Find sunny outdoor seating – here is how
Choose your city
SunSpotr covers 40+ cities across Scandinavia and Europe. Choose your city to see all terraces and outdoor seating.
See which terraces have sun right now
The app calculates in real time which outdoor seating areas have sun based on exact building heights and positions – hour by hour throughout the day.
Get there and enjoy
Filter by category, opening hours, and location. Click a marker to see sun windows, prices, and opening hours.
Cities with sun data
We have mapped outdoor seating in 39 cities. Click a city to read the guide.
Sweden
Denmark
Netherlands
Iceland
Germany
Austria
Italy
How is sun data calculated?
Sun calculations are based on real building data from OpenStreetMap. We calculate when the shadow from each building falls on the terrace throughout the day and cache results nightly. Calculations account for season, latitude, and terrace elevation.
Why SunSpotr?
Unlike regular restaurant guides, SunSpotr focuses exclusively on outdoor seating and sun. We help you choose the right spot based on the time of day and where the sun is heading – so you never accidentally sit in the shade.
Sun culture in Scandinavia — why we chase the sun
Scandinavia has one of the world's most enthusiastic outdoor dining cultures. Paradoxically, this is partly because we have so little sun to offer. When the temperature finally climbs and the sun appears, people pour out onto city terraces with an energy that has no equal further south. In southern Europe, a sunny terrace day is routine. In Sweden, it is an occasion — and it is planned carefully.
The sun angle plays a decisive role above the 55th parallel. In May and June the sun climbs high in the sky and shines into terraces tucked deep between buildings — spots that in September see not a single ray. The shadow cast by a six-storey facade moves 15 degrees per hour and can turn a sunny corner into cold shade in half an hour. That is exactly the dynamic SunSpotr calculates, minute by minute, based on each building's real height and position.
Finding the right terrace is not just about seeing where the sun shines right now — it is about predicting where it will shine in an hour, when you are actually sitting there with your lunch or evening beer. That is why the time slider is one of SunSpotr's most important tools: drag it forward and see how sun positions change throughout the day, so you can choose a spot whose sunniest moment matches yours.
Guides and inspiration
Planning a terrace day in a new city? Our guides cover the best outdoor dining spots, the sunniest neighbourhoods, and how to think when choosing where to go.
Frequently asked questions about SunSpotr
How accurate are the sun calculations?
Calculations are based on 3D building data from OpenStreetMap with actual facade heights. We compute shadow contours at 5-minute intervals throughout the day. The margin of error is typically 5–15 minutes depending on how complete the building data is for each city. Central Stockholm has exceptionally detailed data; newer developments outside the centre may have lower precision.
Which cities does SunSpotr cover?
We cover 40+ cities across Scandinavia and Europe: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and more. See the full list above. New cities are added continuously based on demand.
Can I see how sunny it will be tomorrow or at the weekend?
Yes. Use the date picker in the app to see sun windows for any day over the next 7 days. The calculations are astronomical — they show what the sun illuminates if the sky were clear, independently of weather forecasts. Combine with the weather widget's cloud cover data for a complete picture.
Do you account for cloudy weather?
SunSpotr shows astronomical sun information: where the sun is and what it illuminates if the sky is clear. The weather widget shows current cloud cover, temperature and wind speed separately. A day with 20–30% cloud cover usually still gives pleasant sun with short cloudy intervals.
Is SunSpotr free to use?
Yes, SunSpotr is completely free. The service is funded by advertising and affiliate partnerships with travel providers. We require no login and collect no personal data beyond anonymised visit statistics.
Five tips for finding the sunniest terrace
South-facing is the gold standard
A south-facing facade gets sun from mid-morning to early evening during summer months. Look for restaurants on the north side of the street — their terrace faces south.
East-facing suits brunch and lunch
East-facing terraces are sunny in the morning but fall into shadow early in the afternoon. Perfect for an early coffee stop but avoid them for dinner.
West-facing is the evening classic
West-facing terraces light up from around 3–4 pm onwards — the ultimate spot for after-work drinks with a sunset backdrop.
Use the time slider to plan ahead
Drag the time slider in the app to see how sun positions change throughout the day. A shady terrace at 1 pm can be fully sunny at 4 pm.
Check 'best sun window' in the restaurant card
Every restaurant card shows which time window has the most sun. Plan your arrival around that window — not around when you usually eat.