Western European Time (WET)
Western European Time (WET) is the time zone that covers the westernmost parts of Europe, operating at UTC+0 during standard time and switching to Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+1) during the summer months. Countries that observe WET include Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores, though the Azores are on UTC-1), Ireland, and the United Kingdom (which uses the term GMT). Iceland remains on UTC+0 all year round, without daylight saving. WET is identical to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the historical reference for timekeeping. To the east, Central European Time (CET) is one hour ahead (UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer). For a global perspective, visit Time.now for the world clock.
Countries and Territories Using WET/WEST
The primary countries that observe WET are Portugal (mainland and Madeira), Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Canary Islands (Spain) use WET, while mainland Spain uses CET. Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Portuguese island of Madeira also follow WET. However, Iceland does not observe daylight saving time, staying on UTC+0 year-round. The table below summarises the offsets for key cities.
| City | Country | Standard Time (Winter) | Summer Time (DST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Portugal | UTC+0 (WET) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
| London | United Kingdom | UTC+0 (GMT) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| Dublin | Ireland | UTC+0 (GMT) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Reykjavik | Iceland | UTC+0 (GMT) | UTC+0 (no DST) |
| Las Palmas | Spain (Canary Is.) | UTC+0 (WET) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
Daylight Saving Time (DST) in WET
Most WET-observing countries follow the European Union's DST schedule: clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March at 01:00 UTC to 02:00 UTC (WEST), and fall back on the last Sunday of October at 01:00 UTC to 00:00 UTC (WET). This means that during summer, the time difference between Lisbon and London is zero (both at UTC+1), while the difference with Central European Time (CET) remains one hour (CET is UTC+2 in summer). Iceland, however, does not observe DST, so during summer, Reykjavik is one hour behind Lisbon and London.
Comparison with Other European Time Zones
Western European Time is the westernmost of the three main European time zones. To its east lies Central European Time (CET) (UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer), and further east is Eastern European Time (EET) (UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer). This means that when it is 12:00 noon in Lisbon (WET), it is 13:00 in Berlin (CET) and 14:00 in Athens (EET). For travellers, understanding these differences is crucial: a flight from London to Paris crosses from WET to CET, adding one hour. You can check the exact difference using our London To Paris Time tool. Similarly, London To Berlin Time shows the one-hour gap, and Paris To Athens Time illustrates the two-hour difference between CET and EET.
Historical and Practical Notes
WET is historically significant as it is based on GMT, which was established as the world's time standard in the late 19th century. Portugal originally adopted GMT in 1911, and Ireland followed in 1916. The term "Western European Time" came into official use after World War II. Today, WET is used by about 100 million people. For those needing to coordinate across multiple time zones, TimeRight.Now provides worldwide city times, and CurrentTime.now offers a multi-city world clock view. For time zones in the Americas, see US time and date, and for the UK, visit UK time and date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between WET and GMT?
WET and GMT are effectively the same time zone, both at UTC+0 during standard time. However, GMT is a time standard, while WET is a time zone name used in Europe. In practice, they are interchangeable.
Does Portugal observe daylight saving time?
Yes, Portugal (mainland and Madeira) observes WEST (UTC+1) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The Azores are on UTC-1 in winter and UTC+0 in summer.
Why does Iceland not change its clocks?
Iceland has chosen to remain on UTC+0 year-round since 1968. Its high latitude means daylight hours vary greatly, but the government decided that the benefits of DST were minimal.
How does WET relate to Central European Time?
Central European Time (CET) is one hour ahead of WET during winter (UTC+1 vs UTC+0) and one hour ahead during summer (UTC+2 vs UTC+1). So when it is 12:00 in Lisbon, it is 13:00 in Berlin.
What countries use WET?
The main countries are Portugal, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Iceland (no DST). Also, the Canary Islands (Spain) and the Faroe Islands (Denmark) use WET.
When do clocks change in WET zones?
Clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March at 01:00 UTC and fall back on the last Sunday of October at 01:00 UTC. This applies to all WET countries except Iceland.