Last Updated: 5th Dec 2025 | Page Last Edited 5th Dec 2025
Last Updated: 5th Dec 2025 | Page Last Edited 5th Dec 2025
Please note this section only covers Night Lighting in MSFS2024 SU4 BETA
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While daytime flying is about rock textures and mountain shapes, night flying is about Light Density and Atmosphere. A city that looks generic at noon can transform into a stunning web of gold and neon by midnight.
To help you choose your next flight plan, I have rated these cities based on their "Night Vibe" and lighting intensity.
Understanding the Night Rating:
Level 5 (Neon Supernova): Blindingly bright, custom billboards, miles of light.
Level 4 (Metropolitan Gold): Dense sodium-vapor (orange) streetlights, massive grids.
Level 3 (Coastal Glow): Beautiful contrast between the bright city and the pitch-black ocean.
Night Rating: Level 5 (Neon Supernova) ๐ฃ
The Vibe: Cyberpunk.
Pilot's Note: Tokyo is unique in the sim because of the red aircraft warning lights that blink on top of almost every skyscraper. It creates a sea of pulsing red dots that you don't see in Western cities.
Best View: Fly a helicopter at 500ft over Shinjuku or Shibuya to see the neon ads.
Night Rating: Level 5 (Neon Supernova) ๐ฃ
The Vibe: The Oasis.
Pilot's Note: The contrast here is the best in the world. You have the pitch-black Mojave Desert, and then suddenly the blindingly bright Strip. Look for the beam of light from the Luxor Pyramid.
Best View: Approach from the darkness of the desert for the full "wow" factor.
Night Rating: Level 5 (Neon Supernova) ๐ฃ
The Vibe: The Concrete Canyon.
Pilot's Note: Times Square actually emits a "glow" that lights up the surrounding buildings. The sheer density of lights in Manhattan is unmatched.
Best View: Follow the Hudson River south; the reflection of the skyline in the water is iconic.
Night Rating: Level 4 (Metropolitan Gold) ๐ก
The Vibe: The Merchant City.
Pilot's Note: Slightly warmer/more orange than Tokyo. The Dotonbori canal area is a highlight with dense neon lighting along the water.
Best View: Follow the Yodo River into the city center.
Night Rating: Level 4 (Metropolitan Gold) ๐ก
The Vibe: The Spiderweb.
Pilot's Note: London is famous for its massive sprawling road network (the M25) that looks like a golden spiderweb from high altitude. The Shard acts as a massive illuminated needle in the center.
Best View: FL100 (10,000ft) to see the full scale of the "Web."
Night Rating: Level 4 (Metropolitan Gold) ๐ก
The Vibe: The Endless Grid.
Pilot's Note: The "LA Basin" effect is realโan endless carpet of lights trapped between the mountains and the sea.
Best View: Take off from KLAX at dusk. The transition from sunset to the city grid lighting up is spectacular.
Night Rating: Level 3 (Coastal Glow) ๐ต
The Vibe: The Geometric Masterpiece.
Pilot's Note: Barcelona's famous "grid" street layout (Eixample district) looks incredible at night because the streetlights form perfect squares for miles.
Best View: Fly along the coast and look inland to see the perfect grid pattern.
Night Rating: Level 3 (Coastal Glow) ๐ต
The Vibe: The River City.
Pilot's Note: The Brisbane River snakes through the city like a dark ribbon cutting through the bright lights. The Story Bridge is usually beautifully lit.
Best View: Follow the river at 1,500ft.
Night Rating: Level 3 (Coastal Glow) ๐ต
The Vibe: The Bay Jewel.
Pilot's Note: Itโs all about the bridges. The Golden Gate and Bay Bridge are stunning strings of light connecting the dark water masses.
Best View: Circle the Golden Gate Bridge; the fog layers often catch the city lights from below.
Night Rating: Level 2 (Tropical Starlight) ๐ข
The Vibe: Volcanic Fire.
Pilot's Note: A totally different feel. You have the city lights of Waikiki pressed against the pitch-black extinct volcanoes. It feels isolated and magical.
Best View: A night arrival into PHNL, seeing the city emerge from the dark Pacific Ocean.
If anyone has any PG Cites After Dark that they want added to the List, please let me know through the Forums or my Discord channel.