Go too early and the lights are washed out by daylight. Go too late and the sky turns black, so you only see bulbs floating in the dark. The sweet spot is the blue hour, when the Sun is a few degrees below the horizon. The houses, trees and rooftops are still visible, and every light glows against a rich blue sky. It's also when phone photos look best.
What time do Christmas lights look best?
From about sunset until roughly 45 minutes later, the sky is still deep blue instead of black. Lights look brightest against that blue, and photos come out far better because you can see the houses and trees too. The planner calculates this "blue hour" for your city and date.
What time should I leave for a Christmas lights drive?
Aim to reach your first stop as the sky turns deep blue, around civil dusk. The planner works backward from that moment and your drive time to tell you when to leave home.
How do I make a Christmas lights route?
Add each street, neighborhood or display, set how long you'll stay and roughly how far apart they are, then tap "Open route in Google Maps". It opens with every stop in order, starting from where you are.
How long should a Christmas lights tour be?
For young kids, 60 to 90 minutes with 3 to 5 stops is plenty. Older kids and adults often enjoy two hours with a cocoa stop in the middle.
How do I take good photos of Christmas lights on a phone?
Shoot during blue hour, hold the phone against a car door or post to keep it steady, tap on the lights to focus, and slide the exposure down a little so the bulbs don't blow out to white.
Does it work outside the US?
Yes. Use "Use my location" and the sunset and blue-hour times are calculated for where you are.
