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Photo locations · Saxon Switzerland · Germany

Bastei Bridge Viewpoint: sunset photography forecast

The Bastei picture is the stone bridge threading between sandstone towers, with the Elbe landscape falling away beyond. Early light suits the rock layers; a little mist can add depth, but a clear view of the bridge matters more than an entirely clear sky.

Sunrise tomorrowSunrise TuesdaySunrise Wednesday

Will tomorrow's sunset be worth it?

Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.

in 17h 26m

Pale clear glow

Exactly at sunset: Fair

Starts

in 16h 33m

Harsh directional light · backlit landscapes; harsh for portraits

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunset

Light corridor: partly open

Why: Some cloud sits along the sun's path, so light may get through only in places.

  • Light path: partly blocked (32% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: may be hidden. Some low cloud toward the horizon (40%) may hide the sun on and off.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity19% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 27–27% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 53–53% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 53–53% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 53–53% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintylow cloud · 16% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 16% is somewhere between 0.35 and 3 kmlow cloud · 40% reported, 19% resolved on a pressure surface — 21% is somewhere between 0.56 and 3 kmlow cloud · 27% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 27% is somewhere between 0.54 and 3 km

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunset.

Know the light
before it happens

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For photographers: shooting Bastei Bridge Viewpoint

Best months

April to June for fresh woodland and October for autumn colour. These are useful photographic windows rather than a promise of mist; winter can work when paths are free of ice.

Suggested focal lengths

16–35 mm for bridge, towers and valley; 50–100 mm for tighter layers of sandstone.

Composition

Photograph the bridge from a signed adjoining viewpoint rather than standing on the bridge itself. Separate the arches from the rocks and leave room for the valley; keep all tripod legs inside the visitor area.

Recommended arrival

Aim to reach the viewpoints 45–60 minutes before sunrise. Check the walking route in advance because seasonal shuttles are not an early-morning transport plan.

Access planning

Use the signed Bastei paths and obey individual closures. The Bastei viewpoints and the Neurathen rock-castle attraction have separate access arrangements; do not assume that access to the bridge opens every adjoining area.

Parking: Official Bastei car parks reached via Lohmen; the outer parking area adds a longer walk unless a shuttle is operating.

Approach: A short signed walk from the nearer car park; allow substantially longer from the outer car park or if climbing from Rathen.

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