Central European Standard Time

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about CET, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

Is CET the same across the whole region?

Not exactly. Most of the CET zone sits one hour ahead in standard time and two in summer, but Algeria and Tunisia keep year-round standard time, so check the country before scheduling noon across borders.

How many places use Central European Time?

Around 35 distinct zones—from Algiers, Tunis, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Belgrade to remote Svalbard—share this region even if their local rules differ slightly.

When does CET switch to daylight saving?

In most CET member zones, clocks jump forward on the last Sunday in March and fall back the last Sunday in October, giving evening light from Madrid to Budapest.

Do all CET countries observe daylight saving?

Almost all of them do. Only a couple of North African zones stay fixed year-round, avoiding the twice-yearly clock change.

Are there surprising CET countries?

Svalbard, in the Arctic, runs on CET and has midnight sun in summer. Spain is split: the mainland uses CET, but the Canary Islands use Western European Time, an hour behind.

Is CET ever the same as UTC?

No. CET is always one hour ahead of UTC, and Central European Summer Time is two hours ahead.

Can two cities in CET be an hour apart?

Yes, in summer. Algeria and Tunisia stay on UTC+01:00 all year, so from late March to late October Algiers and Tunis are an hour behind Paris or Berlin, and on the same time as London.

What countries use CET in Africa?

Algeria and Tunisia, which stay on UTC+01:00 all year without daylight saving. Spain's Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast also use CET, with summer time.