Portugal Time Now
Zones
Quick Answer
Portugal mainland uses WET (UTC±0). The Azores are 1 hour behind (UTC-1).
Both observe EU summer time.
Portugal's Time Zones
Portugal has two time zones. Mainland Portugal and Madeira use WET (Western European Time, UTC±0), the same as the UK. The Azores, located about 1,500 km west of Lisbon in the Atlantic, use AZOT (UTC-1), making them the westernmost point in Europe and 1 hour behind the mainland.
All Portuguese territories observe EU daylight saving time. Portugal is unique in Western Europe for using UTC±0 while neighboring Spain uses CET (UTC+1) — a legacy of Spain's WWII-era adoption of German time.
Portugal vs Spain Time
Despite sharing the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal and Spain are in different time zones. Portugal uses WET (UTC±0) while Spain uses CET (UTC+1), putting Spain 1 hour ahead. This difference dates back to 1940 when Spain's Franco regime adopted Central European Time to align with Nazi Germany. Portugal briefly switched to CET in 1992–1996 but reverted to WET after public dissatisfaction with late sunsets pushing dinner past 10 PM.
During summer, both countries advance their clocks: Portugal to WEST (UTC+1) and Spain to CEST (UTC+2), maintaining the 1-hour gap. Travelers crossing the Portuguese-Spanish border should remember to adjust their watches by 1 hour. Interestingly, the Canary Islands (Spain) use WET, matching Portugal rather than mainland Spain.