Current time in Madrid

Central European Time in a city west of Greenwich

Madrid uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer, like Paris, Berlin and Rome. On the map the choice is surprising. Madrid lies at 3.7 degrees west, further west than London, and the Greenwich meridian crosses eastern Spain near Castellón. By the sun, the Spanish capital belongs with Lisbon and London, which are one hour behind it.

A provisional change that has lasted since 1940

Spain kept Greenwich time until 16 March 1940, when an order moved the clocks forward by one hour. The measure was presented as temporary and was never reversed. As a result the sun reaches its highest point over Madrid at about 14:20 in summer, and in late June it sets around 21:45. This helps to explain the late Spanish timetable, with lunch between 14:00 and 15:30 and dinner after 21:00.

“One hour less in the Canary Islands”

Clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October. The Canary Islands keep Western European Time, one hour behind the mainland, which is why Spanish radio announces the hour with the words “una hora menos en Canarias”. In 2025 the Spanish government asked the European Union to end seasonal clock changes from 2026. The member states have not agreed, and the changes continue.

Madrid: time zone at a glance

Time zone

Europe/Madrid

Standard time

UTC+1

Daylight saving time

UTC+2

Clock changes in 2026

Sunday, March 29, 2026: forward 1 hour

Sunday, October 25, 2026: back 1 hour

Clock changes in 2027

Sunday, March 28, 2027: forward 1 hour

Sunday, October 31, 2027: back 1 hour

Dates reflect the rules in force when this page was last updated. Governments can change them at short notice.

Plan a meeting in Madrid

Use the actual meeting date. Seasonal clock changes can alter the time difference.

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