Summer solstice: how to celebrate the longest day of the year

For many, the summer solstice has a romantic and mysterious ring to it, but the event simply describes the longest day of the year and the maximum period of time between sunrise and sunset. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the entire northern hemisphere, this day normally falls on June 21, but in leap years such as 2024 it falls on June 20. At this time of year, the sun is higher above the horizon than at any other time of the year. The further north the location, the longer the day lasts. In Hamburg, for example, this day lasts 17 hours and 2 minutes, while in Munich the sun is in the sky for about an hour less.