After blistering hot summers, New Yorkers practically cry tears of joy when fall finally arrives and the air starts to feel crisp again. But there’s always one catch: those cozy autumn nights come with painfully early sunsets. NYC’s last 7pm sunset of 2025 came and went in mid-September—7:01 pm on the 17th, 6:59 pm on the 18th—and the days have been shrinking ever since.
Unfortunately, the real heartbreak is still ahead.
The city’s final 6 pm sunset of the year will happen on Saturday, October 25. After that? It’s a rapid descent into darkness. We’ll only get one week of sunsets in the 5 o’clock hour before the sun decides to peace out even earlier.
On Saturday, November 1, the sun will set in NYC at 5:51 pm. The very next day—Sunday, November 2—it’ll drop to 4:50 pm. Yep, we lose a full hour of daylight overnight. Pair that with a 6:27 am sunrise, and you’re looking at just 10 hours and 22 minutes of daylight total. (Excuse us while we collectively sob into our chai lattes.)
The reason for this dramatic shift? Daylight Saving Time is coming to an end.
Daylight Saving Time began back on March 9, 2025, when clocks jumped forward an hour, blessing us with those extra long golden evenings. But that bliss officially ends on November 2, when clocks fall back one hour—and suddenly it’s pitch black before dinner.
One minute we’re soaking up 8 pm golden hour on rooftops, and the next we’re trudging home through darkness. Maybe we’re being a bit melodramatic, but while we certainly thrive in hoodie weather we sure do wish it was paired with longer days.
From here on out, it’s a steady downward slide toward the winter solstice on December 21, 2025—the shortest day of the year—with just 9 hours and 15 minutes of daylight and a 4:31 pm sunset.
So yes, seasonal depression might be knocking soon, but at least we’ll have our twinkling holiday lights to keep us company!
☀️ Looking to make the most of those final, post-work sunsets?
This iconic NYC spot was recently named one of the best sunset-viewing locations in the country (seriously—you’ll want your camera ready).
Plus, check out our guide to even more must-visit sunset-viewing spots around the city before the daylight seemingly disappears for good.