Current Time in Atlantic/Faeroe Time Zone
IANA Name: Atlantic/Faeroe
Standard Offset: UTC +00:00
Daylight Saving: Yes
DST Offset: UTC +01:00
DST Abbreviation: WEST
Currently Observing DST: Yes ✅
Atlantic/Faeroe: Time Zone Guide for the Faroe Islands
The Atlantic/Faeroe time zone covers the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark. It uses Western European Time (WET, UTC+00:00) as standard and observes daylight saving time, switching to Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+01:00) in summer. This page explains the zone's offsets, DST schedule, and practical tips for scheduling across regions.
Where Atlantic/Faeroe Applies
Atlantic/Faeroe is the sole IANA time zone for the Faroe Islands. The archipelago consists of 18 major islands in the North Atlantic, between Norway and Iceland. The zone's anchor city is Tórshavn, the capital and largest city. All of the Faroe Islands use this zone; there are no internal time zone divisions.
Standard Offset and Abbreviation
Atlantic/Faeroe standard time is UTC+00:00, known as Western European Time (WET). This offset is shared with countries like Iceland (Atlantic/Reykjavik), Portugal (Europe/Lisbon), and several West African nations (e.g., Africa/Abidjan, Africa/Accra). However, note that Iceland does not observe DST, while the Faroe Islands do, causing a seasonal difference.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Behavior
The Faroe Islands observe daylight saving time, shifting to Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+01:00). Clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March at 01:00 WET (to 02:00 WEST) and fall back on the last Sunday of October at 02:00 WEST (to 01:00 WET). This aligns with the European Union's DST schedule.
Upcoming DST changes:
- 2025: Spring forward March 30 (01:00 WET to 02:00 WEST); fall back October 26 (02:00 WEST to 01:00 WET).
- 2026: Spring forward March 29; fall back October 25.
During DST, the Faroe Islands are one hour ahead of zones that remain on WET year-round (e.g., Iceland, parts of West Africa).
Main Countries and Cities
Atlantic/Faeroe applies only to the Faroe Islands. Key cities include Tórshavn (capital), Klaksvík, Runavík, and Tvøroyri. The zone does not cover Denmark proper, which uses Central European Time (CET/CEST).
Business Hours and Scheduling Calls
The Faroe Islands are in the same time zone as the United Kingdom (Europe/London) and Ireland (Europe/Dublin) during standard time, but note that the UK and Ireland also observe DST on the same schedule. During DST, Atlantic/Faeroe matches Central European Summer Time (CEST) used by most of continental Europe.
For callers from North America:
- Eastern Time (ET) is 5 hours behind WET (6 hours behind WEST).
- Pacific Time (PT) is 8 hours behind WET (9 hours behind WEST).
For callers from Asia:
- Japan Standard Time (JST) is 9 hours ahead of WET (8 hours ahead of WEST).
- China Standard Time (CST) is 8 hours ahead of WET (7 hours ahead of WEST).
Best overlap for business with North America: late morning in the Faroe Islands (e.g., 10:00-12:00 WET/WEST) corresponds to early morning in Eastern Time (5:00-7:00 ET) and very early on the West Coast. For Europe, the overlap is full working hours. For Asia, late afternoon in the Faroe Islands (e.g., 14:00-17:00) overlaps with early morning the next day in East Asia.
Practical Guidance
Always confirm whether DST is active in both your location and the Faroe Islands. The DST transition dates are the same as in the EU, but some countries change at different local times. Use the IANA zone name Atlantic/Faeroe in software and scheduling tools to ensure correct automatic DST adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in Atlantic/Faeroe?
Atlantic/Faeroe is currently on Western European Time (WET, UTC+00:00) from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March, and on Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+01:00) the rest of the year. Check a world clock for the exact time in Tórshavn.
Does Atlantic/Faeroe observe daylight saving time?
Yes, the Faroe Islands observe DST. Clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October, aligning with the European Union schedule.
What is the time difference between Atlantic/Faeroe and New York?
During standard time (WET), New York (Eastern Time) is 5 hours behind. During daylight saving time (WEST), New York is 5 hours behind as well because Eastern Time also observes DST, but the offset difference remains 5 hours. However, due to different DST start/end dates, there may be brief periods when the difference is 4 hours.
Is Atlantic/Faeroe the same as UTC?
During standard time, Atlantic/Faeroe is UTC+00:00, so it matches UTC. During daylight saving time, it is UTC+01:00, one hour ahead of UTC.
Which countries share the same time zone as the Faroe Islands?
During standard time, Atlantic/Faeroe shares WET (UTC+00:00) with Portugal (mainland and Madeira), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland (no DST), and several West African countries (e.g., Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana). During DST, it shares WEST (UTC+01:00) with Portugal, the UK, Ireland, and most of Western Europe.
How do I schedule a call with someone in the Faroe Islands?
Use the IANA time zone identifier 'Atlantic/Faeroe' in calendar apps. Best overlap with North America is late morning in the Faroe Islands (10:00-12:00), which is early morning in Eastern Time (5:00-7:00). For Europe, standard business hours overlap fully. For Asia, late afternoon in the Faroe Islands works for morning in East Asia.