CET time now |
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12:30:46 Thu, 26 Jun 2025
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| UTC Offset: UTC +1 |
Central European Time (CET) operates at UTC+1 and is widely used across Central and parts of Western and Southern Europe, as well as in some North African countries, as the standard time during the winter months. It is also referred to as Middle European Time or Central European Standard Time. During the summer, countries observing CET generally transition to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) as part of daylight saving time practices.
Importance and Global Use of CET
CET is one of the most widely adopted time zones across Europe and parts of North Africa, providing a synchronized time reference that supports regional integration, particularly in travel, trade, governance, and communications. Its use spans a significant portion of the European continent and includes countries with strong ties to Europe in North Africa.
On a global level, CET is essential for coordinating with European financial hubs, supporting international operations, and aligning with global transport and media schedules. Its widespread adoption ensures consistent timekeeping across borders, especially within the EU, and helps streamline digital services and real-time coordination in multinational systems.
Where and When CET is used worldwide
Europe
European countries and territories using CET during winter and CEST during summer
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark (Mainland)
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Hungary
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain (Mainland and Ceuta)
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City State
Africa
African countries using CET all year
- Algeria
- Tunisia
Other Time Zones in UTC +1
Other time zones share the same offset as Central European Time (CET), but are known by different names. While their clocks align, they may represent different regions or countries based on local time zone definitions.
- British Summer Time – BST
- Irish Standard Time – IST
- West Africa Time – WAT
- Western European Summer Time – WEST