Sunset
Sunset in New York
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Face west to see tonight's sunset in New York.
Use the map's direction line to align your viewing position before sunset.
Today's sunset time in New York is shown below, along with the exact direction so you know where to look. The map shows the sunset direction from your selected location.
Tonight's sunset in New York appears toward the western side of the horizon. West-facing waterfronts and elevated viewpoints make the direction much easier to use.
In New York, sunset shifts between northwest in summer and southwest in winter.
New York's skyline can block the sun before the official sunset time from many streets. A clear western horizon — usually from the Hudson waterfront or an elevated park — gives the longest visible sunset.
Best viewing is usually 15–25 minutes before sunset. Glass reflections across Manhattan can intensify in the final minutes before the sun drops below the skyline.
New York sunset shifts northwest in summer and southwest in winter, which changes the best street alignments and waterfront viewpoints.
Rooftop and Hudson-facing viewpoints often create the clearest skyline sunsets. Wide-angle photography tends to work best in the minutes leading up to sunset, when west-facing avenues catch strong directional light.
Named viewing places in New York
These are named locations already present with coordinates in SunPoint's curated city data. Check current public access, opening hours, weather and ground conditions before travelling.
- MapHudson River ParkVerified named place
Long west-facing waterfront viewpoint with an open horizon across the Hudson — one of the clearest sunset sightlines in Manhattan.
- MapThe High LineVerified named place
Elevated urban walkway with strong western light and skyline framing — a popular sunset photography spot.
- MapBrooklyn Heights PromenadeVerified named place
Elevated viewpoint with broad skyline visibility and western light over the Manhattan skyline.
Tips
- Arrive 20–30 minutes before sunset
- Face the direction shown on the map
- Check cloud cover near the western horizon
- A clear horizon and a city skyline often produce the best photos