Current Time in CEST
Central European Summer Time
About CEST Central European Summer Time
The daylight saving time for many European countries, one hour ahead of Central European Time (CET). Used from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Equivalent to MEST (Middle European Summer Time).
UTC Offset: +02:00
CEST at a glance
| Right now | 19:45 on Tuesday |
|---|---|
| UTC offset | UTC+02:00 (2 hours ahead of UTC) |
| Full name | Central European Summer Time |
| Countries | 32 |
| IANA zones | 36 |
What is CEST?
CEST is a time zone that is currently UTC+02:00 - that's 2 hours ahead of UTC. Its full name is Central European Summer Time. Right now the local time on CEST is 19:45. Today 32 countries (including Albania, Andorra and Austria) and 36 IANA database zones sit at this offset, which is why CEST is a useful shorthand even though the exact local rules differ from place to place.
How to convert CEST to UTC
For quick planning, use today's offset as a rule of thumb: 12:00 UTC = 14:00 local time, and 09:00 local time = 07:00 UTC. The live clock above is the safest reference when daylight saving or regional rules may apply.
Which countries use CEST?
CEST is used across Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bouvet Island, plus 26 more. Open a country to see all of its cities and their local time.
IANA time zones in CEST
CEST maps to the IANA database zones Africa/Ceuta, Arctic/Longyearbyen, Atlantic/Jan_Mayen, CET, Europe/Amsterdam and Europe/Andorra, among 36 in total. Each zone page shows its exact rules, including any daylight saving changes.
💡 Tip: Comparing times? CEST is 2 hours ahead of UTC. Use the IANA links and country links on this page when you need the exact local rule for a real place, not just the offset.
CEST - Frequently asked questions
What is CEST?
CEST is a time zone currently UTC+02:00 (2 hours ahead of UTC). Its full name is Central European Summer Time.
What is the UTC offset of CEST?
CEST is UTC+02:00 right now - 2 hours ahead of UTC.
Which countries are on CEST?
CEST is used in Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bouvet Island, plus 26 more.
What time is it in CEST now?
The current time on CEST is 19:45 on Tuesday. The clock above updates every second.
How Alarm.now explains CEST
Abbreviation, offset, and IANA zones
CEST is shown as a time-zone group for Central European Summer Time with offset +02:00. The page links the abbreviation to the IANA zones and countries that use it, so users and search engines can distinguish a short label from an exact time-zone rule set.
When to use a specific IANA page
Use this group page for an overview of the abbreviation and offset. Use a linked IANA time-zone page when you need exact daylight-saving rules for a calendar, app, or future-date comparison.