Spain's famous late evenings, explained
Madrid sits at 40.4° N but on Central European Time — one hour ahead of its solar longitude. The result: summer sunsets near 21:45 CEST and solar noon close to 14:00 on the clock. Dinner at ten feels normal because the sun really is still up. Winter swings the other way: about 9 hours 17 minutes of daylight at the solstice, sunrise near 08:30.
High-plateau light
At 650 metres elevation on the central meseta, Madrid's air is thin and clear, so golden hour arrives crisp and the sun stays harsh longer into the morning than coastal cities. The long summer evenings — over an hour of golden hour — are the compensation for scorching midday light.