Current Time in WEST (Western European Summer Time)
About WEST
The daylight saving time for parts of Western Europe, including Portugal (mainland), the Canary Islands (Spain), and the Faroe Islands. It is one hour ahead of Western European Time (WET). Corresponds to British Summer Time (BST).
UTC Offset: +01:00
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Europe/Lisbon
Western European Summer Time (WEST)
Western European Summer Time (WEST) is the daylight saving time observed in parts of Western Europe. It is UTC+01:00, one hour ahead of Western European Time (WET, UTC+00:00). WEST is used from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, aligning with the European Union's summer time schedule.
What Is Western European Summer Time?
WEST stands for Western European Summer Time. It is the summer clock setting for territories that use Western European Time (WET) during winter. When daylight saving is in effect, clocks advance by one hour, shifting from UTC+00:00 to UTC+01:00. This provides longer evening daylight during the warmer months.
Geographic Coverage
WEST is observed in the following regions and territories, all of which are in the UTC+01:00 time zone during summer:
- Portugal (including the Azores, though the Azores use UTC-01:00 in winter and UTC+00:00 in summer, not WEST). Mainland Portugal and Madeira use WEST.
- Spain (only the Canary Islands, which use WET in winter and WEST in summer; mainland Spain uses Central European Time, UTC+01:00 in winter and UTC+02:00 in summer).
- Faroe Islands (an autonomous territory of Denmark, using WET/WEST).
- Madeira (an autonomous region of Portugal).
The IANA time zone database includes the following zones under WEST: Atlantic/Canary, Atlantic/Faeroe, Atlantic/Faroe, Atlantic/Madeira, Europe/Lisbon, Portugal, and WET.
Key Cities Observing WEST
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Porto, Portugal
- Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
- Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
- Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
How WEST Differs from Neighbouring Zones
WEST is the same offset as British Summer Time (BST, UTC+01:00), Irish Summer Time (IST, UTC+01:00), and Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) during winter. However, during summer, WEST is one hour behind Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00). This means that when it is 12:00 in Lisbon (WEST), it is 13:00 in Madrid (CEST) and 11:00 in London (BST). The Canary Islands, despite being part of Spain, use WEST while mainland Spain uses CEST, creating a one-hour difference within the same country.
Practical Business-Hours Guidance
When scheduling calls with locations on WEST, note the following:
- During WEST (summer), the offset is UTC+01:00. Standard business hours (9:00-17:00 WEST) correspond to 08:00-16:00 UTC, 09:00-17:00 BST, 10:00-18:00 CEST, and 04:00-12:00 Eastern Time (EDT).
- During winter, when WET (UTC+00:00) is in effect, the same local hours shift to 09:00-17:00 UTC, 10:00-18:00 CET, and 04:00-12:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- Be aware of the transition dates: clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October. On these dates, the time difference with other zones may change.
Historical and Political Notes
Portugal used to observe Central European Time but reverted to WET after World War II. The Canary Islands have used WET/WEST since 1946, aligning with the UK and Portugal rather than mainland Spain. The Faroe Islands have observed WET/WEST since 1908, with summer time introduced in 1981.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WEST stand for?
WEST stands for Western European Summer Time. It is the daylight saving time used in parts of Western Europe, equivalent to UTC+01:00.
Which countries use WEST?
WEST is used in Portugal (mainland and Madeira), the Canary Islands (Spain), and the Faroe Islands. The Azores use a different time zone (UTC-01:00 in winter, UTC+00:00 in summer).
Is WEST the same as British Summer Time?
Yes, during summer, WEST and BST both have the offset UTC+01:00. However, they are separate time zone names used in different regions. The UK uses BST, while Portugal and the Canary Islands use WEST.
When does WEST start and end?
WEST begins on the last Sunday of March at 01:00 UTC when clocks spring forward to 02:00 WEST. It ends on the last Sunday of October at 01:00 UTC when clocks fall back to 00:00 WET.
Does mainland Spain use WEST?
No, mainland Spain uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00) in summer. Only the Canary Islands use WET/WEST.
What is the time difference between Lisbon and London during summer?
During summer, both Lisbon (WEST) and London (BST) are at UTC+01:00, so there is no time difference. However, note that the transition dates may differ slightly if the UK and Portugal change clocks on different dates, but they both follow the EU schedule.