Today, Thursday, October 29, 2026, golden hour in Spain runs from 07:41 to 08:19 in the morning (38 min) and from 17:37 to 18:15 in the evening (38 min), in local time (based on Madrid). Blue hour follows, from 18:32 to 18:54.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's night now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 07:02 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 07:23 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 07:41 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 08:19 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 12:58 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 17:37 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 18:15 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 18:32 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 18:54 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 29 | 07:41 – 08:19 | 17:37 – 18:15 | 07:02 – 07:23 | 18:32 – 18:54 | 38 min |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 07:42 – 08:20 | 17:35 – 18:14 | 07:03 – 07:24 | 18:31 – 18:53 | 38 min |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 07:43 – 08:21 | 17:34 – 18:12 | 07:04 – 07:25 | 18:30 – 18:51 | 39 min |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 07:44 – 08:23 | 17:33 – 18:11 | 07:05 – 07:27 | 18:29 – 18:50 | 39 min |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 07:45 – 08:24 | 17:31 – 18:10 | 07:06 – 07:28 | 18:28 – 18:49 | 39 min |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 07:46 – 08:25 | 17:30 – 18:09 | 07:07 – 07:29 | 18:26 – 18:48 | 39 min |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 07:47 – 08:26 | 17:29 – 18:08 | 07:08 – 07:30 | 18:25 – 18:47 | 39 min |
How long golden hour lasts in Spain through the year
At 40.42° N, 3.70° W, the evening golden hour is longest in December (43 minutes around the 15th) and shortest in March (36 minutes). Today the Sun climbs from the horizon to 6° in 38 minutes, which is about 10.8° of elevation per hour; on the equator at an equinox that rate is close to 15° per hour. The farther the rate falls below 15°, the longer the soft light lasts.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden morning | Golden evening | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:35 | 42 min | 42 min | 18:12 |
| February | 08:08 | 38 min | 38 min | 18:49 |
| March | 07:26 | 36 min | 36 min | 19:21 |
| April | 07:36 | 36 min | 37 min | 20:53 |
| May | 06:58 | 39 min | 39 min | 21:24 |
| June | 06:44 | 41 min | 41 min | 21:46 |
| July | 06:57 | 40 min | 40 min | 21:43 |
| August | 07:25 | 37 min | 37 min | 21:12 |
| September | 07:55 | 36 min | 36 min | 20:23 |
| October | 08:25 | 37 min | 37 min | 19:34 |
| November | 08:00 | 40 min | 40 min | 17:57 |
| December | 08:30 | 43 min | 43 min | 17:49 |
Making the most of golden hour in Spain today
- Evening: be in position by 17:12, 25 minutes before the window opens at 17:37. Sunset is at 18:15, and blue hour keeps going until 18:54.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (07:41) and lasts until 08:19.
- Avoid solar noon (12:58), when the Sun is highest, shadows are short and contrast is harsh.
- Shoot with the Sun behind or beside the subject for a glow, and expose for the highlights. More tips are on the golden hour guide.
Time zone and coordinates
All times are calculated astronomically for Madrid (40.42° N, 3.70° W) and shown in the local time zone (Europe/Madrid, UTC+1). Golden hour is defined here as the period from sunrise until the Sun is 6° above the horizon and from 6° until sunset, and blue hour as the Sun between 4° and 8° below the horizon. Other cities in Spain differ by about 4 minutes per degree of longitude and by their latitude. In countries that span several time zones, the clock time also depends on the zone. Values are accurate to within about a minute and do not account for mountains, buildings or clouds.
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in Spain
- Current time in Spain
- Golden hour in every state and country
- Moon phase today · Longest day of the year · Shortest day of the year
Other places
Coordinates used: 40.42° N, 3.70° W