Spain mainly observes Central European Time (CET) throughout the year. However, there’s a distinction between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands when it comes to timezones:
1. Mainland Spain:
- Central European Time (CET): This timezone is UTC+1. Spain switches to CET during the last Sunday in October when Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends.
- Central European Summer Time (CEST): This timezone is UTC+2. Spain follows CEST during the last Sunday in March when DST begins.
- Daylight Saving Time (DST): Spain practices DST, so clocks are set forward by one hour in the last Sunday of March and set back by one hour on the last Sunday of October.
2. Canary Islands:
- Western European Time (WET): The Canary Islands follow WET, which is UTC+0. They do not observe DST.
- Western European Summer Time (WEST): Similarly, the Canary Islands do not switch to WEST during the summer, so their timezone remains constant throughout the year.
It’s important to note that the exact dates when DST starts and ends may vary slightly from year to year. Additionally, some Spanish territories, such as Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa, also follow the same time as mainland Spain.
These timezone distinctions are crucial to consider when planning travel or coordinating with contacts in Spain.
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