Prague Time Zone | CET, UTC+1, Daylight Saving

Prague uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1). In summer, clocks move forward to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). This is the same time zone as Berlin, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and most of continental Western and Central Europe. If you are flying in from London, add one hour. From New York, add six hours in winter or six in summer.

That covers the essentials. Below is everything you might want to know in more detail — what CET means, when clocks change, and exactly how Prague time compares to major cities around the world.

What Is CET? Central European Time Explained

CET stands for Central European Time. It is UTC+1, meaning it runs one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global reference standard. In practical terms, when it is noon in London (which uses UTC in winter), it is 1:00 PM in Prague.

CET is used by most of mainland Europe — from Spain to Poland, from Norway to Italy. The Czech Republic, along with Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and many others, all share this time zone. If you are travelling between European capitals, there is a good chance you will not need to adjust your watch at all.

The abbreviation you will see on flight boards and booking confirmations is either CET (winter) or CEST (summer). Some systems display it as Europe/Prague — that is the technical designation in the IANA time zone database.

Does Prague Change Clocks? Daylight Saving in Czechia

Yes. Czechia follows the same daylight saving schedule as the rest of the European Union. Clocks spring forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and fall back one hour on the last Sunday of October.

During daylight saving time (late March through late October), Prague operates on CEST — UTC+2. During standard time (late October through late March), Prague reverts to CET — UTC+1.

There has been ongoing discussion in the EU about abolishing the biannual clock change, but as of 2026, the system remains in place. Your phone, laptop, and most smart devices will adjust automatically when you land in Prague. If you wear an analog watch, remember to update it manually.

One practical effect: in summer, Prague stays light until nearly 21:30 in late June. In December, sunset comes before 16:00. The long summer evenings are one of the best reasons to visit between May and September — there is more daylight for sightseeing than in almost any other season.

Time Differences With Major Cities

The gap between Prague and other cities shifts depending on whether daylight saving is in effect in both locations. Here are the key offsets:

United States:

New York (EST/EDT): Prague is +6 hours in winter, +6 hours in summer (both regions shift clocks around the same time, though exact dates differ by a few weeks)
Chicago (CST/CDT): Prague is +7 hours year-round (same logic)
Los Angeles (PST/PDT): Prague is +9 hours year-round
Note: The US and EU shift clocks on different dates (US in early March/early November, EU in late March/late October), so for 2-3 weeks in March and 1 week in November, the offset shifts by one hour

United Kingdom:

London (GMT/BST): Prague is +1 hour in winter, +1 hour in summer (both shift on the same dates)

Australia:

Sydney (AEST/AEDT): Prague is -9 hours in European winter / Australian summer (October-March), -8 hours in European summer / Australian winter (April-September). Australia's daylight saving runs opposite to Europe's, so the gap fluctuates

Middle East and Asia:

Dubai (GST, no DST): Prague is -3 hours in winter, -2 hours in summer
Tokyo (JST, no DST): Prague is -8 hours in winter, -7 hours in summer

If you are scheduling calls or coordinating plans across time zones, the simplest tool is to search "Prague time now" on your phone — every major operating system shows the live local time for any city.

Planning Around Prague Time

For visitors, the time zone matters most when it comes to three things: jet lag, booking confirmations, and making the most of daylight.

Jet lag from the US: Flying eastbound from New York to Prague means losing six hours. Most overnight flights arrive in the morning Prague time. The standard advice — stay awake until local evening on your first day — works well in Prague because there is plenty to keep you walking and alert. A morning espresso at a neighbourhood cafe, followed by a few hours exploring the castle or Old Town, and by evening you will be ready to sleep on local time.

Booking confirmations: Tour times, restaurant reservations, and transport tickets all use local Prague time (CET/CEST). When you book through our site, the times displayed are always Prague local time. If your confirmation says 09:00, that means 09:00 CET or CEST depending on the season.

Daylight hours: In summer (June-July), Prague gets roughly 16 hours of daylight — sunrise around 5:00, sunset near 21:15. In December, daylight drops to about 8 hours. Plan your outdoor sightseeing accordingly. Our first-time visitor tips cover seasonal planning in more detail.

Now Start Planning What to Fill It With

Now that you have the time sorted, start planning what to fill it with. Our All Prague in One Day private tour covers the city's highlights in a single walk — Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town, the Jewish Quarter — and your guide handles the logistics so you can focus on the experience. Just your group, no strangers.

While you are planning your schedule, save an evening for a medieval dinner at a historic Prague tavern — period food, live entertainment, and a vaulted cellar that has been standing since the 15th century.

For practical advice on what to expect, our Prague dos and don'ts guide covers everything from tipping to public transport etiquette.

Browse all our private tours in Prague.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time zone is Prague in?

Prague is in the Central European Time zone (CET), which is UTC+1. In summer (late March to late October), it shifts to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2.

Does the Czech Republic use daylight saving time?

Yes. Clocks move forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and back one hour on the last Sunday of October, following the EU-wide schedule.

What is the time difference between Prague and New York?

Prague is 6 hours ahead of New York for most of the year. For 2-3 weeks in March and about one week in November, the difference shifts to 5 or 7 hours because the US and EU change clocks on slightly different dates.

What is the time difference between Prague and London?

Prague is 1 hour ahead of London year-round. Both the UK and Czechia shift clocks on the same dates.

Prague Time Zone — What Time Is It and Does Czechia Use CET?