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Daylight Saving Time (DST)

The clocks change twice a year moving from winter (standard) time to summer time and back. Find out when, and how, Swiss time relates to the rest of the world...

Switzerland operates in line with the European Union's standardised dates and times for EU-wide Summertime, or Daylight Saving Time (DST).

The EU and Switzerland's version of Daylight Savings runs from the last Sunday in March (when the clocks go forward by an hour) through to the last Sunday in October (when they go back by an hour).

  • In 2013 clocks go forward by one hour on the night of 30-31 March
  • Clocks go back one hour on the night of 26-27 October

If dealing with other countries, it can be helpful to know how the different varieties of DST (for those countries that use the system) map on to each other. Most countries adjust their clocks at some time between midnight and 03:00.

Note: Many countries and territories change days of transitions to DST from year to year and some do not employ it every year.

Continent Country Beginning and ending days
Europe

 

 

 

 European Union and rest of Europe (except Iceland) Start: 02:00 last Sunday in March
End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Greenland (regional; changes annually) Start: 22:00 mid to late March
End: 22:00 last Saturday in October or first Sunday in November (depending on location)
North & Central America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 United States (except Arizona and Hawaii), Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, St-Pierre, Miquelon, Turks and
Caicos		 Start: 02:00 second Sunday in March
End: 02:00 first Sunday in November
Mexico (except Sonora) Start: 02:00 first Sunday in April
End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Cuba (subject to change) Start: 00:00 mid to late March
End: 01:00 end of October
South America Brazil (some states): Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goias, Matto Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal Start: 00:00 on third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 on third Sunday in February
Chile Start: 00:00 between August and October
End: 00:00 between March and May
Falkland Islands Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September
End: 02:00 third Sunday in April
Paraguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Uruguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Africa
Namibia Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September
End: 02:00 first Sunday in April
Tunisia 
 Changes annually; DST may not be observed
Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Israel (changes annually) End: September or October
Start: March or April
Lebanon Start: Last Sunday in March
End: Last Sunday in October
Syria (may change annually) Start: First Friday in April 
End: Last Thursday in October
Australasia Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Lord Howe Island Start: 03:00 first Sunday in October
End: 03:00 first Sunday in April
New Zealand, Chatham Island Start: 03:00 last Sunday in September
End: 03:00 first Sunday in April
Related Information

  • For general information on the history of Daylight Saving Time see website WebExhibits.org

  • For information on Daylight Saving Time around the world, see Time and Date.com

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