Portugal changes to winter time on Sunday 25 October
Clocks move back one hour overnight: 02:00 becomes 01:00 on the mainland and Madeira, while 01:00 becomes 00:00 in the Azores.
Archived after the 18 October edition. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 19 October 2026Phones usually update automatically, but travel, medication, work and international appointments can still be affected. Check the time zone shown on every booking instead of adding an hour from memory.
- The change takes place in the early hours of 25 October.
- Mainland Portugal and Madeira return from 02:00 to 01:00.
- The Azores return from 01:00 to 00:00.
Portugal keeps two local time zones
The mainland and Madeira use the same civil time, while the Azores remain one hour behind them. Both regions move back during their own early-morning hour.
The change affects the displayed local time, not the duration printed for a flight or train. A booking can also show a departure and arrival in different time zones.
Check anything that runs overnight
Review alarms, shift start times, medicine reminders and appointments that cross the change. Older clocks, vehicles and appliances may need manual adjustment even when a phone changes itself.
For an international call, use a calendar entry with the named time zone. Other countries may change on a different date or may not change clocks at all.
What you can do now.
- 01
Check overnight travel and work schedules for 24-25 October.
- 02
Confirm that critical clocks and reminders updated correctly.
- 03
Use named time zones for international appointments.
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