's bearing](/images/maps/where-the-sun-sets-dubrovnik-june-october.jpg)

The map shows three sight lines. In June, a line from under the walls runs straight into Lapad (1). From about 1.5 km south-west of Fort Lovrijenac, the same June line clears Lapad, passes Grebeni and ends on Koločep (2). In October, the line from under the walls runs out to open sea (3).

## Where the boats wait, and why

Because the sun moves, so does the best seat. Our skippers choose the waiting spot each evening for that night's sun and wind, within the shape of each route:

- The [Golden Hour Express](/#route-golden-hour) and [Koločep Swim & Sunset](/#route-kolocep-swim) wait in the open channel off the Grebeni lighthouse, facing the Elaphiti islands. In summer the sun sets behind Koločep; in spring and autumn, over open sea.
- [Sunset & City Walls](/#route-city-walls) passes under the walls as golden hour begins, then waits about 1.5 km south-west of Fort Lovrijenac. That puts the low sun ahead and the lit-up walls behind the boat, which is the one view you cannot get from land in midsummer.

Times change with the date: each route leaves a set number of minutes before that evening's sunset, so the boat is in position before the sun reaches the horizon. Tonight's departures are at the top of the [homepage](/#tonight).

## Watching from land: which way each viewpoint faces

Land viewpoints are a good, free or cheap evening out. The direction rule tells you what to expect from each:

- **Mount Srđ**, above the Old Town, is high enough to see over most of Lapad to the islands and the open sea, so the sun stays in view for most of the season, depending on where you stand. It is also the busiest spot at sunset.
- **The city walls and Fort Lovrijenac** see the sun set over open sea in April and from late August. From late April to late August the Lapad hills take it early, as explained above. Both have their own tickets and opening hours; check them for your date.
- **The Buža bars** on the rocks below the southern walls face out to sea and Lokrum; the sun itself sets off to the right, behind the headland, for much of the season. They are about the drinks and the light on the water.
- **Sunset Beach in Lapad bay** faces west into the bay. The surrounding shore takes the summer sun early from the head of the bay, so the south side of the bay works better in June and July.

Our guide to [the best places to watch the sunset in Dubrovnik](/blog/best-places-to-watch-the-sunset-in-dubrovnik/) covers each of these in more detail, with the practical side: tickets, hours and how to get there.

## Golden light on the walls

The direction of the sunset also decides what glows. In golden hour the low sun shines from the west onto the faces of the walls and of Fort Lovrijenac that look towards the sea. To see that light, you need to be west or south-west of the Old Town, looking back at it, with the sun behind you. From the water south-west of the city, that is exactly the view: walls glowing on one side, sun going down on the other.

The [sunset section on our homepage](/#the-sunset) explains golden hour and blue hour in more detail, with the times for this season.

## How to find the sunset point yourself

You don't need an app. Open the compass on your phone, find the bearing for your date in the table above, and face it: that is where the sun will touch the horizon. Then look at what is in front of you. If it is a hillside or an island, the sun will vanish behind it a few minutes before the official sunset time; if it is open sea, you will see the full sunset.

Two rough rules help on the spot. In midsummer, the sun sets roughly over the right-hand end of the island chain you can see from the western side of the city. In October, it sets well to the left of the islands, over open water. And the sun moves along the horizon as it sinks, drifting slightly to the right (north) in the last minutes.

## Clouds, haze and what the forecast can't tell you

Direction tells you where the sun will set, not whether you will see it. A few high clouds usually make a better sunset, because they catch the colour after the sun has gone. A low band of haze on the western horizon can hide the last few minutes even on a clear day, and a jugo from the south-east tends to bring haze and cloud. If a full overcast hides the sunset on a booked evening, you can move to another evening free of charge.

## Quick answers

- **Where does the sun set in Dubrovnik in June?** West-north-west, at about 302 to 304 degrees, behind the Elaphiti islands as seen from the water, and behind the Lapad hills as seen from under the walls.
- **Where does it set in September?** Due west around 24 September, over open sea.
- **Where does it set in October?** West-south-west, between about 266 degrees on the 1st and 251 degrees on the 31st, over open sea.
- **Can you see the sunset from the Old Town?** From the western side, yes, in April and from late August. From late April to late August the Lapad hills hide it about 20 minutes early.

## Plan your evening

Check [tonight's sunset time and direction](/#tonight), then pick the [route](/#route) that suits you: the short Golden Hour Express for the sunset itself, Sunset & City Walls for the walls in golden light, or Koločep Swim & Sunset for a swim first.