The clocks change twice a year moving from winter (standard) time to summer time and back. Find out when, and how Spain’s DST time relates to the rest of the world…
In 1996 the European Union (EU) standardised an EU-wide summertime, or Daylight Saving Time (DST).
The EU’s version of Daylight Savings runs from the last Sunday in Marchthrough to the last Sunday in October.
- Clocks go forward by one hour in March
- Clocks go back one hour in October
If dealing with other countries, it can be helpful to know how the different varieties of DST (for those countries that use the system) map on to each other. Most countries adjust their clocks at some time between midnight and 03:00; in the EU, clocks change at 01:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- Reference map and chart of zone and up-to-date changes: WorldTimeZone.com
- The time right now: TimeAndDate.com
Note: Many countries and territories change days of transitions to DST from year to year and some do not employ it every year.
| Continent | Country | Beginning and ending days |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | European Union and rest of Europe (except Iceland) | Start: 02:00 last Sunday in March End: 02:00 last Sunday in October |
| Greenland (regional; changes annually) | Start: 22:00 mid to late March End: 22:00 last Saturday in October or first Sunday in November (depending on location) |
|
| North & Central America | United States (except Arizona and Hawaii), Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, St-Pierre, Miquelon, Turks and Caicos |
Start: 02:00 second Sunday in March End: 02:00 first Sunday in November |
| Mexico (except Sonora) | Start: 02:00 first Sunday in April End: 02:00 last Sunday in October |
|
| Cuba (subject to change) | Start: 00:00 mid to late March End: 01:00 end of October |
|
| South America | Brazil (some states): Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goias, Matto Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal |
Start: 00:00 on third Sunday in October End: 00:00 on third Sunday in February |
| Chile | Start: 00:00 between August and October End: 00:00 between March and May |
|
| Falkland Islands | Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September End: 02:00 third Sunday in April |
|
| Paraguay | Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October End: 00:00 second Sunday in March |
|
| Uruguay | Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October End: 00:00 second Sunday in March |
|
| Africa | ||
| Namibia | Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September End: 02:00 first Sunday in April |
|
| Tunisia |
Changes annually; DST may not be observed | |
| Asia | ||
| Israel (changes annually) |
Start: March or April End: September or October |
|
| Lebanon | Start: Last Sunday in March End: Last Sunday in October |
|
| Syria (may change annually) |
Start: First Friday in April End: Last Thursday in October |
|
| Australasia | Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Lord Howe Island |
Start: 03:00 first Sunday in October End: 03:00 first Sunday in April |
| New Zealand, Chatham Island |
Start: 03:00 last Sunday in September End: 03:00 first Sunday in April |
Related Information
- For general information on the history of Daylight Saving Time see website WebExhibits.org
- For information on Daylight Saving Time around the world, see Time and Date.com
