Berlin time zone in briefBerlin uses CET (UTC+1) in standard time and CEST (UTC+2) during daylight saving time. Use the IANA identifier Europe/Berlin in devices and calendars.

CET in winter, CEST in summer

Central European Time applies during standard time; Central European Summer Time applies during daylight saving time.

Standard timeCET · UTC+1

Winter period.

Daylight timeCEST · UTC+2

Summer period.

Seasonal changeCET / CEST

UTC+1 / UTC+2

Daylight saving time and the annual clock-change rule

Berlin follows the European rule: daylight saving time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. The calendar date changes each year, but the rule remains stable.

Daylight saving beginsLast Sunday in March

At 02:00 local time clocks move to 03:00: CET becomes CEST.

Standard time returnsLast Sunday in October

At 03:00 local time clocks return to 02:00: CEST becomes CET.

Network-connected phones normally update automatically. For manually configured devices or calendar events, choose Berlin or Europe/Berlin.

Frequently asked questions about Berlin time

Does Berlin observe daylight saving time?

Berlin uses CET (UTC+1) during standard time and CEST (UTC+2) during daylight saving time.

When does daylight saving time start in Berlin?

Daylight saving time starts on the last Sunday in March. At 02:00 local time, clocks move forward to 03:00, changing from CET to CEST.

When do the clocks change again in Berlin?

Berlin returns to standard time on the last Sunday in October. At 03:00 local time, clocks move back to 02:00, changing from CEST to CET.

Method and reference

The browser calculates and updates the local time using the Europe/Berlin time zone.