What Time is it in Lanzarote? And Why Are Some HolidayMakers Told to Change Their Watches?

If you have ever arrived in Lanzarote, switched on your phone and wondered why the time looks different from what you expected, you are certainly not alone.

Some holidaymakers even report being told by airline staff to change their watches when they land. But why does this happen? Is Lanzarote in a different time zone from the UK, and does the time change depending on the season?

The answer is surprisingly simple, although it can be confusing if you are travelling from different parts of Europe.

WHAT TIME IS IT IN LANZAROTE?

Lanzarote follows the same time as the UK and Ireland throughout the year.

During winter, the island follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During summer, it switches to Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is one hour ahead of GMT.

That means if it is midday in London, it is also midday in Lanzarote.

However, mainland Spain operates one hour ahead of Lanzarote throughout the year. So, if it is 12 noon in Madrid, it is 11am in Lanzarote.

The Canary Islands are part of Spain, but they have their own time zone. This applies to all the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.


WHY ARE SOME PASSENGERS TOLD TO CHANGE THEIR WATCHES WHEN THEY ARRIVE?

This is where the confusion often starts.

If you are flying from the UK or Ireland, you generally do not need to change your watch when you arrive in Lanzarote. The local time is the same as back home.

However, passengers arriving from mainland Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and many other European countries will usually need to put their clocks back by one hour.

For example, if you fly from Madrid and it is 3pm when you leave, the local time in Lanzarote will be 2pm when you arrive, assuming both locations are on their usual seasonal time.

Airline staff may remind passengers of the local time, particularly on flights arriving from mainland Europe. Sometimes the announcement is simply a reminder to adjust watches to the destination's local time.

There is another reason some travellers become confused: modern mobile phones often update the time automatically when they detect a change in time zone. Your phone may therefore change the time without you doing anything, while a traditional wristwatch will continue showing the time it was set to.

If you are travelling from the UK, your phone may also appear to change time during the journey if it temporarily detects a different time zone. This does not necessarily mean you need to adjust it manually.

We have also heard of instances when UK travellers, upon arriving in Lanzarote we´re incorrectly informed to change their watches via the pilots landing announcement!

WHY IS LANZAROTE ONE HOUR BEHIND MAINLAND SPAIN?

The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa, considerably further west than mainland Spain.

Their geographical position places them in the same time zone as the UK and Portugal.

Mainland Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, uses Central European Time in winter and Central European Summer Time in summer. The Canary Islands use Western European Time and Western European Summer Time instead.

The result is a one-hour difference between Lanzarote and mainland Spain, even though both are part of the same country.

This difference is also why Spanish television and radio announcements sometimes include the phrase “una hora menos en Canarias”, meaning “one hour less in the Canary Islands”.

DOES LANZAROTE CHANGE ITS CLOCKS IN SUMMER AND WINTER?

Yes. Lanzarote observes daylight saving time, just as the UK and mainland Spain do.

The clocks normally move forward by one hour on the last Sunday in March and back by one hour on the last Sunday in October.

Because the UK and Lanzarote follow the same seasonal clock changes, their time remains aligned throughout the year. Mainland Spain also changes its clocks on the same dates, so the one-hour difference between the mainland and the Canary Islands remains.



DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR WATCH WHEN YOU LAND IN LANZAROTE?

Here is a simple guide:

• Travelling from the UK: No, Lanzarote follows the same time.
• Travelling from Ireland: No, the time is the same.
• Travelling from mainland Spain: Yes, put your watch back one hour.
• Travelling from Germany, France or the Netherlands: Usually, put your watch back one hour.
• Travelling from Portugal: Mainland Portugal follows the same time as Lanzarote, so you generally do not need to change your watch.

If you are travelling from somewhere else, check the difference between your departure location and Lanzarote before you fly.

Your airline ticket and airport departure boards will generally display times in the local time of the relevant airport, so always pay attention to the times printed on your booking.


DOES THE TIME DIFFERENCE AFFECT YOUR HOLIDAY?

For visitors from the UK and Ireland, the good news is that there is no time difference to worry about.

You can arrive, head to your hotel, order your first drink and enjoy the sunshine without having to adjust to a different local time.

For visitors arriving from mainland Europe, the one-hour difference can be useful to remember when arranging airport transfers, excursions, restaurant bookings and return flights.

It is also worth checking the local time if you are travelling between Lanzarote and mainland Spain by air or ferry.

SO, WHAT TIME IS IT IN LANZAROTE?

The easiest way to remember it is this: Lanzarote is on UK time, while mainland Spain is one hour ahead.

If you are flying here and someone tells you to change your watch when you arrive, it is worth double-checking before doing so. Your phone may already have updated automatically, and your watch may not need changing at all.

Planning a trip to Lanzarote? Explore our other practical travel guides for advice on the weather, local transport, what to pack and making the most of your time on the island.