Exploring Salzburg, Austria: Time And Place

As of Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the local time in Salzburg, Austria, is 07:28 AM. The city follows Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Salzburg begins at 02:00 AM on the last Sunday of March and ends at 03:00 AM on the last Sunday of October, when clocks are set back by an hour.

Central European Time

CET is also known as Middle European Time (MET) or by colloquial names such as Amsterdam Time, Berlin Time, Brussels Time, Madrid Time, Paris Time, Rome Time, and Warsaw Time. As of 2023, all member states of the European Union observe summer time or daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. During this period, states within the CET area switch to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00).

In Africa, UTC+01:00 is called West Africa Time (WAT) and is used by several countries year-round. Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia also refer to it as Central European Time. As of 2017, Central European Time is used in over 25 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain (except the Canary Islands), Sweden, and Switzerland.

Salzburg, Austria, follows Central European Time, which is currently six hours ahead of Ashburn. On October 27, 2024, Salzburg switched to UTC +1 / Central European Time (CET) for the winter. The time was set back one hour from 03:00 AM to 02:00 AM local time. On March 30, 2025, Salzburg will switch back to UTC +2 / Central European Summer Time (CEST) for the summer, moving the clocks forward one hour from 02:00 AM to 03:00 AM local time.

Daylight Saving Time

In Salzburg, Austria, the clocks go forward by one hour at 2 am on the last Sunday in March, which marks the start of Central European Summer Time (CEST) or Daylight Saving Time. Sunrise and sunset then occur about one hour later than the day before, resulting in more evening daylight. This is also known as Spring Forward or Summer Time.

On the last Sunday in October, the clocks go back by one hour at 3 am, marking a return to Central European Time (CET) or Winter Time. On the day this occurs, sunrise and sunset take place about one hour earlier, meaning there is more morning daylight. This change is also referred to as Fall Back.

In 2024, the clocks in Salzburg will be changed on Sunday 31 March and Sunday 27 October. In 2025, the clocks will change on Sunday 30 March.

Austria first observed Daylight Saving Time in 1916 and has done so for 58 years between 1916 and 2024. The previous time with no Daylight Saving Time was in 1979.

Sunrise and sunset times

Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting for the musical The Sound of Music, is a city in Austria with a population of around 154,000 people. Located on the Salzach River and surrounded by the Eastern Alps, the city is known for its stunning scenery.

The city also experiences astronomical twilight, which is when the sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon. In November 2024, astronomical twilight occurred between 5:39 am and 6:16 am, and between 5:33 pm and 6:10 pm.

Time zones near Salzburg

The time zone in Salzburg, Austria, is Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

On Sunday, March 31, 2024, clocks in Salzburg were turned forward by one hour to transition to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC +2. This marked the beginning of daylight saving time.

Then, on Sunday, October 27, 2024, clocks will be turned back by one hour to return to CET or UTC +1, ending the daylight saving period.

Salzburg shares this time zone with several other European cities, including Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Paris, Algiers, Budapest, Hamburg, Warsaw, and Vienna.

The time in Salzburg can be different from other locations worldwide due to varying time zones and daylight saving time transitions. For example, during a period when Salzburg is observing CET, the time in Ashburn is six hours behind, and for a short while, it can be five hours behind due to differences in daylight saving time start and end dates.

Time difference from Washington, DC

Salzburg, Austria, is 6 hours ahead of Washington, DC. For example, if it is 6:00 AM in Washington, it would be 12:00 PM in Salzburg. This time difference applies to the entire country of Austria, so no matter where you are in the country, the time will be six hours ahead of Washington, DC.

Austria uses Central European Time (CET), which is UTC/GMT +1 hour. Washington, DC, on the other hand, uses Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is UTC/GMT -5 hours. This time difference of six hours remains consistent throughout the year, except for a brief period when daylight saving time starts and ends. During this transition period, Salzburg's time can be five hours ahead of Washington, DC.

When planning a conference call or meeting between these two locations, it is best to aim for between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM in Washington, DC, which corresponds to 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM in Salzburg. If you wish to call someone in Salzburg from Washington, DC, the best time to reach them during their normal working hours would be between 3:00 AM and 11:00 AM your time, which would be 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Salzburg.

Frequently asked questions