Time in Prague
Your Complete Guide to Local Time and Time Zone in Prague, Czech Republic
Time zones and and the related differences in local time - for Europeans something they don't have to deal with. For those traveling to Prague from different parts of the world, understanding the time zone differences is crucial. By synchronizing your schedule with local time in Prague, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit.
That's why in this article you will find out all about the time zone in Prague (or general - in the Czech Republic), the specifics of local time in Prague and time differences.
One of the TOP Prague attractions: Prague Astronomical Clock
Current Time in Prague: What time is it in Prague now?
Find out what time it is in Prague whenever you need. The clock widget below always displays the date and current time in Prague.
Time zone in Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is located in Central Europe and therefore falls within the Central European Time Zone, which also applies to countries such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and others.
Given this location, Prague follows Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1 during standard time. This means that local time in Prague is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, it is essential to note that Prague observes daylight saving time (DST) during the summer months (see more below) and during this period the local time in Prague is UTC+2.
Local Time in Prague: good to know
When you come to Prague, don't be surprised if you see somewhere e.g. 18:30. In the Czech Republic, we usually use the 24-hour format for expressing time, not the 12-hour format. At the same time, we don't use a.m. or p.m. So if you ask someone in Prague what time it is, they won't say 2 p.m., but 14 o'clock.
Daylight Saving Time in Prague
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time is the practice of advancing the clock during the summer months to extend evening daylight. The primary purpose of this seasonal adjustment of the local time is to make better use of natural daylight and save energy. During DST, clocks are typically set forward by one hour.
Daylight saving time in Prague
Prague, like many other cities in Europe, observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) during the summer months (that's why it's also called “summer time”). DST starts on the last Sunday in March when clocks are set forward by one hour at 2:00 AM local time. This transition shifts Prague from Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1, to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is two hours ahead of UTC (=UTC+2).
On the last Sunday in October, DST ends and clocks are set back by one hour at 3:00 AM local time. At this point, Prague returns to standard time, reverting to CET, UTC+1.
...what is the difference between GMT and UTC? GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is a time zone, officially used in some European and African countries, whereas UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is not a time zone, but a time standard that is used as a basis to keep time synchronized across the world. This means that no country or territory officially uses UTC as a local time.
Time Zone Differences
Comparing time in Prague, Czech Republic with other cities
Traveling to Prague from different parts of the world means encountering various time differences. Here are some notable time differences between Prague local time and major cities around the world:
- Prague and London:
Prague is one hour ahead of London. When it's 12:00 PM in Prague, it will be 11:00 AM in London. - Prague and New York:
Prague is six hours ahead of New York. When it's 12:00 PM in Prague, it will be 6:00 AM in New York - Prague and Sydney:
Prague is nine hours behind Sydney. When it's 12:00 PM in Prague, it will be 9:00 PM in Sydney.
