Early morning is the best time for crowd-free photos.

Yes, early morning—right around sunrise—is your best bet.

Crowds just aren’t out yet. Tourists are still sleeping, commuters haven’t started moving, and most people don’t want to drag themselves out of bed before work. You get soft golden light and empty streets.

Weekdays are even better than weekends. Try to be in position at least 30 minutes before sunrise. By 9 a.m. the secret’s out and people are everywhere.

Nighttime works too if you’re shooting a city skyline, but for daylight shots? Sunrise is the cheat code.

Future you will thank yourself for setting that alarm.