Current Time in Paris
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Central European Time · CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)Paris Time Zone Information
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About Paris's Time Zone
Paris, the capital of France and a global hub for fashion, finance, and diplomacy, uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer. France follows EU-wide daylight saving rules, changing clocks on the last Sunday in March and October.
Paris is always exactly 1 hour ahead of London — an exceptionally convenient gap for the two cities' significant economic relationship. Paris also shares its time zone with Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, and Brussels, giving it seamless connectivity across Western and Central Europe.
The Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext Paris) trades 9 AM to 5:30 PM CET/CEST. French business culture typically includes a 1–2 hour lunch break, making the morning and late afternoon the most productive windows for meetings.
From New York (EST), Paris is 6 hours ahead — a 2 PM–5 PM Paris window (8 AM–11 AM New York) works well for transatlantic calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paris uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer, from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Yes. France observes daylight saving time following EU rules. Clocks go forward 1 hour on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
Paris is always 1 hour ahead of London. Both France and the UK change their clocks on the same dates, so the 1-hour difference between CET/GMT and CEST/BST is constant all year.
Paris (CET, UTC+1) is 6 hours ahead of New York (EST, UTC-5) in winter. During spring and summer transitions, the difference can briefly be 5 or 7 hours depending on clock-change dates.
Dubai (UTC+4) is 3 hours ahead of Paris in winter (CET, UTC+1) and 2 hours ahead in summer (CEST, UTC+2). Dubai does not observe DST.
Standard business hours in Paris are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM CET/CEST. Lunch breaks (12–2 PM) are culturally important in France. Government offices often close at 5 PM.
Any time during London business hours works well — Paris is only 1 hour ahead. A 9 AM start in London equals 10 AM in Paris, and both cities close around the same local time.