What time is it in Germany?
Quick answer
Germany uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October. The live clock below shows the current time in Berlin.
Berlin, Germany
--:--
CET and CEST
| Period | Name | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Last Sunday of October → last Sunday of March | Central European Time (CET, MEZ in German) | UTC+1 |
| Last Sunday of March → last Sunday of October | Central European Summer Time (CEST, MESZ) | UTC+2 |
Germany changes its clocks on the same days as the rest of the European Union and the UK, so it stays one hour ahead of London all year.
Who shares Germany’s time?
Central European Time is one of the most widely used time zones in the world. France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and many others all use it. That’s why most of Western Europe shows the same time, even though Spain is much farther west than Poland.
Germany vs other places
| Place | Difference |
|---|---|
| London | Germany is 1 hour ahead |
| New York | Germany is 6 hours ahead (5 for a few weeks in spring and autumn) |
| Istanbul | Germany is 2 hours behind in winter, 1 in summer |
| Tokyo | Germany is 8 hours behind in winter, 7 in summer |
Will Europe stop changing the clocks?
In 2019 the European Parliament voted to end seasonal clock changes, but EU countries never agreed on whether to stay on summer or winter time, so the plan has stalled.
For the UK side of the Channel, see what time it is in London.
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