Sunrise & Sunset Times in Madrid, ES
Today's exact sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours for Madrid, Spain. Plus solar noon, civil twilight, and golden hour times — calculated from Madrid's coordinates (40.42° N, 3.70° W).
About sunrise and sunset in Madrid
Madrid, ES sits at 40.42° N latitude in the temperate zone. The longest day of the year here lasts about 14h 54m (around the summer solstice in June), while the shortest day shrinks to 9h 6m — a year-round swing of 5h 48m. Because Madrid is in the central part of the Madrid time zone, solar noon arrives roughly 15 minutes after clock noon.
Mid-latitude temperate — pronounced summer/winter day-length difference. The sun rises roughly east, swinging northeast in summer and southeast in winter, and sets roughly west, swinging northwest in summer and southwest in winter. Civil twilight (the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon) lasts approximately 35 minutes around the equinoxes — a noticeable extended dawn and dusk window.
Quick facts for Madrid
Solar noon offset reflects Madrid's position in its time zone — the further from the time zone's standard meridian, the further the actual midday drifts from 12:00 on the clock.
Sunrise & Sunset in Madrid
Today's sunrise and sunset times in Madrid, Spain. See exact sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours for Madrid. Updated daily.
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Sunrise and sunset FAQ for Madrid
How accurate are the Madrid sunrise and sunset times?
Times are calculated using NOAA-grade astronomical algorithms based on Madrid's exact coordinates (40.4168, -3.7038) and time zone (Europe/Madrid). Accuracy is typically within 1 minute. Local horizon obstructions (mountains, tall buildings) can shift the visible sunrise/sunset by a few minutes compared to the calculated value.
How long is the longest day of the year in Madrid?
At Madrid's latitude of 40.42° N, the longest day stretches to about 14h 54m on the June solstice. The shortest day, on the December solstice, is around 9h 6m — a year-round swing of roughly 5h 48m.
When is golden hour in Madrid?
Golden hour in Madrid occurs in the ~60-minute window after sunrise and before sunset, when the sun is low (typically below 6° elevation) and light is softer and warmer. Photographers favour this window for portraits and landscapes. The exact start/end depends on the season — golden hour is shorter near the equinoxes and longer in winter when the sun travels at a shallower angle.
Do Madrid sunrise times change with daylight saving time?
Yes. All times shown here use Madrid's local clock, which switches between standard time and daylight saving time on the dates set by US federal law (second Sunday in March, first Sunday in November). The actual position of the sun does not change — only the clock face does. See our Daylight Saving Time guide for the next change date.
In which direction does the sun rise and set in Madrid?
In Madrid, the sun rises in the east, swinging northeast in summer and southeast in winter, and sets in the west, swinging northwest in summer and southwest in winter. On the equinoxes (around 20 March and 22 September), the sun rises due east and sets due west. Between those dates, the sunrise/sunset points shift along the horizon as Earth's axial tilt changes the sun's declination.
What is solar noon, and when does it happen in Madrid?
Solar noon is the moment the sun is at its highest point in the sky for the day. In Madrid, solar noon arrives roughly 15 minutes after clock noon, because Madrid sits in the central partof its time zone. The exact offset shifts a few minutes through the year due to Earth's elliptical orbit (the "equation of time").