Current Time in Portugal

Western European Time (WET/WEST) · Lisbon · UTC+0 / UTC+1 · Azores 1h behind

Mainland + Madeira · WET UTC+0
--:--:--
Azores · AZOT UTC−1
--:--:--
 
3 Time ZonesSame Time as London (NOT Spain)DST observed

Portugal Time Facts

Mainland + Madeira
WET (UTC+0) / WEST (UTC+1)
Azores
AZOT (UTC−1) / AZOST (UTC+0)
DST Rule
Last Sunday Mar → Last Sunday Oct (EU)
IANA Identifier
Europe/Lisbon
Population
~10.3 million
Same Zone As
UK, Ireland, Iceland (NOT Spain!)

Portugal Time vs World (Lisbon)

LocationPortugal Winter (WET)Portugal Summer (WEST)
New York (ET)Portugal +5 hrsPortugal +5 hrs
Los Angeles (PT)Portugal +8 hrsPortugal +8 hrs
London (GMT/BST)Same time!Same time!
Spain (CET/CEST)Portugal −1 hrPortugal −1 hr
Brazil (BRT)Portugal −3 hrsPortugal −4 hrs
India (IST)Portugal −5:30Portugal −4:30

The Portugal-Spain Time Border

Portugal and Spain share the Iberian Peninsula and nearly identical longitudes — yet they're in different time zones. Crossing the border from Portugal to Spain means jumping 1 hour forward (WET → CET).

This is because Spain followed Germany's CET during WWII (1940) and never changed back, while Portugal kept its geographically correct GMT/WET. The result: Lisbon is on the same time as London, while Madrid — at nearly the same longitude — is 1 hour ahead.

When it's 12:00 PM in Lisbon, it's 1:00 PM in Madrid — despite both cities being at roughly 3.7°W longitude. Portugal's correct timezone is one reason it has earlier dinners (7:30–8:30 PM) compared to Spain's famously late 9:30 PM.

Portugal: Europe's Digital Nomad Capital

Lisbon has become Europe's #1 digital nomad destination. The combination of WET/GMT timezone (5 hours from US East Coast), affordable cost of living, excellent weather, and the D7 and Digital Nomad visas have attracted thousands of remote workers.

Portugal's timezone is its secret weapon: same time as London for UK clients, only 1 hour behind most EU clients, and a 5-hour overlap with US East Coast afternoon. No other Western European country offers this flexibility.

Major Portuguese Cities

Lisbon
Pop. 2.9M metro
Capital, WET (UTC+0)
Porto
Pop. 1.7M metro
Northern hub, port wine
Funchal
Pop. 110K
Madeira, WET (UTC+0)
Faro
Pop. 70K
Algarve, tourism capital
Ponta Delgada
Pop. 68K
Azores, AZOT (UTC−1)
Braga
Pop. 200K
Northern university city

Portugal Quick Facts

🏛️ Capital City
Lisbon
👥 Population
10M
💰 Currency
€ Euro
📞 Phone Code
+351
🕐 UTC Offset
UTC+0
🔄 Daylight Saving Time
Yes — observed
🗣️ Official Languages
Portuguese

Portugal Time Difference

Portugal vs New YorkPortugal vs London
CityLocal TimeDifference
New York--:--Same time
London--:--Same time
Toronto--:--Same time
Miami--:--Same time
Los Angeles--:--Same time
Mexico City--:--Same time
Madrid--:--Same time
Paris--:--Same time
Berlin--:--Same time
Dubai--:--Same time
Tokyo--:--Same time
Sydney--:--Same time
São Paulo--:--Same time
Singapore--:--Same time

📞 Best Time to Call Portugal

Target 9 AM – 5 PM Portugal local time for business calls. To call Portugal from the US East Coast, the best window is 8–10 AM EST (2–4 PM local). UK callers share similar hours. European business culture values punctuality — avoid calling outside 9 AM–6 PM local time.

🕐 Time Zone in Portugal

WET (UTC+0)WEST (UTC+1)AZOT (UTC-1)

Portugal uses WET (UTC+0) year-round. Lisbon is the capital and largest city.

Portugal observes Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time). Clocks spring forward on the last Sunday in March (to WEST (UTC+1)) and fall back on the last Sunday in October.

✈️ Time-Related Travel Tips for Portugal

Traveling to Portugal from North America typically involves a 5–9 hour time difference. Jet lag is usually manageable within 1–2 days. European business culture values punctuality, so arrive on time for meetings. Portugal uses 24-hour format in official contexts.

💡 Interesting Facts About Time in Portugal

  • Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines — they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
  • The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.

About Time in Portugal

Portugal uses 3 time zones. This makes it important to confirm the specific zone to coordinate times across the country.

The capital city Lisbon serves as the political and often economic center of Portugal. Major business activities are spread across cities including Lisbon, Porto, Faro.

When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Portugal, it's important to consider the time difference. WET (UTC+0) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Portugal.

Portugal uses the Euro (€) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +351. Official languages include Portuguese.

View all 3 cities with live local times →

🌍 Other Countries in Europe

AlbaniaAndorraAustriaBelarusBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMoldovaMonacoMontenegroNetherlandsNorth MacedoniaNorwayPolandRomaniaRussiaSan MarinoSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomVatican City

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Portugal right now?
Portugal (mainland and Madeira) uses Western European Time (WET, UTC+0) in winter and Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+1) during Daylight Saving Time. The Azores Islands are 1 hour behind mainland Portugal year-round. The live clock above shows Lisbon (mainland) time.
What time zone is Lisbon in?
Lisbon uses Western European Time (WET, UTC+0) in winter and WEST (UTC+1) in summer. The IANA identifier is Europe/Lisbon. Lisbon shares its standard time with London (GMT, UTC+0) and Iceland (UTC+0). Notably, despite being in western Europe, Lisbon is on the same time as London rather than following Spain's CET (UTC+1).
What time zone are the Azores in?
The Azores Islands use Atlantic/Azores time — AZOT (UTC−1) in winter and AZOST (UTC+0) in summer (when the Azores observe DST). The Azores are always 1 hour behind mainland Portugal. In summer, the Azores move to UTC+0, matching London (GMT).
Does Portugal observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Portugal observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour to WEST (UTC+1) on the last Sunday of March and fall back to WET (UTC+0) on the last Sunday of October. The Azores also observe DST on the same schedule (shifting from UTC−1 to UTC+0).
What is the time difference between Portugal and the UK?
Portugal and the UK are on the same time year-round. Both Lisbon (WET/WEST) and London (GMT/BST) observe DST on the same schedule, so they are always synchronized. In winter both are UTC+0; in summer both move to UTC+1.
What is the time difference between Portugal and Spain?
Portugal (WET/WEST) is 1 hour behind Spain (CET/CEST) year-round. Despite sharing the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal follows the GMT time zone while Spain follows Central European Time. When it is noon in Lisbon, it is 1:00 PM in Madrid. Both observe DST on the same dates, so the 1-hour gap is constant.

Portugal & Nearby Times

Lisbon timeLondon timeMadrid timeTime in SpainTime in MoroccoTime in UKLisbon → New YorkTime converter tool
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Portugal: Europe/Lisbon (WET UTC+0 / WEST UTC+1); Azores: Atlantic/Azores.