TimeAndDate.EU.com - Current Time and Date in Europe

Q: What time is it in Central European Time?

Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1 during winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) is UTC+2 during summer. CET is used by most European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and many others.

Understanding Time and Date Across Europe

Did you know? Europe spans four main time zones, from Western European Time (WET) in Portugal and the UK, through Central European Time (CET) used by most of continental Europe, to Eastern European Time (EET) in Finland and Greece, and Further-eastern European Time (FET) in parts of Russia and Turkey. This means that when it's noon in London, it's already 3 PM in Moscow!

European Time Zones Explained

Europe's geography spans approximately 40 degrees of longitude, resulting in multiple time zones that reflect the continent's east-west extent. Understanding these time zones is essential for international business, travel coordination, and communication across European countries.

The Four Main European Time Zones

Europe operates across four primary time zones, each with distinct characteristics:

Western European Time (WET): UTC+0 during winter (GMT) and UTC+1 during summer (WEST). Used by Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, and the Canary Islands. The UK uses GMT/BST which aligns with WET/WEST.
Central European Time (CET): UTC+1 during winter and UTC+2 during summer (CEST). This is the most widely used time zone in Europe, covering countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and most of continental Europe.
Eastern European Time (EET): UTC+2 during winter and UTC+3 during summer (EEST). Used by Finland, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states among others.
Further-eastern European Time (FET): UTC+3 year-round in most of Russia (Moscow time), and UTC+3 in Turkey. Belarus also uses UTC+3 without daylight saving time.

European Daylight Saving Time

Most European countries observe daylight saving time (DST), though the practice and its future are subjects of ongoing debate. The European Union coordinates DST changes across member states to maintain consistency.

                European DST Schedule
                Spring Forward: Clocks move forward 1 hour at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday in March
Fall Back: Clocks move back 1 hour at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday in October
EU Coordination: All EU member states change clocks simultaneously to maintain consistent time differences
Notable Exceptions: Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and Iceland do not observe daylight saving time
Future Changes: The EU has proposed ending mandatory DST, allowing countries to choose their permanent time zone

            

Major European Capitals and Their Time Zones

Europe's capitals span across all time zones, reflecting the continent's diverse geography. Here's a comprehensive overview:

Western European Time Zone (WET/UTC+0)

London, United Kingdom: Capital of the UK, uses GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer. Home to the Prime Meridian at Greenwich.
Dublin, Ireland: Capital of Ireland, follows the same time as the UK but officially uses IST (Irish Standard Time) in summer.
Lisbon, Portugal: Portugal's capital and westernmost major European city, uses WET/WEST.
Reykjavik, Iceland: Uses UTC+0 year-round without DST changes.

Central European Time Zone (CET/UTC+1)

Berlin, Germany: Capital of Europe's largest economy, major financial and political center.
Paris, France: The "City of Light," cultural and economic hub of France.
Rome, Italy: Italy's capital, historic center of the Roman Empire.
Madrid, Spain: Spain's capital, despite being geographically closer to WET, uses CET.
Brussels, Belgium: Capital of Belgium and de facto capital of the European Union.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Capital of the Netherlands, major financial center.
Vienna, Austria: Austria's capital, historic imperial city.
Warsaw, Poland: Poland's capital and largest city.
Prague, Czech Republic: Historic capital of Czechia, major tourist destination.
Budapest, Hungary: Hungary's capital, straddling the Danube River.
Stockholm, Sweden: Sweden's capital, spread across 14 islands.
Copenhagen, Denmark: Denmark's capital, known for high quality of life.
Oslo, Norway: Norway's capital, gateway to Scandinavian nature.
Zurich, Switzerland: Switzerland's largest city and financial center (though Bern is the capital).

Eastern European Time Zone (EET/UTC+2)

Athens, Greece: Greece's capital, cradle of Western civilization.
Helsinki, Finland: Finland's capital, northernmost EU capital.
Bucharest, Romania: Romania's capital and largest city.
Sofia, Bulgaria: Bulgaria's capital, one of Europe's oldest cities.
Vilnius, Lithuania: Lithuania's capital, historic Baltic city.
Riga, Latvia: Latvia's capital, largest city in the Baltic states.
Tallinn, Estonia: Estonia's capital, known for its medieval old town.
Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine's capital and largest city.

Further-eastern European Time (FET/UTC+3)

Moscow, Russia: Russia's capital, largest city in Europe by population.
Istanbul, Turkey: Turkey's largest city, bridging Europe and Asia.
Minsk, Belarus: Belarus's capital, uses UTC+3 without DST.

The Importance of Accurate European Time Information

Knowing the correct time across European time zones is critical for numerous activities:

International Business and Finance

European financial markets operate across multiple time zones. The London Stock Exchange, Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Xetra), Euronext (Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels), and others all have specific trading hours. International conference calls and business meetings require precise coordination across CET, EET, and WET zones. Payment processing, settlement times, and market openings all depend on accurate time zone awareness.

Travel and Transportation

Europe's extensive rail network, including high-speed trains like the TGV, ICE, and Eurostar, operates on precise schedules across time zones. Flight connections through major hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, and London require careful time management. The Schengen Area allows border-free travel, but time zones still change as you cross countries.

EU Governance and Coordination

The European Parliament, European Commission, and other EU institutions coordinate activities across member states in different time zones. Legislative sessions, committee meetings, and policy announcements must account for time differences to ensure all stakeholders can participate.

Broadcasting and Media

European broadcasters schedule programming across multiple time zones. Eurovision, football matches (Champions League, Europa League), and other pan-European events must coordinate start times. News broadcasts and live events require precise timing to reach audiences across the continent.

Technology and IT Services

Data centers across Europe synchronize operations across time zones. Software updates, maintenance windows, and system deployments must consider European business hours. Cloud services and SaaS platforms serve customers across all European time zones simultaneously.

European Calendar and Date Formats

European countries predominantly use specific date and time conventions:

Date Format: Most European countries use DD/MM/YYYY or DD.MM.YYYY format (day before month).
24-Hour Clock: The 24-hour time format is standard across Europe for official purposes and public transport.
Week Structure: Weeks typically run Monday to Sunday, with Monday as the first day of the week in most countries.
Week Numbers: ISO 8601 week numbering is widely used in European business and scheduling.
Public Holidays: Vary significantly by country, with both religious and secular holidays observed.

Time Zone Coordination Challenges

Managing time across European time zones presents unique challenges:

Geographically Inconsistent Zones: Some countries use time zones that don't match their geographic longitude (e.g., Spain using CET despite being aligned with WET).
DST Debate: Ongoing discussions about permanently ending daylight saving time in the EU, with countries potentially choosing different permanent times.
Cross-Border Regions: Cities and regions on time zone borders must manage daily transitions.
Digital Communication: Email timestamps, document sharing, and virtual meetings require careful timezone management.

Historical Context of European Time Zones

European time standardization has evolved significantly over the past 150 years. Before the railroad era, each city kept its own local time based on the sun's position. The expansion of railway networks in the 19th century necessitated time standardization. The International Meridian Conference of 1884 established Greenwich as the prime meridian, making GMT the reference point for world time. European countries gradually adopted standardized time zones throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions About European Time

What are the time zones in Europe?

Europe spans four main time zones: Western European Time (WET/UTC+0), Central European Time (CET/UTC+1), Eastern European Time (EET/UTC+2), and Further-eastern European Time (FET/UTC+3). During summer, most countries observe daylight saving time, adding one hour to each zone (WEST, CEST, EEST).

When does daylight saving time start and end in Europe?

In the European Union and most European countries, daylight saving time begins at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday in March (clocks move forward one hour) and ends at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday in October (clocks move back one hour). Notable exceptions include Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and Iceland, which do not observe DST.

What time is it in Central European Time (CET)?

Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1 during winter months and Central European Summer Time (CEST) is UTC+2 during summer months. CET is used by most European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and many others. It's the most widely used time zone in Europe.

Why does Spain use Central European Time instead of Western European Time?

Despite being geographically aligned with the UK and Portugal (which use WET/GMT), Spain uses Central European Time (CET) for historical and political reasons. Spain adopted CET in 1940 to align with Nazi Germany and France, and has maintained it since. This means Spain's solar noon occurs around 1:30 PM in winter and 2:30 PM in summer.

What is the current date in Europe?

The current date varies by time zone in Europe. When it's past midnight in Eastern European countries (EET/UTC+2), it may still be the previous day in Western European countries (WET/UTC+0). TimeAndDate.EU shows the current date for each European time zone with live updates.

How do I convert between European time zones?

To convert between European time zones, add or subtract hours based on the UTC offset. For example: WET to CET, add 1 hour; WET to EET, add 2 hours; CET to EET, add 1 hour; EET to FET, add 1 hour. Remember that during daylight saving time (summer), an additional hour is added to most zones.

Will the EU end daylight saving time?

The European Union voted in 2019 to end mandatory seasonal clock changes, with plans for countries to choose permanent summer or winter time starting in 2021. However, implementation has been delayed due to lack of consensus among member states about which time to adopt permanently. As of 2025, most European countries still observe daylight saving time.

Which European countries don't observe daylight saving time?

Several European countries do not observe daylight saving time: Russia (uses permanent standard time UTC+3 for Moscow), Belarus (UTC+3 year-round), Turkey (UTC+3 year-round), and Iceland (UTC+0 year-round). These countries maintain the same time offset throughout the year.

Current Time & Date Across Europe