Time Zones Currently Being Used in Spain
Offset | Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Example City | Current Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|
UTC +0 | WET | Western European Time | Las Palmas | Tue, 5:59:35 pm |
UTC +1 | CET | Central European Time | Madrid | Tue, 6:59:35 pm |
How Many Time Zones Are There in Spain?
All of continental Spain, including the capital Madrid, observes the same time zone. However, the Canary Islands, off the coast of Morocco, add a 2nd time zone to the country. Here, the local time is 1 hour behind the mainland.
Time Zones Not Currently Being Observed in Spain
Offset | Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Commences | |
---|---|---|---|
UTC +1 | WEST | Western European Summer Time | Mar 30, 2025 |
UTC +2 | CEST | Central European Summer Time | Mar 30, 2025 |
The above time zones are used during other parts of the year. They will become active again after the next clock change as Daylight Saving Time begins or ends.
Is Spain Using the Wrong Time Zone?
Spain uses a time zone that does not adequately reflect the solar time on its longitude. Central European Time (CET) is based on the solar time at 15° eastern longitude, which runs along the border between Germany and Poland. Central European Summer Time (CEST), Spain's Daylight Saving Time, refers to an even less suitable solar time, at 30° eastern longitude, which runs close to Kyiv, Ukraine.
In terms of geography, it would make more sense if continental Spain observed the same local time as the Canary Islands. In fact, the country did so for decades—from 1900, when time zones were introduced there, to 1940, when the dictator Francisco Franco moved Spain to the time zone it uses today.
Time Zone News
- 9/27/2024 – Europe Ends DST 2024
- 2/28/2024 – DST Start in Europe 2024
- 10/2/2023 – End of DST in Europe 2023
- 3/24/2023 – DST Start in Europe 2023
- 9/30/2022 – End of DST in Europe 2022
More Information
- Time Zone Converter
- Meeting Planner
- Event Time Announcer/Fixed Time
- Time Zone Abbreviations
- Time Zone News
- Daylight Saving Time