Located in the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal takes place in the southwest of Europe next to Spain. Portugal time zone is within the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), like the UK and Ireland. The country uses a 24-hour clock. This means that 14.00 stands for two p.m. and so on.
In this guide, you can know more about daylight saving time and all the other things you want to learn about time in Portugal.
Let’s begin.
Calculation of Time Zones
Before diving into Portugal time now, let’s get a brief insight into the calculation of time zones. It first started in the 1800s. Scientists examined the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Then, they reached out the outcome that its 360º rotation occurs every 24 hours.
So, in an hour, it rotates around 15º. Then, they chose Greenwich as the prime meridian. When you go west at every 15 degrees, the time zone subtracts one hour, they concluded. When you go east at every 15 degrees, then it’ll be one hour ahead.
Portugal Time Zone
So, now that we have a grasp of the logic behind the time zones, let’s come back to Portugal. The country is within the time zone of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). However, there’s one hour difference between the time zones of the mainland and the Azores Islands. So, the Azores Islands are one hour behind mainland Portugal and Madeira.
In Portugal, you don’t see big differences in the periods of sunrise and sunset between the west and the east. The reason is that Portugal is relatively a small country, so, no big difference is seen throughout the country. For this reason, the same time zone applies to all cities in mainland Portugal. So, the current time in Lisbon is the same as that of Faro or Porto.
Portugal vs Spain Time Zones
You may think that Spain and Portugal must have the same time zones because they share borders, and they’re on the Iberian Peninsula. However, different time zones apply in the two countries. Spain is over 15º to the east of the Greenwich Meridian. For this reason, its time zone is GMT+1, while the Portugal time zone is GMT+0. For this reason, Portugal is one hour behind Spain.
Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is also known as summertime. Some countries shift to this time zone at a certain period in a year. The reason for this is to benefit from the sunlight more in the summer.
DST starts on the last Sunday in March, and Portugal arranges the hour one hour ahead. It lasts until the last Sunday in October. This time, winter time begins, and the country makes the clocks one hour back.
The Longest and Shortest Days in Portugal
Daytime is long in Portugal. Furthermore, to many visitors’ interest, the country has around 300 days of sunshine a year. In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21 is the longest day. On this day, Portugal has around 15 hours of light as well. Contrary to this, December 21 is the shortest day of the year in the same hemisphere. On this day, the country has the least hours of daylight, which is around nine hours.
Some Trivia About Time in Portugal
Because the Portuguese don’t like to get up early, many stores open at nine or 10 a.m. Portuguese people also value their lunchtime, and they take this break time from one to two hours. Also, stores in shopping malls usually close at 11 p.m. For kids, on the other hand, school starts at 8.30 a.m. and closes at five or six p.m. or sometimes later.
FAQ
What time is it in Portugal right now?
To answer this question, you need to consider if the country is in the DST time zone. During DST, the time zone Lisbon and Portugal is GMT+1. From the end of October to the end of March, it’s GMT+0.
What is the Lisbon local time in summer 2022?
Like the rest of the country (except for the Azores), Lisbon time now is calculated according to the GMT and DST. Now that you know the country is within GMT and it uses summertime, you can calculate Lisbon local time easily. It becomes GMT+1 between the end of March and October.
When Does DST Start and End in 2022?
Daylight Saving time starts on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 1.00 a.m. local Lisbon time. It ends on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 2.00 a.m. local time.
Does Portugal have 2 time zones?
Portugal is located in the Western Hemisphere and uses a 24-hour clock. The nation is divided into two time zones: Lisbon (GMT) and the Azores (GMT-1).
Is the time in Portugal same as UK?
The time in Portugal is the same as the time in the United Kingdom. Both countries are in the same time zone, which is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Portugal does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference between the two countries is always zero. This can be a source of confusion for travelers, as Portugal appears to be one hour behind the UK when daylight saving time is in effect in the UK. However, when daylight saving time ends, the UK and Portugal are once again in the same time zone.
How far ahead is Portugal’s time from USA?
Portugal time is currently 5 hours ahead of USA Eastern Standard Time. This means that when it is noon in Portugal, it is only 7 am in New York City. The time difference between Portugal and the East Coast of the United States can be confusing for travelers, so it is important to be aware of the current time difference before making any travel plans. For example, if you are planning to call a friend in Portugal, remember to take the time difference into account or you may end up waking them up in the middle of the night!
Does Portugal do daylight saving?
Portugal does not currently observe daylight saving time. In fact, the country has been on permanent standard time since 1992. Prior to that, Portugal used daylight saving time intermittently, but it was always optional and depended on a vote by the Portuguese parliament. Currently, there is no set schedule for when or if Portugal will again begin observing daylight saving time. This means that the country’s clocks remain unchanged throughout the year, regardless of the season. As a result, Portugal remains in the same time zone as its neighbors Spain and Morocco.
Are Portugal and Spain at the same time?
Portugal does not currently observe daylight saving time. In fact, the country has been on permanent standard time since 1992. Prior to that, Portugal used daylight saving time intermittently, but it was always optional and depended on a vote by the Portuguese parliament. Currently, there is no set schedule for when or if Portugal will again begin observing daylight saving time. This means that the country’s clocks remain unchanged throughout the year, regardless of the season. As a result, Portugal remains in the same time zone as its neighbors Spain and Morocco.
