Central European Time (CET) - The Heartbeat of Europe

Central European Time (CET) is the standard time zone observed in most of Europe during the winter months, operating at UTC+1. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, clocks shift forward to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2. This daylight saving schedule aligns with the European Union's directive, affecting over 400 million people across approximately 20 countries. Major cities such as Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, and Prague all run on CET/CEST, making it the most widely used time zone on the continent. For a global perspective, visit Time.now for the world clock.

Countries and Regions Using CET

CET is the standard time for most of Western and Central Europe. The following countries observe CET in winter and CEST in summer:

• France (including Corsica)
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands, though the Canaries use WET)
• Poland
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Norway
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Slovenia
• Croatia
• Serbia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Albania
• Malta
• Andorra
• Monaco
• San Marino
• Vatican City

Additionally, some territories like the Balearic Islands, Sicily, and Sardinia follow CET. The Canary Islands, however, use Western European Time (WET) (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer).

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Schedule

DST in the CET zone begins on the last Sunday of March at 01:00 UTC, when clocks spring forward to 02:00 UTC (CEST). It ends on the last Sunday of October at 01:00 UTC (03:00 CEST), when clocks fall back to 00:00 UTC (CET). This schedule is uniform across all EU member states, ensuring synchronisation. For example, in 2026, DST starts on 29 March and ends on 25 October.

Time Offsets and Comparisons

The table below shows the time offset of CET/CEST relative to other major time zones:

For instance, when it is noon CET in Paris, it is 11:00 in London (GMT) and 13:00 in Athens (EET). To compare specific cities, check London To Paris Time and Paris To Athens Time.

History and Adoption

CET was first introduced in 1893 by the German Empire, with other European countries gradually adopting it. After World War II, most of Western Europe standardised on CET. The European Union harmonised DST rules in 1996, requiring all member states to switch on the same dates. Today, CET is the baseline for many EU regulations, including transport schedules and financial markets. For a broader view of European time zones, see Eastern European Time (EET) and Western European Time (WET).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CET and CEST?

CET (Central European Time) is UTC+1, used in winter. CEST (Central European Summer Time) is UTC+2, used in summer. The switch occurs on the last Sunday of March and October.

Which countries use CET?

Over 20 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries (except Finland).

Does the UK use CET?

No, the United Kingdom uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer, which is equivalent to Western European Time (WET). For conversions, see London To Berlin Time.

Is CET the same as Paris time?

Yes, Paris observes CET in winter and CEST in summer. So Paris time is always CET/CEST.

What is the time difference between CET and Eastern European Time (EET)?

EET is UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer, so it is always 1 hour ahead of CET/CEST.

When does daylight saving time start and end in 2026?

DST starts on 29 March 2026 (clocks forward) and ends on 25 October 2026 (clocks back).

For real-time clocks in multiple cities, try TimeRight.Now or CurrentTime.now. For US and UK time references, visit US time and date and UK time and date.